Dip Stick Pipe O-Ring - Honda Prelude Forum

racinghonda · 08-14-2006, 07:28 PM

Has anyone had an oil leak from this area? I replaced my crank, cams and balance shaft seals about 17000kms ago and have noticed oil forming on the bottom of the lower timing cover. I degreased the area and then ran the car, I noticed oil coming from the bottom of the dip stick pipe, where is goes into the block.

I am thinking that the mechanic didn't replace the o-ring when he removed the dip stick pipe for when he changed the seals and timing belt.

I called Honda and its a 5 day wait for a new o-ring. It seems to be leaking nicely from there.

Xander · 08-14-2006, 07:47 PM

I've removed that dipstick several times and several different preludes and have never seen a leak from that seal

IALuder · 08-14-2006, 08:37 PM

me neither. i dont think i have one.

petern101 · 08-14-2006, 09:16 PM

seems to me it might be leaking somewhere else and appearing to come out there. maybe?

IALuder · 08-14-2006, 09:30 PM

the oring that typically goes out is the one inbetween the oil filter and the block.

racinghonda · 08-14-2006, 10:14 PM

Yeah its very strange, the oil seems to form around there when I run the engine. Normally if the balance shaft seal leaks it will drip out of the bottom of the lower timing cover. But the oil seems to start the seep out from where the dip stick pipe goes into the block.

I will degrease again tonight and check watch it with the engine running, but that area just looks wet with oil and the area above it is dry and clean.

racinghonda · 08-15-2006, 03:33 PM

Well

after closer inspection it looks like the leak is likely to be coming from the balance shaft seal.

It looks like the oil is coming out of the lower timing cover near the where the dip stick goes into the block (just above it). It looks like a drainage point for any oil leakage.

This is not my engine, but you can see that below the balance shaft (exhaust side) there is a bit of metal that leads to the left and then out to the side. The lower timing cover just has a little tab to close that but it obviously not oil tight. Then below it you can see a hole where the dip stick pipe has been removed

I can't think of any other place where the oil could be leaking from. The area above it is completely dry and the design of the block looks like that is where any oil leakage is likely to end up.

OH, and I should add that I noticed my PCV valve was stuck. Could this has caused oil to seep out from seals? I heard that a stuck PCV can cause an over pressure?

racinghonda · 08-20-2006, 02:19 AM

Well, I fixed the oil leak. The front balance shaft seal was leaking. It was a big job to change it over, I have never ventured into that part of the car before. It looks like the seal on it had backed out a little bit and was stopped by the retainer. The seal looked like it was non-genuine. I put an OEM seal on it, followed the Honda service manual and put great on the lips etc. I pressed it on with a 30mm deep socket. Wasn't fun but at least I got to inspect eveyrthing around there.

Probably quadruple checked that the balance shafts were on TDC etc.

slipknot95758 · 08-20-2006, 07:50 AM

there is a service buliten on this affects hondas 92-97

racinghonda · 08-20-2006, 03:51 PM

Yeah, the TSB was for the fitting of a seal retainer. That is what saved my ass! I kinda feel lucky in a way. After a 40kms drive today at 110kph, and revs above 3000 for most of the way, the problem area is still dry. So I guess I did it right.

slipknot95758 · 08-22-2006, 12:04 AM

i had mine pop out on my way hoem from work a 30 mile drive, i pulled in to get gas right after work and there was a solid line of oil leading up to my car.