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I could use some help identifying an oil leak. I have a 2004 Civic DX (manual transmission) with 187,000 miles. I just changed the oil and noticed that the oil pan was pretty dirty. I thought the oil pan gasket was leaking, but after taking a closer look, it appears that the leak is coming from somewhere else. It looks like the oil might be seeping from the breather cover on the backside of the engine, but I'm wondering if it could be coming from the cam seal and working its way down behind the timing belt cover. Is there a way I can tell if the cam seal is leaking without taking everything apart? I'm attaching a photo. I appreciate any help I can get!
Thanks.
Based solely on that picture I would guess the oil pump O-ring.
I didn't consider that. Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll clean it as sdaidoji said and watch for where the leak starts. I don't think it's a bad leak. I haven't had to add oil between changes so far. As long as it's not causing major problems I might let it go for a while. My main concern is I don't want oil leaking onto the timing belt and causing that to slip.
Based solely on that picture I would guess the oil pump O-ring.
I second this guess, probably the oil pump o-ring. It's a pretty big job to replace it unfortunately.
If it does happen to be the cam seal, some disassembly will be necessary. At the very least, you'll have to remove the valve cover and upper timing cover. Shine a light in there and you may be able to see if it's leaking.
I second this guess, probably the oil pump o-ring. It's a pretty big job to replace it unfortunately.
If it does happen to be the cam seal, some disassembly will be necessary. At the very least, you'll have to remove the valve cover and upper timing cover. Shine a light in there and you may be able to see if it's leaking.
If it does turn out to be the oil pump o-ring, is that something I should replace asap? I'm wondering if it can wait until my next timing belt change, or is that too risky?
It depends how much oil you are losing. Check the oil every week at least and determine the oil loss per 1K miles. If it isn't that much (ie 1/2 quart or less), then just keep topping off the oil and you should be okay.
Based on what I've read and my own experience, it is okay to drive the car with this leak. It was just a moderate irritation seeing all the leaking oil during oil changes. As long as you have enough oil and good oil pressure you should be fine.
Beyond the timing belt disassembly, you will need to remove the oil pan, crank gear, and oil pump.
If/when I do decide to take the engine apart, I'll probably do the timing belt at the same time while I'm in there. These are the parts I think I will need:
Oil pump o-ring
Crank seal
Timing belt
Timing belt tensioner
Water pump
Valve cover gasket
Is there anything I'm forgetting? Are there other parts I would want to replace while I'm in there?
Your list appears to have all the essentials. Anything else would be extra I'd say. You may expect to replace the lower timing cover as those seem to be broken many times (mine was). The alternator and A/C pulley belts are also something to consider, but not needed if the original belts are fine.
I STRONGLY recommend a good RTV sealant for the oil pump housing when you re-assemble. I used the "Silicone Black RTV" that the FelPro kit came with and it still leaks. Now I must do it again.
Permatex Ultra Black or Gray is my preferred choice of RTV sealant. "The Right Stuff" and Hondabond are also good options.
