1988 CRX DX oil leak, how do you fix it?

[Valk1500]

I think this is leaking from around the pan and main seal by the belt pulley. This CRX is a DX all stock since I bought new in Jan 1988. It has 194,000 miles on it now, so I'm guessing it is well over due for a oil pan gasket. So how do you change it with that bracket in the back of the motor in the way? do you have to get one of those motor support holders from harbor freight that fits over the motor on the fender edges so that you can take that motor mount bracket out of the way of the oil pan trans area? I have been putting this fix off for at least 10 years because it wasn't leaking that bad, but now it's bad.

I personally changed out the clutch, pressure plate and the rear seal while I was at it about 10 years ago, and she's still not needing to be redone yet but that was at 100,000 miles so I bet that is just around the corner again.

Thanks in advance to all of you for the advice that work hard to save money and do the job right the first time.

[dozer1]

if you have a good repair manual the oil pan gasket and the front main seal are not that hard to replace it has been a little while but i believe the timing cover and stuff has to come off so if you can afford it while everthing is apart replace timing belt inspect waterpump and anything else you have to dismantle to gain access

[Tony]

To change the oil pan gasket you won't need anything to support the engine. The brackets you are talking about can easily be removed without worries about supporting the engine. None of your engine mounts that actually support it, include the oil pan. The 2 brackets that are by the oil pan just help brace the transmission.

[ukrkoz]

well, here's what i'd have done:
jack your car
get a can of carb cleaner
spray the hell around the area of concern, and wipe it all off clean, then sparay again and clean again.
drive for a week and check that area again.
now you should be able to determine if it's pan gasket, or main seal. if the leak is from down below the timing belt cover/sprocket - it's main seal, buddy.
you'll have to do it the hard way - remove main pulley, sprocket, belts, cover, and pull that seal out. that is the easy part. on mine, 91 lx, i have to remove alternator, move PS pump, move AC compressor (i ended disconnecting it completely, but to do just that, w-out removing radiator, took me only about 1.5 hrs)and now you can get to cover and timing belt.
of course, then you'll have pleasure of re-setting belt and timing again. so yeah, just like the other poster said - replace everything whilst you in there: pump, belt, tensioner, and tensioner roller.
good luck and godspeed.

btw, found interesting thing about lexus wisdom. they have 2 dots marking teeth on their timing belts. timing sprocket gear has dot on it that has to go between those 2 dots on the belt. CAN'T GET IT WRONG, period.