1988 Honda Prelude I NEED HELP PLEASE!!! - Honda Prelude Forum

upsalon89 · 07-15-2010, 01:58 PM

Im having issues with my 88 prelude and i cant seem to figure it out so i need someones help. My car runs fine but after driving it for a few my check engine light comes on. After i stop or park and shut it off i can see a little bit of white smoke coming from the engine area. i looked underneath my car and i can see smoke coming off my exhaust hose towards the front of the car. It looks like a mesh looking hose connected to a medal piece. I researched online and im wondering if it is due to to leaking power steering fluid dripping onto my exhaust manifold.... does any of this sound fimilar to anyone if you can help id appreciate it. Thanks if you can email me that would be faster upsalon89@yahoo.com Thank You

Colfax · 07-21-2010, 04:20 PM

It could be power steering fluid, engine oil, or coolant. I would suspect coolant. Check and see if your engine oil, coolant, or power steering fluid levels are slowly going down. And you should be able to tell by the smell what is leaking onto your downpipe.

yescurvyswab · 07-26-2010, 01:17 AM

if it's coming from the mesh covered hose over the exhaust manifold, then it's power steering fluid. I had one develop tiny fissures, so it seemed fluid was seeping through the hose. I don't know why Honda routed the hose that way...

upsalon89 · 07-27-2010, 12:22 AM

yeah its kinda annoying im having a hard time replacing it its hard to get to but i hope that thats the problem thanks guys.

upsalon89 · 08-06-2010, 08:06 PM

So I just got back from camping for 3 days and figured id take the lude out for a ride. Within 20 minutes of driving I decided to head back. Again i noticed some white smoke. I should state I did replace the valve cover seal i thought i was maybe dripping a little oil from the back side of the valve onto my exhaust. Well looks like i was wrong. Im not sure exactly what the problem is its frustrating me like crazy...Any suggestions onto what it may be someone told me it could be the oil pan but another said the car wouldnt move if it was an oil pan issue i hate 2 sides i need one haha. has anyone heard of this issue before i wish i knew a little more about the lude but im slowly learning. Thanks

upsalon89 · 08-06-2010, 08:08 PM

Oh and is there an "easy" way i could find a leak or an estimated area of the hose i could be leaking from? im not sure if its power steering.

Colfax · 08-09-2010, 02:26 PM

You need to determine what the fluid is. You can have an oil pan leak and still drive the car. I don't know what your friend means when he said that the car wouldn't move if it had an oil pan problem, but he is wrong. But at this point, you don't even know what is leaking onto the downpipe. Figure out what it is and your job of figuring out where it's leaking from will be easier. What does the smoke smell like? There is a distinct difference in the smell of burning oil, burning coolant, and burning power steering fluid.