Honda Car Forum

I had the unfortunate experience of having my balancer shaft seal fail
on my '93 Accord. All the oil ran out of the engine and I was stranded
on the side of the road. The dealer installed a new seal, along with
new timing and balancer belts, a $600 service. That was at 192,000
miles. Well, unfortunately, at 236,000 miles, it looks like oil is
slowly leaking out of the bottom of the timing belt cover again. These
are the same symptoms I experienced before the seal blew out the last
time. My brother helped me remove the upper timing belt cover so we
could try to spot the leak. It's hard to see where the oil is coming
from by removing just the top cover, but the inside of the top cover
looks like it's been getting oil slinged on it by the timing belt (see
pics at www.rochesternet.com/accord), however the timing belt itself
appears fairly dry. Also, as you can see from the second and third
photos, the outside of the lower timing belt cover is completely
saturated with oil as if it had been leaking profusely. Again however,
the inside of the timing belt area is relatively clean, so we're a
little confused about what course of action we could take.

- Based on the photographic evidence provided
(www.rochesternet.com/accord), should we assume that the leakage is
coming from the balancer shaft seal and simply install the balancer
shaft seal retainer clip only (assuming the dealer didn't do it when
they reinstalled the seal), and leave the timing belt alone because it
doesn't appear to be saturated with oil?

- Should we tear everything apart and determine with 100% certainty
where the leak is coming from, and if it is the balancer shaft seal,
completely replace the timing and balancer belts, seal and install
retainer clip?

Thanks,
Jim Montanus
Rochester, New York

I think it is camshaft seals that are leaking this time. Oil from balancer
shaft seal would not get so high underneath upper TB cover.

eraser

"jmontanus" <jmontanus@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ff09e934.0311070644.71a2975a@posting.google.c om...
> I had the unfortunate experience of having my balancer shaft seal fail
> on my '93 Accord. All the oil ran out of the engine and I was stranded
> on the side of the road. The dealer installed a new seal, along with
> new timing and balancer belts, a $600 service. That was at 192,000
> miles. Well, unfortunately, at 236,000 miles, it looks like oil is
> slowly leaking out of the bottom of the timing belt cover again. These
> are the same symptoms I experienced before the seal blew out the last
> time. My brother helped me remove the upper timing belt cover so we
> could try to spot the leak. It's hard to see where the oil is coming
> from by removing just the top cover, but the inside of the top cover
> looks like it's been getting oil slinged on it by the timing belt (see
> pics at www.rochesternet.com/accord), however the timing belt itself
> appears fairly dry. Also, as you can see from the second and third
> photos, the outside of the lower timing belt cover is completely
> saturated with oil as if it had been leaking profusely. Again however,
> the inside of the timing belt area is relatively clean, so we're a
> little confused about what course of action we could take.
>
> - Based on the photographic evidence provided
> (www.rochesternet.com/accord), should we assume that the leakage is
> coming from the balancer shaft seal and simply install the balancer
> shaft seal retainer clip only (assuming the dealer didn't do it when
> they reinstalled the seal), and leave the timing belt alone because it
> doesn't appear to be saturated with oil?
>
> - Should we tear everything apart and determine with 100% certainty
> where the leak is coming from, and if it is the balancer shaft seal,
> completely replace the timing and balancer belts, seal and install
> retainer clip?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Montanus
> Rochester, New York

jmontanus,

Looking at the pictures, I'd say they just didn't wash up the mess the
first time they had it open (lazy). With the belt being dry, you have no
worry. Some of the stuff they didn't wipe off is just oozing out, and
you're a bit sensitive to it's presence because it hurt a bit last time.
Good pictures and explanation. Full marks.

'Curly'

--------------------------------------

jmontanus wrote:
> I had the unfortunate experience of having my balancer shaft seal fail
> on my '93 Accord. All the oil ran out of the engine and I was stranded
> on the side of the road. The dealer installed a new seal, along with
> new timing and balancer belts, a $600 service. That was at 192,000
> miles. Well, unfortunately, at 236,000 miles, it looks like oil is
> slowly leaking out of the bottom of the timing belt cover again. These
> are the same symptoms I experienced before the seal blew out the last
> time. My brother helped me remove the upper timing belt cover so we
> could try to spot the leak. It's hard to see where the oil is coming
> from by removing just the top cover, but the inside of the top cover
> looks like it's been getting oil slinged on it by the timing belt (see
> pics at www.rochesternet.com/accord), however the timing belt itself
> appears fairly dry. Also, as you can see from the second and third
> photos, the outside of the lower timing belt cover is completely
> saturated with oil as if it had been leaking profusely. Again however,
> the inside of the timing belt area is relatively clean, so we're a
> little confused about what course of action we could take.
>
> - Based on the photographic evidence provided
> (www.rochesternet.com/accord), should we assume that the leakage is
> coming from the balancer shaft seal and simply install the balancer
> shaft seal retainer clip only (assuming the dealer didn't do it when
> they reinstalled the seal), and leave the timing belt alone because it
> doesn't appear to be saturated with oil?
>
> - Should we tear everything apart and determine with 100% certainty
> where the leak is coming from, and if it is the balancer shaft seal,
> completely replace the timing and balancer belts, seal and install
> retainer clip?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Montanus
> Rochester, New York

