Hello I own a 1997 Honda Civic Coupe DX. I recently had my car overheat and as per usual I though it was going to be a leak in the radiator, or fan or hose or the water pump. But I could not have been more wrong, so the leak actually came from the valve cover gasket. Yes that is right, the valve cover gasket. Coolant was coming out hot and steaming with pressure too, out from the rear end of the valve cover gasket. So since it was finals I was like nope, I will take the bus and deal with it later. It is now later. So here is what I know so far.
1) Coolant leaked from valve cover gasket, rear passenger side of the engine
2) Oil is in the air filter box, the box is behind the engine.
3) there is an oil leak coming from the Distributer O-ring ( easy fix)
4) I am broke and need help to figure this out and DYI it

My biggest issue is dealing with the coolant coming from the valve cover gasket. The oil in the air filter can be a bad PCV valve and just needs a new one.
Please any idea on what can it be, will help.
If you are sure its a blown head gasket then let me know because I am baffled as to what else it could be

Pics or it didn't happen. Unless you mean head gasket or something.


What seems real common is blowing open the (OIL SOAKED) heater hose that's under the distributor, and it rains antifreeze all over the place.......or maybe the crankcase vent tube warmer is leaking antifreeze..



Pull the oil dipstick, does it look waay too full? Does it look like chocolate milkshake?

I thought OP was confused as to where the leak was coming from until i read

That said. I wanna see this, too. I'm genuinely curious. lol

Unless there is coolant in the oil, coolant can't actually leak OUT OF the valve cover. Something must be leaking onto it. Maybe you have a heater hose leak or something?

Worn out 5th gen FITV's seals were known to leak coolant into the intake and possibly that may manifest itself into a leak through valve cover but, not sure if that's likely. Also, 6th gen's don't have a FITV.
The heater hose under the distributor that Ezone mentioned can develope a slit in it and p!ss coolant all over the engine, underside of hood, or possibly to just a specific area depending on length and location of tear.