Diagnosing Oil Leak & Seepage Problem

lothian

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2000 Accord EX, 150k mil

Within the past month, our stalwart and well maintained Accord is suddenly dripping oil. My cursory inspection reveals:

hdy2hzv

oil pooling behind the EGR; no seepage from valve cover gasket in this area

j57hh9p

oil pooling behind the EGR; oil seepage on camshaft thrust cover; no seepage from oil cap or valve cover gasket in this area

gvvswoy

fresh oil coats oil pan; fresh drips form on the oil pan and frame arm; apparent stress fractures on oil pan

za2ms5e

- oil-wet coats the oil pan bottom and frame arm; no seepage from crankshaft oil seal

js8de4d

oil seepage around oil pan; fresh oil coats pan bolts

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- oil splash on exhaust A-pipe; oil drips form near oil drain plug

My plan to diagnose the source(s) of seeping oil beings with thoroughly cleaning the surfaces in these images. I'll drive the car under normal conditions, then reinspect. My hope is to find an oil run, which presumably will lead me to its source.

My initial speculation, I need to replace:
- the o-ring (91301-P8A-A00) behind the camshaft thrust cover assembly (12230-P8A-A00); and,
- the oil pan (11200-P8A-A00).

Thoughts, opinions, experienced anecdotes, and t'shooting procedures for diagnosing this sort of filthy problem will be appreciated.
 
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mx5kev

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Most likely your cam cover gasket, your cam cap gasket, vtec solenoid and oil fitler bracket gasket and oil pan gasket. Just did all of those on mine, now it's leak free.
 

lothian

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Most likely your cam cover gasket, your cam cap gasket, vtec solenoid and oil filter bracket gasket and oil pan gasket. Just did all of those on mine, now it's leak free.

I completely cleaned the engine top-to-bottom a couple days ago. I inspect above and below with a flashlight subsequent to each drive. I see no seepage around the "vtec solenoid", "oil filter bracket gasket", valve cover gaskets and oil pressure switch.

But then, after just four days and with a completely clean and dry engine, I see...

1) a thin line of shininess from the head gasket at the front left corner of the engine:
IMG_2084.jpg


2) slight seepage reappears from the camshaft thrust cover (what you call the "cam cover"):
IMG_2077.jpg


3) significant wetness again at the front right corner of the oil pan where the A/C compressor bolts to the block:
IMG_20822.jpg

I cannot tell if it's coming from the oil pan seal in this vicinity, or if it's coming from somewhere higher up.
Though at this corner of the engine, above and around front, I see...

4) a smallish pool of wetness midway down that is in a nook near the water pump.
IMG_2080.jpg


The image below provides some orientation. (Use x-ray vision to see through the P/S hose that obscures the area of pooling.)
IMG_20811.jpg


5) and today (5/20/2016), I see this on the transmission-side of the oil pan:
IMG_2086.jpg

Oil is dripping with such fluidity from this area it is as if a seal has blown.
 
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lothian

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FIXED: Diagnosing Oil Leak & Seepage Problem

The oil leak on my 2000 Accord seemed to originate from two locations: the camshaft thrust cover, and the oil pan mating surface. I repaired both items which fixed both leaks.

I replaced the o-ring (91301-P8A-A00) behind the camshaft thrust cover assembly (12230-P8A-A00), a stupid-easy job that sealed that source of leakage.

I removed the oil pan--a slightly less easy job--cleaned off the original 16yo RTV and scoured the pan to a shiny finish. I inspected the pan and confirmed that the cracks were in fact superficial. I applied a bead of Permatex Ultra Grey RTV to the pan mating surface and immediately mounted it to a similarly clean block, torqued the 10mm fasteners to spec, then let the thing rest for 24hrs. Upon return, I added oil and drove it for an hour or so. Days later, and no leaks.
 

Russianred

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As an additional idea, if you ever can't figure it out - get the UV dye from any auto store (~$7.99), it's safe for all fluid systems in the car. Pull out your blacklight from the basement, the one that you hung in your college dorm room. Run the car with the light on in the suspected area, and you will see clear as day where the culprit is. :waytogo:
 
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