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Engine oil leaking?

Tiny
ADOSPOY
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA ACCORD
  • 3.2L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 234,000 MILES
I noticed oil all over the passenger side bottom of engine. As I inspected to see where it could be coming from, I noticed a circle rubber seal popped off the side of the engine. It was ripped so I couldnt reattached it. I got some sealant auto tape to cover it but I looked online and in my owners manual to figure out what this seal is called with no luck. Then a metal attachment above the engine has a slow leak coming from it as well. Help
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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 AT 10:41 AM

61 Replies

Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
Hello and welcome to 2CarPros. With that many miles on the car, there are basically limitless possibilities as to what could be leaking. So let's start with getting some pictures uploaded. If you could get pictures of the seal in question, where it came from, the metal attachment that you see leaking, and (last but not least) stick your finger in the oily crud and take a picture of your finger. Then come back here and upload the pictures to this thread using the "Add image or video" button that's below the text input box. Then I'll be able to much better guide you through the diagnostic process.

This guide can help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil

Thanks for using 2CarPros.

Harry
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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 AT 1:13 PM
Tiny
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I have one photo for now. I can't do the finger thing until morning. The grey patch is where the quarter sized hole is. And the curved metal pipe/tube thing is rite in front. I had a rebuilt engine, new radiator and radiator fan put in last year around October. I honestly don't know how many miles is on the rebuilt engine. I didn't ask. I was just glad my car was fixed. And it wasn't something I even thought to ask when it was done.
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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
More about the picture, the black hose where it meets the goldish metal is where one of the leaks are besides where the grey patch is (quarter sized hole) and the seal that broke off was all filled in like a quarter, not like an o-ring.
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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 AT 2:21 PM
Tiny
HARRY P
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,292 POSTS
Okay. The black hose there is a power steering fluid line. It's under pressure when the car is running. It's not uncommon for them to start leaking where the rubber hose meets the metal fitting. The leak would only happen while the car was running. The leak would be really pronounced while turning the wheel all the way. So you might observe that hose while someone else turns the wheel all the way in one direction and holds it there.

The other line there is an A/C line. They can get pretty cool when you're running the air, resulting on condensation building up and then falling or running off. This can create the appearance of a leak, so you have to check around and see if it's just water that's leaked down and gotten all greasy and cruddy looking before it got to the ground.
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Thursday, April 11th, 2019 AT 3:49 AM
Tiny
ADOSPOY
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I think I am totally screwed now. I took my daughter to school and I saw smoke coming from underneath the hood. When I got a chance to look, I now have antifreeze all over the place.
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Thursday, April 11th, 2019 AT 5:56 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
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Not necessarily screwed. There's probably a coolant hose somewhere nearby that blew. It must've been leaking just a little. But since it's under pressure, a little leak became a big one. If the car didn't overheat, then that's going to be a small and relatively cheap fix. Poke around and find that leak.

All you have to do is borrow a cooling system pressure tester from the local parts store. When the car is cold, open the hood and refill the cooling system. Then connect the pressure tester, pump the pressure tester, and look for the leak. Take a few pictures and post them here. I'll give you through the process of fixing it yourself if possible.

Try that and we'll go from there. Good luck!
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Friday, April 12th, 2019 AT 3:32 AM
Tiny
ADOSPOY
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Thank you. I haven't ran the car in two days due to not wanting it to blow up with my kids in the car. Ill wait until Monday to do this test. It is a single parent household and I only have myself to do every thing so your help is super appreciated. I hope you have a great weekend and I will send those pictures on Monday.
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Friday, April 12th, 2019 AT 6:23 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
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I definitely understand being self reliant like that. Do have yourself a nice weekend as well.
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Saturday, April 13th, 2019 AT 3:43 AM
Tiny
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Do you think that k seal coolant stuff would work?
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Saturday, April 13th, 2019 AT 7:47 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
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Nah, if you saw steam then the leak is probably too big for that. That stuff rarely works anyways, and when it does it's usually a temporary fix. Go borrow that pressure tester and let's identify exactly what's leaking and we'll go from there.
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Saturday, April 13th, 2019 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
ADOSPOY
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  • 9 POSTS
Okay.
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Saturday, April 13th, 2019 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
ADOSPOY
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
So I didn't get to the auto store yesterday because my son stayed home from school. I just got back from Advanced Auto and they told me that pressure test thing is $259.00 to rent. I don't have that at all. We only survive on my sons disability check so funds are limited. But since the car has been sitting since last Thursday I didn't experience any smoking from underneath the hood probably because I didn't run the car long enough to get hot, I am guessing. But still the other leaks and I took a picture of where there is dried antifreeze. My oil was still full and I had to add power steering fluid when I got to Advanced Auto and my coolant was still at the level it was when I parked it last Thursday. So I don't know what to do next.
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Tuesday, April 16th, 2019 AT 7:12 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,490 POSTS
It looks like the radiator is leaking and you have a seal that is out in the front of the engine in the timing belt area. Also the oil is too full which can push the engine seals out and create the leak. Here is a guide to help walk you through the radiator replacement and diagrams below to help you take the front of the engine apart:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-radiator

I would do the timing belt and water pump while you are in there. Do all seals as well. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Friday, April 19th, 2019 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
HARRY P
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Oh sorry I didn't see that you had responded adospoy. Thanks for cleaning up Ken!

I did want to add that if the radiator is too expensive at your retail stores, you can look on amazon and Ebay (they're usually half of the price at the retail stores). You also might might might have a local radiator shop that can fix the one that you have, so long as the core isn't leaking. Honestly, the radiator repair shop might be the best way to go, as they use better quality parts than the aftermarket companies usually use.

Either way, let us know if we can be of further assistance.
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Friday, April 19th, 2019 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
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I will update you on the progress. Thank you so much for the help.
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Friday, April 19th, 2019 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,490 POSTS
Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is. NP HEYMAN we are the team!
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Monday, April 22nd, 2019 AT 12:45 PM
Tiny
FLORIDAGIRL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
I took my 1999 honda accord in for a routine oil change and was told that I need work performed for an oil leak that costs $1600 because they had to drop the engine and transmission to get to it. I haven't had any oil drips/puddles under my car and 5 years ago had timing belt, water pump, oil seals replaced @ 95,000 miles when I got oil leakage then. Four years ago I had replaced valve cover gasket and distributor o-ring, distributor cap, rotor, and ignition wires due to oil leak also. The work done today to fix the oil leak was: rear main oil seal, balancer shaft seal, cam journal seal, distributor o ring seal (again), retainer, and oil pan gasket. How many more oil leaks can I expect? The car is ten years old and I would have liked to keep it longer because it only has 152,000 miles on it, but now I may need to go new car shopping instead.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

I would be asking for a full report on what is actually leaking, and then go get a second opinion. I do often wonder about work shops that say you must spends up big with out giving any real details.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HONDAEX99
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 HONDA ACCORD
Engine Mechanical problem
1999 Honda Accord 4 cyl Automatic 108000 miles

It appears there is a oil leak underneath the pan. I've been told it could the oil pan or worse, crankshaft repair/replace. What would it be a reasonable cost for fixing this?
I'll be taking the car in tomorrow for check up.
This auto repair shop replaced the radiator last week and mentioned to me the thermostat? Is that part of the radiatior, they should have checked and fixed?
Am I being taken?
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Lil-
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Best to have the engine washed and checked for oil leak
oil may come from many places
checking oil pan and drain plug would be 1st
thermostat is located on the engine and not in the radiator or its area
but we always replaced thermostat when radiator replaced
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 11:39 AM (Merged)

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