1991 Accord oil leakage
 

Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
it.
It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
leakage...
Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?

Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
required intervals.

JanN wrote:
>
> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> it.
> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> leakage...
> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>
> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
required intervals.

JanN wrote:
>
> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> it.
> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> leakage...
> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>
> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
required intervals.

JanN wrote:
>
> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> it.
> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> leakage...
> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>
> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

The location of the oil on the power steering reservoir top seemed a bit
strange, so I didn't post originally.

I am chiming in now to say that, my 1991 Civic LX had a serious valve cover
gasket leak (but probably not due to age) last year. Oil was all over the lower
part of the engine. I regularly change the oil and clean up under the hood, so I
knew this was not usual. A low oil dipstick reading confirmed.

Turns out a few weeks before a kid apprentice had taken off the valve cover to
troubleshoot a breakdown. It was a mom and pop shop in the middle of nowhere, so
they let me watch. I wasn't savvy about the gasket at the time. I am pretty sure
the kid was not careful when he put the valve cover back on, and so the gasket
was somewhat twisted and not seated properly. A new gasket and careful
re-assembly fixed it right up. (The breakdown turned out to be the distributor
rotor set screw failing. That is, no working rotor. Bustards at the Honda
dealership screwed this up at least once, to boot.)

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

The location of the oil on the power steering reservoir top seemed a bit
strange, so I didn't post originally.

I am chiming in now to say that, my 1991 Civic LX had a serious valve cover
gasket leak (but probably not due to age) last year. Oil was all over the lower
part of the engine. I regularly change the oil and clean up under the hood, so I
knew this was not usual. A low oil dipstick reading confirmed.

Turns out a few weeks before a kid apprentice had taken off the valve cover to
troubleshoot a breakdown. It was a mom and pop shop in the middle of nowhere, so
they let me watch. I wasn't savvy about the gasket at the time. I am pretty sure
the kid was not careful when he put the valve cover back on, and so the gasket
was somewhat twisted and not seated properly. A new gasket and careful
re-assembly fixed it right up. (The breakdown turned out to be the distributor
rotor set screw failing. That is, no working rotor. Bustards at the Honda
dealership screwed this up at least once, to boot.)

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

The location of the oil on the power steering reservoir top seemed a bit
strange, so I didn't post originally.

I am chiming in now to say that, my 1991 Civic LX had a serious valve cover
gasket leak (but probably not due to age) last year. Oil was all over the lower
part of the engine. I regularly change the oil and clean up under the hood, so I
knew this was not usual. A low oil dipstick reading confirmed.

Turns out a few weeks before a kid apprentice had taken off the valve cover to
troubleshoot a breakdown. It was a mom and pop shop in the middle of nowhere, so
they let me watch. I wasn't savvy about the gasket at the time. I am pretty sure
the kid was not careful when he put the valve cover back on, and so the gasket
was somewhat twisted and not seated properly. A new gasket and careful
re-assembly fixed it right up. (The breakdown turned out to be the distributor
rotor set screw failing. That is, no working rotor. Bustards at the Honda
dealership screwed this up at least once, to boot.)

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
bottom.
I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
bottom.
I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
bottom.
I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> required intervals.
>
> JanN wrote:
> >
> > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
on
> > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
my
> > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
I
> > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
not
> > it.
> > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > leakage...
> > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> >
> > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If your spark plugs go in through the middle of the valve cover, there is a
set of rubber gaskets around those holes as well on the bottom of the valve
cover. They are usually separate from the main gasket, but replacing both
will probably fix your leaks. With a '91, you might also want to replace
the rubber washers on the bolts that hold down the valve cover as well.

The above is assuming the oil on the plug was at the top of the threads -
the part that sticks out of the engine. If the oil on the bottom of the
spark plug was at the electrode or the bottom of the threads, you have a
different problem that gaskets won't fix.

On 1/5/04 6:08 PM, in article btcu74$ajp$1@gist.usc.edu, "Trojan"
<klutulu@softhome.net> wrote:

> I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
> When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
> bottom.
> I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
>> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
>> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
>> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
>> required intervals.
>>
>> JanN wrote:
>>>
>>> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
> on
>>> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
> my
>>> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
>>> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
>>> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
> I
>>> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
> not
>>> it.
>>> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
>>> leakage...
>>> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>>>
>>> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?
>
>

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If your spark plugs go in through the middle of the valve cover, there is a
set of rubber gaskets around those holes as well on the bottom of the valve
cover. They are usually separate from the main gasket, but replacing both
will probably fix your leaks. With a '91, you might also want to replace
the rubber washers on the bolts that hold down the valve cover as well.

The above is assuming the oil on the plug was at the top of the threads -
the part that sticks out of the engine. If the oil on the bottom of the
spark plug was at the electrode or the bottom of the threads, you have a
different problem that gaskets won't fix.

