[rpm]

Good evening all.
I noticed yesterday that my Accord is leaking a fair amount of engine oil. It has 110,600 miles on it BTW.
Since I could not tell where it was coming from at first, I degreased everything, changed the oil and filter to see how much I had lost (~4 oz.), and let it run for a while.
The oil appears to be seeping out of the black cover pictured here that resides in the area where the oil pan meets the bottom/side of the block.
Can someone let me know what is behind there? :dunno:
I did some searches, referenced my Chilton manual, etc. but nothing is making sense at the moment.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Cheers.

 

[sodaks2k]

It's hard to tell from your picture but my guess would be the oil pan gasket.

 

[Fredsvt]

That's the access panel for the torque converter bolts.

If you have oil coming from out of there it can be coming from a few places on the gen 6 V6.

One, the rear main seal. Expensive. Transmission removal required.

Two, a porous engine block in the valley, filling the valley and running out the drain hole into the bell housing and draining out the bottom. Repairable by removing the upper and lower intakes, and fully cleaning and epoxying the block. You can see if the valley is full by looking with a flashlight under the lower intake manifold.

Three, a porous engine block in behind the flywheel, again repairable with epoxy. Expensive, labor. Transmission removal required.

Four, a leaking rear main seal carrier housing, again expensive.

Five, porous or cracked threads in bell housing bolts. Remove each upper and 2 side bolts one at a a time, do any come out all wet with oil? If one does, use a LOT of brake cleaner and flush out the hole, blow it out completely dry. Completely clean and dry the bolt. Coat the bolt with HT Hondabond or International Oil Pan sealer T442 and install and torque.

Six, the oil pan is leaking (no gasket, just Honda flange sealer or the aforementioned T442) just above that plate. Remove the plate. Note if the flywheel or torque converter is all wet with oil. If not, clean everything in the area with brake cleaner and compressed air and run it to see where the oil is coming from.

 

[sodaks2k]

Leasve it to Fred... :jumping:

 

[rpm]

Wow. Thanks much for the information.
The good news is I have a few possibilities. The bad news is most of them will need mucho $.

BTW - I have it up on jackstands now and idling, and no oil is leaking anywhere. Not sure if that helps narrow it down.

Again, thanks.

 

[Fredsvt]

Clean it up really good, leave the plate off.

If you see it leak after it shuts down, the oil is being flung around and won't drain until everything stops.

Also, for giggles, look at both valve covers near the inner corners and see if any oil is running down onto the top of the transmission, the oil will seep into the tiniest gap and end up down there, but you should have a bigger mess up top, if so.

Is your PCV valve good and has vacuum to it, and is the vent to the air intake open and clean?

 

[rpm]

Clean it up really good, leave the plate off.

If you see it leak after it shuts down, the oil is being flung around and won't drain until everything stops.

Also, for giggles, look at both valve covers near the inner corners and see if any oil is running down onto the top of the transmission, the oil will seep into the tiniest gap and end up down there, but you should have a bigger mess up top, if so.

Is your PCV valve good and has vacuum to it, and is the vent to the air intake open and clean?

I shut it down, let it set for a few minutes, and there is a drip of oil beginning at the lower bolt of that black cover.

Looked at both valve covers and everything else on the top of the engine/trans and I could see no oil anywhere.

PCV valve has vacuum and appears to be operating as it should.

Thanks.

 

[rpm]

Clean it up really good, leave the plate off.

If you see it leak after it shuts down, the oil is being flung around and won't drain until everything stops.

Not sure what exactly you mean by 'leave the plate off.' Is that the black cover you are referring to? If so, it is stuck on pretty good with some sort of sealant.
Thanks again.

 

[Fredsvt]

It should come off, isn't there 4 small bolts that hold it on? There may be some foam or hondabond holding it on. It won't hurt to remove it.

 

[lpaudio2]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JFHNTM

a LED based light that is blue tinted will work, or a real uv light (best).

Will give you a lot better idea where its coming from.

 

[rpm]

It should come off, isn't there 4 small bolts that hold it on? There may be some foam or hondabond holding it on. It won't hurt to remove it.

I see two bolts on the panel. One at the top, pointing up, and one at the bottom, pointing toward the passenger side.
I will take it off to see what is going on and report back.
Thanks.

 

[rpm]

Took the black panel off. The torque converter has no oil on it, but the oil is definitely coming from the area behind the panel. At the top of the panel, bottom of the oil pan, there is a good bit of oil starting to drip. :dunno:

 

[VWEATERACCORD]

thats where my oil started dripping from and at first it looked like where the cable went into the trans for the speedo but after it started leaving puddles it was a mixture of oil and trans fluid and the seal from the engine and trans was blown out.

 

[Fredsvt]

Is there any oil running along the oil pan from the pulley side of the engine to that location or is it completely dry. It looks dry by your pics.

If it is dry, it looks like the trans is coming out. How does the trans operate btw?

 

[rpm]

Is there any oil running along the oil pan from the pulley side of the engine to that location or is it completely dry. It looks dry by your pics.

If it is dry, it looks like the trans is coming out. How does the trans operate btw?

There is no oil coming from anywhere except behind the black panel. Once the panel is removed, you can see the torque converter and a couple of oil pan bolts. The area where the oil pan bolts are (behind the panel), or higher up in the engine, is where the oil is coming from.

I thought it would be trans fluid at first, but it is definitely engine oil. It was dark brown, then I changed it, let it run, and the drips came about with the new oil. If I put it on a paper towel, you can definitely tell it is engine oil since the ATF comes out reddish. I doublechecked on a paper towel with drops from under the engine and the oil and trans dipsticks.
The trans seems to be doing great. Just did my 3rd drain and fill with Valvoline MaxLife and it is shifting as smooth as ever.

BTW, I replaced the PCV valve today, just for the $3.44 heck of it. The old one seemed to be working, but the 'click' or 'rattle' was not as easy to come by as the new one.

 

[12153]

Rpm:

MY bet, to solve your problem: Remove the oil pan, clean the pan and block flange, then reseal everything with Honda Bond. The damn stuff IS somewhat expensive. But damn well worth every cent! :thmsup: :yes:

 

[Fredsvt]

Regular Hondabond won't work on the oil pan.

They have a different product, uses the same name, but is specifically for oil pan and block flange sealing. It's MUCH more aggressive.

It's very similar to what International sells for 7.3 oil pans used in Ford trucks. Made by Wacker Industries (their number T442), it has a unique smell and it burns your hands, but once it's on a PERFECTLY oil, dirt and old sealer free surface, it seals like cement and never leaks unless tampered with.

 

[12153]

FredSVT:

Thanks for the update on Honda Bond. I wasn't aware they had introduced a version specifically for oil pan and block flange applications.

When rebuilding my trusty '86, I used (regular) Honda Bond when installing the oil pan. I used it ONLY on the gasket-to-pan surface, with the top side of the gasket going directly against the block rails. Works like a Million Dollars. :thmsup: :yes:

 

[ace41]

get some oil di and a black lite might help

 

[rpm]

Well, I still can not determine exactly where the oil is coming from. I know some of it is coming from behind the black panel from that hidden portion of the oil pan or higher up in the block, which you can't see c/o the torque converter. I was looking at it again last night and now it looks like there may be some oil seepage higher up on the block near what I assume is the starter.
I sprayed engine cleaner/degreaser from top to bottom last night, let it soak, and rinsed. I will start it up this evening and see if I can spot exactly where the oil is coming from.
Regarding removing the oil pan and resealing, do you have to remove the exhaust portion that hugs the oil pan and connects each header to the exhaust pipe?
Thanks gents.