Honda Car Forum

I have a small oil leak somewhere and I am having a very hard time
diagnosing the location. I do know that when I open the hood there is
always a few drops of oil on the hood right above the power steering fluid
drive wheel.
I am pretty sure that it is oil and not power steering fluid-- it is
darker in color than the p.s. fluid.
Since this location on the hood is directly above the belts, I assume
that there is an oil leak getting onto one of the belts and being flung onto
the hood during driving.
If anyone has any past experience in this area, please let me know.
FWIW-- there is a smell of burning rubber also coming from this part of the
engine when I get out of my car after driving. I cannot smell it inside the
cabin, and it only happens when the engine is hot. I assume oil dripping
onto a hot engine causing this symptom.

Thanks for your help,

Matthew Brown
Memphis

Matthew Brown wrote:
>
> I have a small oil leak somewhere and I am having a very hard time
> diagnosing the location. I do know that when I open the hood there is
> always a few drops of oil on the hood right above the power steering
> fluid drive wheel.
> I am pretty sure that it is oil and not power steering fluid-- it is
> darker in color than the p.s. fluid.
> Since this location on the hood is directly above the belts, I assume
> that there is an oil leak getting onto one of the belts and being flung
> onto the hood during driving.

The most likely causes are a leaking valve cover gasket, leaking cam seal,
or leaking front crank seal (note that the head gasket can also leak oil but
this is less likely). In either of these cases it sounds like you have a
large leak. Oil leaks in this area are problematic in as much as oil can
get on the timing belt which dramatically shortens its service life.
Failure of the timing belt can lead to mechanical engine damage, e.g., bent
valves. In short, it would be best to get the oil leak and timing belt
inspected as soon as possible to ensure that the engine keeps working.

Eric

Matthew Brown wrote:

> I have a small oil leak somewhere and I am having a very hard time
> diagnosing the location. I do know that when I open the hood there is
> always a few drops of oil on the hood right above the power steering fluid
> drive wheel.
> I am pretty sure that it is oil and not power steering fluid-- it is
> darker in color than the p.s. fluid.
> Since this location on the hood is directly above the belts, I assume
> that there is an oil leak getting onto one of the belts and being flung onto
> the hood during driving.
> If anyone has any past experience in this area, please let me know.
> FWIW-- there is a smell of burning rubber also coming from this part of the
> engine when I get out of my car after driving. I cannot smell it inside the
> cabin, and it only happens when the engine is hot. I assume oil dripping
> onto a hot engine causing this symptom.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Matthew Brown
> Memphis
>
>
Could be the cam belt seal has blown. Easy enough to replace Remove top
engine cover, remove the timing belt cover (two 10 mm screws on side
)Inspect for oil. Further>if youre able to work on cars< remove belt and
drive pulley after marking the position of the belt on the pulley. Do
not rotate engine under any circumstance. Dig out seal with small screw
driver and after coating the new one with some gasket goop replace in
reverse order... Watch out for the key on the pulley shaft > Youl'l
loose it like I did otherwise...

i have just changed the oil in my 98 prelude 2.2vtec before i emptied the
old oil i could see oil on the bottom of the gearbox and the fluid looks
like atm because if it was engine oil it would've been dirty? i haven't
noticed it before. but when the engine is cold it revs funny between gear
changes could this have anything to do with the leak? my fluid resovoir is
showing that there is enough fluid in?