INSANE oil leak from drivers side, above oil pan - Honda Prelude Forum

Systemix · 09-28-2006, 04:42 PM

I just replaced my oilpan b/c I hit a large rock that put a hole in it.

I've done the oilpan replacement before, and there are no leaks in the work I did BUT.....

When I turned on the engine, the first thing I heard what loud knocking...I was about to turn the engine off and it stopped...The engine began to purr and everything sounded great. That is, until I heard liquid from under the car. I looked under and all my new oil was coming out from ABOVE the oil pan on the drivers side of the engine, drenching all my belts and dripping all over the cardboard. It seemed as though it might have been sprayed, because it was dripping from a wide array of components. I turned the car off immediately. Please take note that the 'knocking' had stopped, and the engine only knocked for a moment while the engine re-distributed the oil when I initially turned it on. It sounded smooth as silk while it was leaking.

So after I cleaned up almost 5 quarts of oil (I imagine some is still in the pan), There is still a slow drip still from the drives side, on the side of the engine, behind a belt (the lower most, rear most belt). Would someone please tell me or guess as to what the heck happened?

Heh...I got laid off on Friday (I WAS a circuit board designer), and although I got a couple weeks severance (yay..) I need to get to interviews and need to get this fixed as quickly as possible.

Again, my engine 'sounded' fine, but I definitely have a big issue. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.

Christopher

Hazardus · 09-28-2006, 05:26 PM

that sucks man, lost your job and could have lost your car. They make this stuff you can put in your oil that makes it glow under a blacklight, I would get some, put it in your oil, and crank the car then shut it right off a few times til it shoots out of wherever it's coming out of. double check your work too, might be something with the oilpan you missed... possible gasket failure?

Systemix · 09-28-2006, 07:21 PM

The leak is at least an inch or two above the oil pan gasket...it is not the oil pan or the associated gasket.

Also, I cannot get into the area where the leak is because there is simply too much oil coming out. If I put that glowing stuff in, that would help visability (good idea), but I know about where it is coming from...drivers side ABOVE the oil pan gasket. Is there an oil feed line up there? Is there a seal that could have busted when I lost oil initially, or when I restarted my car?

71dsp · 09-28-2006, 07:45 PM

Front main or balance shaft seal. Probably the balance shaft seal.

Revi-Ra · 09-29-2006, 08:12 AM

Is the leak comming from the timming side or under neath the oil filter area? You could have cracked the oil pump. Best to take off your timming covers and check the oil pump areas.

Systemix · 09-29-2006, 08:40 AM

The oil was coming off the timing belt side, to the point that it drenched my belts in oil.

Revi-Ra · 09-29-2006, 10:59 AM

Have you removed your timming covers and ispected the area yet? There are too many seals there to know unless you get in and do some surgery.

marcucci · 09-29-2006, 11:52 AM

If you munched the pan & that's when the leak started (after replacing it) I would think it is related to your work or the damage. I would recommend taking off the timing cover & inspecting, as it is you really need to replace all the belts & verify that everything is OK anyways. If it's the balancer shafts or front main you'll see it.

At this point you may want to suck it up and take it in if you don't have the tools or know-how (or someone local that can help you).