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2004 Honda Civic EX D17-A2, 65k miles.

I noticed an oil leak when doing a recent oil change. I thought it was oil residue from the last oil change (oil drips from the oil filter when you remove it), but after a good wipe the oil streaks returned a few days later. Also, the leak appears to originate from ABOVE the oil pan, which eliminates the oil pan gasket as the culprit. What is back there that can cause an oil leak of this nature? It's not a significant leak. Nothing drips to the floor, but I don't like to ignore these sort of things and have it cause other issues later.

I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, THE VIDEO IS UPSIDE DOWN

[autostream]http://autostream.com/ibcivicforums/?page_type=firebirdplayerthumbnail&framepage=1333& transactionid=1352094521-76881358&posted_by=_www.civicforums.com&youtube_vi deo_id=KIwYJC-NuGI[/autostream]

 
Rep Power: 186

Very hard to tell from that video. You really need to clean everything completely up and then try to diagnose it. Just looking at the video, without everything being cleaned up, it could be valve cover gasket, cam seal, or oil pressure switch. Again, really hard to tell from that video. Maybe internal oil pump o-ring, but hard to tell.

EDIT: Is it running out under the lower timing belt cover?

 
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Matt,

Thanks for the reply! It's a bit of a tight spot, so I used my camera to get in there and check it out. I'll try to get a broader shot tomorrow. I honestly have no idea where it's coming from. I don't think it's coming from the timing belt area because the leak seems to be coming more from the back of the engine (somewhere under the intake). Maybe I shall try to remove the timing belt cover and see if that reveals anything? The oil "smudge" (I guess you could call it) seems to surround the PCV unit (that small black box with the hose running from it). Not 100% on that, but I wanted to ask if it's possible since it probably involves a passage into an area where oil is present.

 
Rep Power: 209

i would replace the valve cover gasket just because its so cheap and easy, hopefully that solves it, if not you are going to have to remove the timing belt cover and inspect everything in there,

 
Rep Power: 200

Like he said, hard to see. Funny you should say that though cause that is what I thought too. There is orings there though. There shouldn't be hardly any pressure there to make a big leak area like that. Any chance the vent box itself has a crack in it?

 
Rep Power: 186

If you could film from under the car looking up on the oil filter side and timing belt side of oil pan that might help a little. It would be best if you could clean everything up and then wait for it to leak again to get a better idea of where it's coming from. You could have multiple leaks.

 
Rep Power: 518

65k? There can't be any leaks. Too young.







Ok, there is a ledge under the oil filter (just above the oil pan, edge of the block) that holds a LOT of oil whenever you spin the filter off.

It sits there waiting to make messes.

Just a moist stain on the side of the engine isn't a valid leak to me.

Blot up the oil from the ledge and hose the whole area down with brake parts cleaner until it is spotless--- white-glove-test spotless, then drive it and see what comes back.

 
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I have somethings leaking under my distributor close to the block area it is like an oily but yet feels kind of sticky but again it looks like oil under the distributor area by coolant temp sensor if u can text me cause i dont know how to use this site id app it alot ill send u pics....7249802932 im jason

 
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So I wiped the oil streaks a few days ago and so far so good. NO additional oil. Quite possible that the technician simply did not clean the area after changing the filter, but also very possible he did not tighten the filter down as the streak only showed a few months ago (well after the oil change). I make sure the filter was nice and snug and bought myself a pair of jack stands. From now on, I'll be changing my own oil, even if I need to change it while parked on the street :-P Thanks again for all the help guys.