oil leak (major)

[healthmgr]

Engine oil appears to be leaking heavily from bottom of transmission on my 1993 Accord. Has never used oil before then in a matter of days.....heavy leaking! The car only has 75,000 miles and I can't locate any underside damage that would cause this.......Is it the rear main seal of engine or what? Is there any way to fix main seal without pulling tranny tottaly out? Someone said they thought there was a tool that you can use by just seperating tranny from engine but not completely removing? Any help appreciated! Thanks........Kevin

[Gold'n]

Yeah right! If its the rear main the trans has to come out. I replace rear mains all the time. Is it an automatic or a manual? If its an auto matic you get out the trans, torque converter and the flywheel. If its an manual take out the trans, pressure plate and clutch disc, and remove the flywheel.

Be cafefull while reinstalling the rear main. You must have it flush and be carefull about popping the retainer spring out of the seal. Grease the inside of the seal. DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SEAL. It will slip out of the engine.

[Gold'n]

BTW, Honda's are the easyest cars to remove the trans in. Well, at least in my opinion.

[healthmgr]

Thanks for the info.......I'm not sure its the rear main yet but a lot of things point that direction. Theres only one more lead I'm following....2 months ago I changed oil and instead of the dino oil I had been using before I thought I would switch to Mobil 1 and about a month later was when the leaks started.....now I'm hearing from several on AF that was a mistake especially without changing over slowly.....they say that synthetic oil will sometimes slip by old seals where dino would sludge and stay put. Does anyone know if I can switch back (if this is the case) and thereby stop the leak once again?? It has never used oil before so unless this rear main went overnight it seems way too quick! I am in it for the long haul though so whether I get out of this w/o spending much money/labor or not I will keep the car........I love my Honda......Thx Gold'n for your help if I need to go that route-later

[Gold'n]

Seems to quick? Look under the car, if the oil is coming from the i9nspection plate cover on the trans its most likely a rear main. If its the oil pan gasket you can tell by spraying on some solvent on the area of the leak and let the engine run for awhile. recheck.

The best way to check for a hidden leak is to go buy some oil dye and put it in the oil. Run it for a couple days and get a black light under the hood. The dye glows like crazy under a black light. Most shops use UV lamps to check but a black light will work.

I have heard alot of different theorys on switching oil types around. So far I havnt noticed any signifigent problems with doing so. However you should find one you like and stick to it.

[healthmgr]

I found my leak at last! I have a leak at the base of the Distributor....there was so much in the way I didn't see it before. It leaks there and runs down the tranny and makes a mess all over....it even runs down where the oil filter side and makes it look like the filter is leaking too.I changed oil and filter and made sure neither of them was adding to the confusion....then because the oil was clean I was able to see trail easier. Now I just have to fix this leak and hopefully that will be it! Is this a o-ring replacement job at base of distributor or is there something else I'm not aware of there? Thx for hangin in there with me Gold!! You are a trooper!

[dbbyleo]

health...
I am also having a heavy leaking. It started a very small leak. It leak very lightly for a long long time (2 years it leaked). But this morning, I started to leak very very heavy - all of a sudden.

Like you, I've always noticed the small leak coming from the area of the where the oil filter is mounted. But looking closer, I can tell it's not.

So when I first read your thread, it appeared to be exactly my situation. But when I look at and around the distributor, I see no apparent leaks.

Is the leak you were having at the distributor really apparent and obvious?

Gold'n, Got and ideas where mine might be coming from (if not from the distibutor)?

Thanks. help needed badly.

[mpumas]

Just above the oil filter is the oil pressure sensor. Wash everything down with solvent or degreaser then water. Let everything dry then run the car until the leak shows. You may have to remove the oil filter to see up to the pressure sensor. If it is leaking, pressure sensors are cheap and rather universal.

[slipknotcraig133]

my 86 lxi is leaking in the same place. It was light and then it started to mean business my road in front of my house is covered in oil. It leaked 4 quarts in a matter or 4 or 5 days. is there some kind of seal that might be broke or could it be the valve cover gasket.

[mpumas]

Could be valve cover gasket. Need to wash down the whole engine with degreaser then water. The run the engine and look for leaks. Valve cover gasket problems cause seepey leaks. Oil pressure swtich and oil filter leaks cause massive leaks because they are under pressure.

[dbbyleo]

I'm finally getting some time to do some real investigation.

It does not appear to be coming from the oil pressure sensor unit. At first sight, it appears to be coming from oil cooling unit - at the seem where it meets the engine. Is this possible?

It hard to tell at the moment because the oil appears to be coming from the side and more to the top of the cooling unit. So from below, I can't make a definite id. But if I look from above and through the intake manifold, I can see the top of the oil filter, the cooling unit, and the backside of the sensor. From there I really don't see any oil leaking.

At this point, I'm suspecting the cooling unit appears to leak at the side and at the seems.

Again, is this possible? And if so, what are my options?

Thanks.

[dbbyleo]

after cleaning the area around the oil cooler and filter, I have identified that the leak is coming from the seem where the oil cooler meets the engine.

Can the cooler be replaced?

If not, is it a good idea to use JB weld to patch up the leak?

What else are my options?

[mpumas]

Time to take a trip to the dealer and look at the parts list. I would suspect that the oil cooler is spun on to the block much like the oil filter with a gasket between the block and the cooler. And if you do take it off, change the small hoses that circulate water through the cooler. They are a bitch to change and they do start to leak after a while. Keep us advised on your solution.

[dbbyleo]

It was the oil cooler and I have sinced replaced the o-ring where the leak was coming from. See my post in this thread for details:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?p=2641560

[davidm5377]

I had a few drops of oil on the ground, checked underneath the other day and the oil filter was barely on, I reached up and it loosened by hand.
I cleaned around the area, will check it again in a week.
You have to doublecheck the quick lube places.