aplotner03

Hey guys. I need your help once again...someone may have had the issue that i'm having. I've attached some pics for y'all to look at and maybe help me out. The other day I went to check all the fluids on my car..I opened the hood and the first thing that I noticed was quite a bit of oil coming from places that it shouldn't be. The most noticeable place I saw the oil leaking from was on top of the engine leaking out of the hole where the ignition coil sits. So I took the ignition coil off(mind you that it was hard to pull it out because of the suction from the rubber boot on the bottom of the ignition coil) and the entire hole was filled with oil. I cleaned off the coil and used a towel to sop up most of the oil from the hole but I know it's not going to take long for it to fill back up. Has this type of leak happened to anyone before or can someone point me in the right direction of how to fix it? Also, I was curious to see if there where other oil leaks..so i looked around the engine and, low and behold, I found more oil. I also took pics of those locations too. I couldn't figure out where the oil was leaking from in those areas though. The car/engine runs great. I haven't noticed any reduced engine performance. Also, here lately I've noticed that when I start my car in the mornings or just when the engine is cold and start driving that the engine revs abnormally when the transmission switches gears. It only does it when the car is cold. After it heats up to operating temp it doesn't do it. Maybe someone knows about that as well. I appreciate if someone could help me with my situations. Thanks in advance.

foedoemoehoe

As for your oil leak it looks like you need a valve cover gasket kit that when you take your valve cover off there will the one that runs the perimeter of your cover and then 4 o rings that go around the openings for the coil packs and also 5 washer type gaskets that go around the bolts that hold it down

not sure of a parts number but I would buy oem for that

foedoemoehoe

number 2 in this diagram

ezone

The rubber is missing from this coil, it's probably stuck to the spark plug:


I can see the problem here:


The lip of the seal on that one plug hole had an edge caught on the tube when the valve cover was reinstalled. You can see the lip stretched over the top of the tube on the right side.


Looks like something a valve cover gasket set (with 4 tube seals) should fix.
(Gasket set was replaced recently? If that seal isn't torn and it is still pliable, it might be ok by just lifting the valve cover and tucking it back into the right place.)

Upon reassembly, make sure all 4 tube seals are seated around the tubes, not caught over the tops of the tubes like this one has been.


Probably will need a coil and at least the one plug.

After you pull the spark plug out, that oil will run into the cylinder.
That's ok......
Put a towel over the open hole and crank the engine over to blow out the excess oil from the cylinder.
Then reinstall the plug and coil.
Fire it up.
Expect a blue cloud from the exhaust for a minute or two while it burns out that oil.


HTH

aplotner03

Thanks for the info guys. Definitely helps me out. I'm going to make that my weekend project. This is probably a dumb question but do I need to drain the oil in order to replace the valve cover gasket?

ezone

Nope.

aplotner03

Awesome. Now when I get ready to replace the gasket is the valve cover just going to come off with a little resistance or will I have to pry it open? Can you tell me if the gasket has to have some kind of adhesive?

ezone

There is no glue, but the rubber sticks over time and heat cycles. You certainly might need some screwdriver action to pry it off.
When was the last time it was off?

There should be RTV in the corners of the cam cap humps, that's it. (Unless some rookie glued it in all the way around.)

aplotner03

I couldn't tell you when it was last off. I'm assuming the previous owner had some work done on the engine before I purchased it. So there's no telling. As I mentioned in my original post I noticed oil on the left side of the engine under the big air intake box. You can see in one of the pics I uploaded. Might you know if there is a common leak on that side of the engine too?

ezone

Look at the round, black cap that goes where a distributor would mount if it was equipped with one. Those leak. There's probably a small puddle right under it.

Read here: https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...-oil-leak.html

aplotner03

Cool. I'll look into that this weekend too. Thanks for all the info and help ezone. I appreciate it.

ezone

YW.

FYI: If you have an EX/VTEC, the gasket for the VTEC valve can leak too. Common leaks at high mileage.

aplotner03

Yeah I indeed have a EX/VTEC. I'll check that and see if there's any sign of oil around there.

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

Damn good eye.

I would guess it would be safe to brake clean the coil?

ezone

Yeah, but the (now removed) rubber boot may be deteriorated and/or swollen from soaking in oil, plus it is no longer bonded (glued) to the tube and that could be a path for spark leakage and misfires if it is reused.

I wouldn't reuse it on a customers car, I need it to be a guaranteeable repair.

coopab

I've got this issue on my 2002 Civic and have the Felpro set from Autozone. The kit includes four "grommets", four spark plug tube seals, five rubber washers for the valve cover bolts, and the main gasket. What is the function of the "grommets"?

ezone

Come on, we can't see what you are talking about.

Pics?