On 1/5/04 6:08 PM, in article btcu74$ajp$1@gist.usc.edu, "Trojan"
<klutulu@softhome.net> wrote:

> I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
> When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
> bottom.
> I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
>> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
>> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
>> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
>> required intervals.
>>
>> JanN wrote:
>>>
>>> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
> on
>>> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
> my
>>> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
>>> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
>>> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
> I
>>> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
> not
>>> it.
>>> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
>>> leakage...
>>> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>>>
>>> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?
>
>

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

If your spark plugs go in through the middle of the valve cover, there is a
set of rubber gaskets around those holes as well on the bottom of the valve
cover. They are usually separate from the main gasket, but replacing both
will probably fix your leaks. With a '91, you might also want to replace
the rubber washers on the bolts that hold down the valve cover as well.

The above is assuming the oil on the plug was at the top of the threads -
the part that sticks out of the engine. If the oil on the bottom of the
spark plug was at the electrode or the bottom of the threads, you have a
different problem that gaskets won't fix.

On 1/5/04 6:08 PM, in article btcu74$ajp$1@gist.usc.edu, "Trojan"
<klutulu@softhome.net> wrote:

> I have a 91 Accord EX Sedan and the valve cover gasket has some oil leak.
> When I did the tune up , one of the spark plugs had little oil on the
> bottom.
> I was wondering whether changing the valve cover gasket would help ?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FF98EA9.B3116861@junkmail.com...
>> If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
>> cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
>> have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
>> required intervals.
>>
>> JanN wrote:
>>>
>>> Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is found
> on
>>> top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that. In
> my
>>> first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
>>> different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
>>> I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I thought
> I
>>> had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
> not
>>> it.
>>> It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
>>> leakage...
>>> Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
>>>
>>> Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?
>
>

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

The oil is all around on the top of the power steering reservoir. All signs
look like it is leaking down from there only. I do not find any oil leakage
on the lower part of the engine...
Could the powersteering be 'overcooking'??

"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:a7iKb.21718$lo3.771@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
> The location of the oil on the power steering reservoir top seemed a bit
> strange, so I didn't post originally.
>
> I am chiming in now to say that, my 1991 Civic LX had a serious valve
cover
> gasket leak (but probably not due to age) last year. Oil was all over the
lower
> part of the engine. I regularly change the oil and clean up under the
hood, so I
> knew this was not usual. A low oil dipstick reading confirmed.
>
> Turns out a few weeks before a kid apprentice had taken off the valve
cover to
> troubleshoot a breakdown. It was a mom and pop shop in the middle of
nowhere, so
> they let me watch. I wasn't savvy about the gasket at the time. I am
pretty sure
> the kid was not careful when he put the valve cover back on, and so the
gasket
> was somewhat twisted and not seated properly. A new gasket and careful
> re-assembly fixed it right up. (The breakdown turned out to be the
distributor
> rotor set screw failing. That is, no working rotor. Bustards at the Honda
> dealership screwed this up at least once, to boot.)
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote
> > If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> > cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> > have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> > required intervals.
> >
> > JanN wrote:
> > >
> > > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is
found on
> > > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that.
In my
> > > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I
thought I
> > > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
not
> > > it.
> > > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > > leakage...
> > > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> > >
> > > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?
>
>

Re: 1991 Accord oil leakage
 

The oil is all around on the top of the power steering reservoir. All signs
look like it is leaking down from there only. I do not find any oil leakage
on the lower part of the engine...
Could the powersteering be 'overcooking'??

"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:a7iKb.21718$lo3.771@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
> The location of the oil on the power steering reservoir top seemed a bit
> strange, so I didn't post originally.
>
> I am chiming in now to say that, my 1991 Civic LX had a serious valve
cover
> gasket leak (but probably not due to age) last year. Oil was all over the
lower
> part of the engine. I regularly change the oil and clean up under the
hood, so I
> knew this was not usual. A low oil dipstick reading confirmed.
>
> Turns out a few weeks before a kid apprentice had taken off the valve
cover to
> troubleshoot a breakdown. It was a mom and pop shop in the middle of
nowhere, so
> they let me watch. I wasn't savvy about the gasket at the time. I am
pretty sure
> the kid was not careful when he put the valve cover back on, and so the
gasket
> was somewhat twisted and not seated properly. A new gasket and careful
> re-assembly fixed it right up. (The breakdown turned out to be the
distributor
> rotor set screw failing. That is, no working rotor. Bustards at the Honda
> dealership screwed this up at least once, to boot.)
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote
> > If it is motor oil, check around the valve cover for a leaking valve
> > cover gasket. Never seen a leaking one on a Honda but I know other makes
> > have issues with the valve cover gasket if it is not replaced at re
> > required intervals.
> >
> > JanN wrote:
> > >
> > > Recently my 1991 Accord (2.2 liter engine) is spilling oil. Oil is
found on
> > > top of the power steering reservoir and in the area underneath that.
In my
> > > first observation it does not seem to be power steering oil, it smells
> > > different. Also the power steering oil level is still at max.
> > > I cannot find any spots where the oil may come from. At first I
thought I
> > > had driven the car with the dipstick not put in properly, but this is
not
> > > it.
> > > It seems that as long as I keep the rpms down there is no significant
> > > leakage...
> > > Any hint, suggestions what I should look for?
> > >
> > > Could it be overpressure in the powersteering system?
>
>