Rep Power: 0

I have a '97 Honda Civic EX that has a front main seal leaking. Not sure if it's upper or lower. Going to replace everything while I'm in there. Any tips, advice, how to's, been there/done that, etc. would be a huge help. Thanks in advance.

Tim
Severn, MD

 
Rep Power: 0

Your setup looks similar to mine, even though mines a 7th gen, but I found it easier to replace the oil pump while I had all of that stuff off anyways, it comes with the seal already installed. The only drawback is you have to take off the oil pan, which I did anyway because that was leaking also. But for some reason my pump was only about $40, yours is $93.

 
Rep Power: 812

what weight of oil are you using and how bad is the leak?

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the info "madAd". My neighbors son told me the same thing, to replace the pump and be done with it. Him and his buddies work on and drag race Honda's all the time. He was Pinks last year as well.

"gearbox", this car was given to me by a co-worker who didn't want to fix it. I'm not sure what weight they were using, but it was at least 2 quarts overfilled when I checked it (which is probably why the seal is leaking if they've been running like that). I drained and refilled with Mobil 1 5w30. The leak is BAD. About a quart every 2-3 days needs to be put back in.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah, as long as you don't mind pulling the oil pan, it is way easier to replace the pump than to try and pry the seal out without damaging the pump or the crank ( I did it that way the first time I changed my timing belt). Youjust get the pump, and the strainer off of the bottom of the block,( I reused the strainer, just cleaned it really good and put on a new gasket), clean the oil-pump gasket surface thoroughly, and my repair manual said to use anaerobic sealant for the gasket- expensive, but works great. The torque for the oil pump bolts is 96 in-lbs or 11 Nm, at least on my car which is an '02, but yours are probably the same size bolts going into an aluminum block, so I guess it would be the same torque.