webmastir

My 03 TL (195k miles) has been slowly leaking oil for a while now (several months+). It's a very slow leak..drop here n there, but I've noticed it (as it should have) getting a bit worse as time has passed. I know it's coming up on 9+yrs old so gaskets start to wear n stuff.

From what I can tell, it's coming from around the gasket area on the oil pan. If anyone can look at these pics & give their thoughts, it'd be much appreciated.

01tl4tl

have you tried a socket on them to tighten,,its about 10-12 ft lbs torque iirc
those are pretty small bolts
get them all even - compare to non leakers for correct tightness

a lot of oil gets dripped off filter during change and will blow back over things
wash it off with simple green- gunk- or similar, so all is clean
wipe the upper arm surface where oil likes to go during filter change
just feel around--you will find it~

Need to start from clean, rather than guess whats happening
tighten the bolts and clean it up

RC99TL

The front engine cover is sealed with an epoxy and will weep down around the front pulley and everywhere you see.
Just wipe it all down between oil changes.

acutee

That is a lot of leaking covering under the car. Try to wipe it all clean and start tracing it. It seems to me it could be oil pump leak. On the third picture, the big arrow pointed to the top bolt, I dont think it leaks there; it leaks from the above of that bolt and it comes down. Dont tighten the oilpan bolts, it is not needed because it is not where the root of the leaks, and the leaks more likely wont go upward if it was from the oilpan gasket. Make sure you dont fill extra oil to reserve for the leak, the more you fill up the more it leaks; try to keep oil as minumum low as possible.

swoleCL

Easiest way is to wipe everything clean (easier said than done, I know) and trace the source. Most likely a valve cover gasket, or oilpump leak. Both easy DIY jobs.

webmastir

Thanks guys..

Ya I did oil change today so thought I'd finally try & find root of the problem & see if I can fix myself. I'll wipe the shit up (haven't ever wiped it up since I noticed it, which is why it's everywhere). Will keep better eye on it & update thread once I find source

RC99TL

After wiping it all down dust the engine with baby powder and go for a drive. When you come back follow the damp area to the leak(s). When done you can just gently hose the engine off.

01tl4tl

I still ck every bolts tightness, oil pan included

Gravity pulls oil down yes, AND 70mph wind blowing under the car will kick oil back and UP causing headaches to find

there was a ziner with reported oil pump leak last week or two---dealer says needs pump

If you have ramps it helps- otherwise take cardboard to lay on at the quarter car wash- heavily soap the underbody and rinse well on gentle rinse setting--dont blast!

I would use Gunk or other engine oil cleaner (simple green works) along with the car wash to get rid of oil
Note: car washes have filters to catch what you rinse off = not a bio hazard like doing in your driveway

webmastir

More great tips... thx again

RC99TL

Have a good new year everyone.
Can't even begin to describe how great this community is...

thanks.

01tl4tl

we all have an opinion, and most of the time respect each other~
Some have experience with a specific prob,,those tips are greatly appreciated!

Everything I know `specific to the gen2 TL`,,I learned right here on azine
a year down with a back injury let me read nearly every thread in the main forum and some of the sun forums
Bought myself some awesome parts in the black market sections
someone commented on my 18" Enkei rims the other day,,Wow! those are 1200 bucks!
nope 700 near new with quality tires- from another ziner,
learned some diy thats not part of normal cars = our egr port issue and other things
Azine is the rockstar of acura knowledge
Gurus exist!!
Thanks to all and to all a Happy new year

Ruthlessem1

iTrader: (1)

hope it's not your main seal..you'd have to remove the tranny to replace it

swllen_cu

iTrader: (1)

I had his same issue and it turned out to be my valve cover gaskets. They were 10 years old and hard as a rock!

webmastir

Damn..how hard of a DIY is this?

The difficulty level has hard as like...the water pump etc job?

acutee

Instructions for Valve Adjustment DIY. Once you see the valves, that is where you can replace the valve cover gasket, if that was the issue. I would say the difficulty level is 4. It is just hoses disconnection and unbolting.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...t=valve+gasket

swllen_cu

iTrader: (1)

The job isn't bad, Just takes some time. I'd say about 4 hours total

webmastir

Cool. Yeah I about got down that far when I did my egr port cleanings, so it looks like it's just one extra cover to remove basically. Will take a look to see if this is a possible source too. Thx

edit: anyone have part # by chance?
('03 regular TL)