Any possible ideas? - Honda Prelude Forum

Preludeboy09 · 03-21-2011, 11:33 AM

I am new here, but I am looking for some advice from people who well... know preludes.

I have a 95 JDM H22A engine in my SI.

When I was coming from work I stopped and I noticed my Temperature gauge jacked up to red, and after turning the car off and on, it was normal. The rest of the ride home it was normal. Been normal before and after. Sometimes if it sat and it was hot outside the temperature gauge would go up to before red, then revving the engine would drop it back to the middle. Doesn't happen when driving, or when it's fairly cold outside.

When I got there the oil light came on. Figured it must have gotten low. Sat for a day.

When I went back out a day later, i noticed lines on the street where I came in and parked. Under the car a puddle of oil.

I have tried to pinpoint where it's leaking, it seems to centralize around the the oil pan on the right hand side ( driver side ) but I am not sure if it is leaking down from above, or if it's the gasket itself. Before I got crazy, any ideas what seal could be leaking from that area? The PS pump is above it, under that is the alternator. It appears to be under the alternator, in the front right corner area of the pan?

Any help from the experts?

minilogoguy18 · 03-22-2011, 07:04 AM

Possible front balance shaft seal or crank seal, they had a TSB on the balance shaft seal being forced out by oil pressure, there is a metal piece available to hold it in. Crank seal can be a nasty leaker too if let go unchecked. You need to clean the entire motor off, put oil in it and check it to see where it's coming from.

Before you swapped that engine did you even bother doing any oil seals or even a timing belt on it? If not that was a huge mistake, even though they are low mileage from most importers all those seals are pretty much shot on them as well as the timing belt just from age. They're rubber, they dry rot.

As for the temp, did you even bother to check the coolant level? Is there any in there? If so more than likely the thermostat is to blame.

Preludeboy09 · 03-23-2011, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the response.

Yes timing belt was done, I know the valve cover gasket was replaced. Not sure on other seals.

I am going to take it to get cleaned to see where its coming from, but I was wondering about this:

Do you know offhand if a Oil Cooler line goes in anywhere in the spot? Im wondering if that could have cracked or broke because of a faulty oil cooler. Which also might explain why when the car idled, it went to hot, but revving it went back to normal temperature?

Also it has a brand new radiator, thermostat, and hoses.

Im assuming worst case is a seal. Its definitely not a cracked block or anything.

Preludeboy09 · 03-24-2011, 01:55 PM

Thinking it might be the cam seal.

So thanks for the advice, just going to junk the whole car for 200$.