noTLegend

1996 2.5TL. This happens every winter. I get a puddle in the garage floor in the mornings when it is very cold. Took it to the local honda dealership to have it checked, they found nothing. My only guess is that it is coming from the OIL FILTER seal being poor when the temp is too cold. I have gotten some pretty large puddles. Fitrst time I freaked and thought I had a blown main seal. Maybe I should just move to Florida or not drive the car in the cold. All the better reason to buy a Z car. If anyone else is experiencing the same please respond! Maybe I will switch away from FRAM oil filters.

UnsanePyro

Thats pretty wierd, maybe it is the oil filter seal like you said, is that where it's leaking from? Could always just replace that next oil change and make sure you put a new gasket/washer/whatever on.

Also, doesn't metal shrink when cold, and heat up when warmed? Probably sounds a little out there, but its the first thing that popped into my head.

vishnus11

if it happens EVERY winter, then im hesitant to blame the oil filter - unless u do your own oil changes and your not doing them right. If you do then there are some precautions u should follow when putting on an oil filter.

Use an oil filter wrench to get the old one off, and if some of the old gasket is left on the mount, scrape it off.
Coat the gasket of the new filter with fresh oil to ensure a better seal.
HAND TIGHTEN the oil filter

If it isnt the oil filter, it may be the oil pan? (seal around the oil pan). The oil pan is a bitch to take off because the tranaxle runs right through it if I remember correctly.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

P.S. If its only a few drops and it doesnt bother you, just add oil and be on your way

noTLegend

UNSANEPYRO,

I am not astro-physacist, but I am almost certain it will heat up when warmed. SEE YOUR COMMENt (HA HA). I am sure you meant expand, right?

per UNSANEPYRO ...Also, doesn't metal shrink when cold, and heat up when warmed?

My thinkiong there was the seal (gasket) was becoming rigid and no longer providing a good seal. I mean they use rubber for a reason.

VISHNUS11, I am doing all of the above when I do my oil changes. Like I said never a problem until those VERY VERY cold mornings. ANd if you have a 2.5, you know what a beatch the oil filter is to access plus it is mounted horizontally. Oh well, if the darn car didn't drive so well I would ditch it! Took it to Atalnta this summer and cruised 95 - 100 mph as smooth as silk and she's got 150K on her.

theloweman

Dude! I have a 1997 2.5 and my car has been doing the same exact thing. After exhaustive underhood research, i found the cause to be the distributor. To see if its your distributor, take your finger and run it under the distributor cap on top of that shield directly under it and if its leaking, there will be a puddle of oil there. My car does the same exact thing!! when it warms up, it stops leaking. Just ordered a dist from autozone for 200 bucks. Wll install next week. Let me know what you find!!

TheLoweMan
1997 2.5TL
106k Miles...

noTLegend

Let me know if the distirbutor fixes the problem! Glad to know there is someone else in this boat. Misery loves company.

lbbrando

No, No, No......Save your money. All you need is the dist. "o" ring, much much less than the whole thing which doesn't come with a new "o" ring. Man I hope you see this before you buy that.

theloweman

Its not coming from the o ring though... The oil is leaking out of the bushing in the distributor... Not the o ring. I took it off and verified that. Did you have the same problem??

lbbrando

What bushing are you talking about?
The dist. is only sealed by an "o" ring.
The dist. itself is just plastic and metal no electrical to it at all.
The only other thing as worst case is the oil seal on the end of the camshaft that the dist. spins on.

theloweman

Well, you were right. I double checked the dist and it isnt leaking through the bushing.. I replaced the seal and now it isn't leaking as much.. but its still leaking when cold... Should I be using some kind of gasket seal?? Anyone had any expirience with this?

TheLoweMan

noTLegend

OK! So it is not the O-ring at the distributor right? But the bushing also did not fix it or did you not replace the bushing?

lbbrando

So you replaced the bushing that you're talking about?
What bushing are you talking about, some pics would help.
It is possible that the "o" ring was damaged when installing.
What about the valve cover gasket? Did you use hondabond to seal things, I would that stuff is great.