Hi, I have a 1996 Honda Accord LX (4 banger, non-vtec) that's got an oil leak (enough to leave a few spots on the ground every time I park it). I've traced the leak to right below the distributor. I replaced the valve cover gasket about a year ago and checked it again recently here and that is definitely not leaking. I stuck my hand right under the distributor and got some fresh oil on it so I'm almost 100% sure this is where it's coming from. My question is, does this sound like something that usually leaks? Is there an O-ring that goes in between the distributor and the head that could be totally shot? The car has ~108,000 miles on it.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

 

There is an oil seal in between the cam and distibutor. That is probably shot. While you have the valve cover off, you should replace the timing belt side too since the oil can get onto the timing belt and do really bad things.

 

There's an O-ring (#7) around the base of the distributor. Replace that.

There's also an oil seal around the distributor shaft, but it would leak into the inside of the distributor. Sounds like that's not your problem?

 

JimBlake, yeah, I also took the cap off the distributor and looked inside to make sure oil wasn't getting in there and it was dry in there. Thanks for posting that diagram. Looks like I'll be replacing that O-ring. Replacing it should be a piece of cake right?

 

Yup, replacing that o-ring solved the problem. Thanks guys.

 

Good to hear.

Did you check out the one on the timing belt side to see if it should have been replaced?

 

how did you trace the oil leak? are there specific steps that you take? or did you just look around? i'm a newbie, but i want to learn as much as possible =). my dad's 89 maxima has an oil leak; i'd like to find out where its coming from. plus i figure i'm going to have to deal w/ this on my 97 accord (almost 100k miles) sooner or later too. any help would be greatly appreciated... thanks!!

 

Finding the leak, you just clean the engine real good & look around for it. Sounds simple, but sometimes it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from. Sometimes the actual source of the leak is hidden behind stuff, or you need mirrors & 3 elbows to reach it...