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Oil from front to back!

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1.9K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  0dyfamily  
T
#1 ·
Greetings

Details:
1998 Odyssey
2.3l 4 cylinder
280,000 miles
Owned for 3.5 years

Problem:
Leaking at least a quart of oil per week (last month).
Leaking at least a quart of transmission fluid per month (since date of purchase)

Pics:
Most show oil has traveled all the way to the back of the car, via exhaust pipe.


what could cause this much oil to leak? I've read about a gasket behind where the oil filter mounts. Drain plug and filter are tight.

The reason it's taken me a month to get to this is I've been dealing with issues with my son's 98 CR-V. Easier to just keep pouring oil into the Odyssey than to have 2 vehicles out of commission. Maybe some of you have been in this boat before?

Thanks for your time. I'll answer any questions you have as I am not sure what other details I have are pertinent.
Ryan
 
#2 ·
You've let it get so bad there's almost no way to find the leak. I would recommend putting on some old clothes, a pair of googles, get a half dozen cans of degreaser, some ramps, and take it to a car wash. Throw the ramps out in the wash bay, drive it up on the ramps, spray it down and pressure wash it all off. You'll want to get it all off, especially on the engine and trans. Then drive it for a few days and see where it's coming from. You may even be able to see it if you just let it run for a bit on the ramps.

I would look at the oil filter base as there is an o-ring there that can leak pretty bad:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/28-1995-1998-odyssey/21350-massive-oil-leak.html

If memory serves, and I could be wrong on this one, but it seems like I recall there being a common large leak source under the timing cover on one of the balance shafts or something but I can't find anything on the forum here on it at the moment. Here's a link I found on RepairPal...I always question the validity of anything I find there but it matches what I recall.

Balance Seal Falls Out, Retaining Device Available : Honda Odyssey Engine
 
T
#3 ·
I've cleaned up the oil on the underside of the van, though not as thoroughly as John Clark suggested, and replaced the oil filter housing gasket. I put in a couple quarts of oil and started the engine.

The gasket I replaced was not the problem.

Laying under the car I was able to see that oil is pouring from somewhere on the right side of the engine, above where the driver's side axle exits the transmission housing. I am unable to see, from above, the source of the oil fountain.


Any suggestions?
 
#4 ·
Use mirrors, remove the induction air tube, do whatever you need to do and remove whatever you need to remove, to see up in there, or down in there and find the source. I'm not familiar enough with that particular model to tell you where's it's leaking without seeing it. That big of a leak, with as clean as you have it right now, shouldn't be that hard to find.
 
T
#6 ·
I was able to get my van back on the road this weekend. I was able to get the VTEC sensor gasket for about $10. It was a tight fit to get it out and back in but the real head smacking came when I broke a valve cover bolt while putting things back together (I had removed the VC to get better access to the VTEC sensor mounting bolts). I ordered a replacement bolt and was able to get it the next day.

Long story short: oil leak + gaskets + snap + crap + new bolt = fixed.

Now I need to do something about all the oil on the driveway. :rip:
 
#8 ·
"Finger tight" for Chuck Norris means "shattered Grade 8 fasteners" for the rest of us Joes.

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