[k20em2504]

I would recommend replacing the valve cover gasket and not using rtv. Rtv will cause it to leak faster than just using the gasket.

[mooze]

i have found this special dye. of all places autozone had it

[speedfoos]

VC gasket is brand new (twice now), until I figured out where the leak was coming from I just kept replacing it. I had a lot of extra ones from leaky HG woes.

Yeah, I can't remember the goofy order needed to get the upper cover off. I thought I had to remove the PS bracket - which is under the motor mount - to do so. I'll post the sequence up later today. And I'll be using RTV since Hondabond is like $30 a tube over here.

[dopes6070]

Wow and I thought paying $12 for the tube was bad

[speedfoos]

Nope. That's cheap. This country is too bloody expensive.

So I didn't have to pull the whole rocker assembly off, thank God and you guys.
I loosed everything up, shot some RTV underneath and buttoned it back up. Here's what it looks like.



I will let it sit for tonight to cure (it's cold, gonna take a few hours) and will drive it tomorrow to see if that worked. I appreciate all the suggestions folks! Now to figure it out why my boost controller doesn't. This will also be tested tomorrow.....

[FoSho]

Common problem I see all the time.....watch the cam humps aswell....I see alot of rtv at the ends...if you put too much rtv it will leak aswell.

[greeen01civic4d]

hey clint, when will the problems end???? In all honesty, would u do this again if u had the opportunity?? what would u do differently?

[speedfoos]

Thanks Adam and Fosho, I will be watching to see if any more leaks come up. If they, do, I'll take you up on that offer of the dye Adam.

If I were to do it all over again......and would I........I've asked myself that a lot.

I've said before, every time the nitnoid repairs get me down, I just drive it to the freeway and just blast. It's such a joy to drive that it erases all my frustration. And yeah I know. It's a freaking Honda Civic. Not a BMW, or an Audi, or a Cadillac. It's a car that cost $18K brand new. And I love it.

Now. What would I do differently if I were going to do it all over again.

I would have gone right to real engine management, that way I wouldn't have to wonder if I'm going to get any money out of my PCS-XFC when I upgrade later this year. I wouldn't have bothered with the RSX injectors although I did break even on them , considering I sold them for what I got the SRT-4 injectors for. I wouldn't have wasted money on the Y8 mani bits. I would have gotten a welder before starting the build. That would have saved me all kinds of time and about $200. Um, I would have paid Chris for the tune in Taco Bell gift certificates instead of cash.

That's really about it. Most of my issues stem from never really getting up to my elbows in the guts of an engine before. I've made some stupid mistakes, but I think I've been able to recover from them pretty well.

Although later this summer when I get ready to do the bottom end build, it should be interesting. I'll be getting the rods in about a month or so, pistons are already en route. After that it's just bearings, gaskets, a couple tools and some elbow grease before I have a built bottom end.

There's no telling what I'm going to fuck up when I do that part of the build myself!

[greeen01civic4d]

lol, thats too funny, ill be here to see what shit u break this summer

[speedfoos]

Go check Matt's thread when you get a chance...

[speedfoos]

The leak is fixed!!!! Thanks folks! Oh and I also figured out my boost controller. Now to just dial it in to 9 psi again.

[dopes6070]

Glad you got it fixed. I HATE leaks!

[Alpha 5]

I love how you like to talk about my meat.

BTW, glad the leak is gone.
I am thinking about sending you a "Care" package. lol

[speedfoos]

Thanks Matt.

Alternator is here! :woot:

Going out to install it right now. And I notice there's already a DIY on how to RnR one so I don't have to feel guilty about not doing one!

[speedfoos]

Alternator is in, but it appears to not have fixed anything. I'm going to pull out my gauge wiring and re-do it this week and see if that fixes it. Basically going to run new power wires to see if that helps anything. In fact I'm going to go do that right now.