MAJOR OIL LEAK: Cause?

[whatsupzaflo]

Hi my name is david and ive got a VERY big problem.
When i first got this 1990 Honda Accord 2.2 LX from my mom, she told me the car had an oil leak, needed a timing belt (replaced), and some type of fuel pump problem (fixed).
The oil leak is the major difficuilty now. before replacing the timing belt, the leak wasn't that bad but after reaplacing it the leak became catastrophic. Whenever i start the car or drive it for that matter, it is hard to tell anything is wrong with it. After around a 3 minute drive if you look under the hood it looks like my car is dying. There is an oil leak so bad that there is oil on the underneath of the hood.
Many people have told me that it is a blown head gasket, but i am skeptical because i dont see my idle jumping eradically or i rarely feel loss of compression. No white smoke is coming from the exhaust, but after a moderate 5 minute drive, if you open the oil input on the valve cover it seems like there is some type of white looking gas coming from it, but is way too light and too little of it for it to be smoke.
Also, other people have told me that it may be a cracked head, but im not firmiliar with any of the symptoms.
So i was just wondering what are some symtoms of a malfunctioning head gasket and some of a cracked head? Can someone PLEASE elaborate? I will go into more detail upon request.
Any help i can get will be better than nothing.

Thank you for taking your time to read this, and any comments you may have.

[AccordCodger]

Well, it could be a combination of things. For example, when the timing belt was changed, was the front main oil seal replaced? If not, the pulleys could be throwing oil up inside the hood.

Almost anything coming from the oil filler hole is not really good, although the positive crankcase pressure plus the normal fuming of hot oil will give off SOMETHING.

[whatsupzaflo]

The case is off, but that's not the problem. That is why there is oil on the hood though. Oil is coming off the pulleys and landing on the hood, but the cause of the oil leak is what has me stumped. Ive been getting lots of opinions on it, and so far i haven't found one good answer, but a variety of answers. I have been looking for someone to take a look at it, but everyone says it is way too big of a job for them. I need to find the root of the leak which may be the head gasket or the block, but either way it wont be cheap.

[AccordCodger]

The case is off

Please clarify.
Oil from the front main bearing will throw it off the pulleys (if the leak is bad enough, which it obviously is.) To throw oil OFF the pulleys, something has to get oil ON the pulleys.

It's possible but unlikely that a head/block leak would squirt oil on the pulleys. But if it does, you'd see that just by looking under the hood with the motor running.

[whatsupzaflo]

Yes, i can see a leak, but i dont know exactly what the location of it is. I have looked for an answer but any leak in the engine is hard to find with obstacled intruding your sight. I can hear a hissing sound when the car is running and im listening with the hood up, and i see oil squirting out, but i dont know where its coming from, whether it is the gasket or the block. The timing belt cover is off and it is throwing oil off of it onto the underneath of the hood, but where is the oil getting onto the timing belt from? the gasket or the block? i am back to my original problem. This has been confusing me for a few months now and im searching for a low-cost answer.

Also, thanks for the replys.

[mpumas]

You need to wash the engine down with a good degreaser then alot of water. Get all the oil off everything in the engine compartment and engine. Then and only then can you determine where it is coming from. It sounds like it is a pressure leak, so the first place to look is the oil filter and oil pressure sensor in the back of the engine below the intake manifold. If it is coming from the timing belt end of the engine, you may have a oil pump problem which is driven off the timing belt system. Again a clean engine is the best place to start.

[whatsupzaflo]

Ok, heres the deal. Before i got the car, i knew it had a small leak coming from either the head gasket or the block. Its either one of those two, i just cant distinguish which one. Maybe if i cleaned it off i would be able to see a general area where it is coming from, but i wont be able to pinpoint whether it is the gasket, or maybe a little crack right above the gasket, and since they could be so close together, it iwll make it even harder. Also, is it were under the exhaust manifold, i wouldnt see it flying off of the timing belt.

Thanks for the suggestion though, every little piece of information can help me.

[AccordCodger]

Well, after cleaning, you might have to get under it to see the leak. Not a fun prospect, I agree.

By the way - more bad news - if you have oil all over the timing belt, it's going to need changing again.

[whatsupzaflo]

CRAP! It took so long for me to change the timing belt the first time. Well fi i already have the engine taken apart and am in the process of putting it back on the only problem is money. Why is the timing belt unusable with oil on it?

[mpumas]

It's made with rubber and oil eats rubber

[whatsupzaflo]

Does anyone have any low cost solutions theyd like to tell me? even if it seems kind of dumb i will hear you out, i just need some kind of advice as to what i should do with this car (scrap it, etc.)