I agree with earser. A camshaft seal leak will have the inside of the
top cover
oil slinged. I`ve gone thru this before. In my case - my belt was
soaked, it had to be replaced. If there`re no soak spots on T-belt, I
would keep it.

Here's how it works: The particles leaking are so small to be seen or
succumbed to gravity, which is downward; instead they follow the
stronger force, which is the shaft, then onto the spinning wheel. Seal
installation is very difficult, because the camshaft could be worn
from the previous seal, as I`ve experienced. Caused could be - no
lubrication that wears out the camshaft prematurely. Based on one pic,
it could`ve be the valve cover seal. Also, you might need a mirror and
flashlight to see a balancer seal.
Rick

> I had the unfortunate experience of having my balancer shaft seal fail
> on my '93 Accord. All the oil ran out of the engine and I was stranded
> on the side of the road. The dealer installed a new seal, along with
> new timing and balancer belts, a $600 service. That was at 192,000
> miles. Well, unfortunately, at 236,000 miles, it looks like oil is
> slowly leaking out of the bottom of the timing belt cover again. These
> are the same symptoms I experienced before the seal blew out the last
> time. My brother helped me remove the upper timing belt cover so we
> could try to spot the leak. It's hard to see where the oil is coming
> from by removing just the top cover, but the inside of the top cover
> looks like it's been getting oil slinged on it by the timing belt (see
> pics at www.rochesternet.com/accord), however the timing belt itself
> appears fairly dry. Also, as you can see from the second and third
> photos, the outside of the lower timing belt cover is completely
> saturated with oil as if it had been leaking profusely. Again however,
> the inside of the timing belt area is relatively clean, so we're a
> little confused about what course of action we could take.
>
> - Based on the photographic evidence provided
> (www.rochesternet.com/accord), should we assume that the leakage is
> coming from the balancer shaft seal and simply install the balancer
> shaft seal retainer clip only (assuming the dealer didn't do it when
> they reinstalled the seal), and leave the timing belt alone because it
> doesn't appear to be saturated with oil?
>
> - Should we tear everything apart and determine with 100% certainty
> where the leak is coming from, and if it is the balancer shaft seal,
> completely replace the timing and balancer belts, seal and install
> retainer clip?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Montanus
> Rochester, New York

Typho: eraser.

Second thought, the valve cover seal looks fine. I would apply the
appropriate sealers on the 90 degree corners before reinstalling.

> I agree with earser.
>Based on one pic, it could be the valve cover seal.

RickySpartan@mailandnews.com (Ricky Spartacus) wrote in message news:<d1e1d73f.0311080259.47414000@posting.google. com>...
> Typho: eraser.
>
> Second thought, the valve cover seal looks fine. I would apply the
> appropriate sealers on the 90 degree corners before reinstalling.
>
> > I agree with earser.
> >Based on one pic, it could be the valve cover seal.

hard to tell from the pics. but a cam seal will do exactly what you
describe. the front balance shaft seal appears dry. but what about the
rear balance shaft seal?? i would replace the cam seal first and
install it to a depth that lets the seal lip ride on a different part
of the camshaft.
Chip

> > Second thought, the valve cover seal looks fine. I would apply the
> > appropriate sealers on the 90 degree corners before reinstalling.
> > > I agree with earser.
> > >Based on one pic, it could be the valve cover seal.

> hard to tell from the pics. but a cam seal will do exactly what you
> describe. the front balance shaft seal appears dry. but what about the
> rear balance shaft seal?? i would replace the cam seal first and
> install it to a depth that lets the seal lip ride on a different part
> of the camshaft.

Letting the seal lip ride on a different part of the camshaft was my
first attempt, using a special tool. It didn't solve the problem.
Three weeks of break-in periods solved it. Others may have better
luck.