Took the 2.5 to my local mechanic and he said he couldnt do the work without taking the intake manifold off. I don't want to do that. I am a shadetree mechanic--I can turn a wrench. TexasHonda did a nice writeup on the job. But is it really that difficult? I NEED to get this fixed.

 

I did it without removing the intake manifold. It just takes a little more patience and time. I wouldn't say difficult, just an awarkward position to get your tools and hands into the right place.

 

Idk what exactly is your problem but mine once had a leak from the oil filter. I replaced the gasket and its all good

 

It's actually a leak from the extension of the oil filter base, the surface that attaches to the engine. The oil filter attaches to this extension, which then is attached to the engine with a gasket shaped like the number "8" that flattens out over time causing leaks on cold startups.

96TL_X: You probably lucked out and it was only the gasket of the oil filter that was leaking. If it really were to be the base that was leaking, you would see oil gushing out from behind the area further in towards the engine side of the mount.

 

Thank you for the information! Now I know how to encounter it when it happens to me.