1992 Civic Valve Cover Gasket Question...

[TheGeneralLee86]

I was wondering if the valve cover gasket can cause a good size oil leak? Because I have checked all other things and there isn't any oil dripping on the ground or anywhere else underneath I check it every single day I check under the car for oil drippage and haven't ever seen any under it! I usually see a loss of 1 quart a week I know the Valve cover does leak but not sure if it would leak out this much oil though?

Also I know it does run rich cause there is a lot of black gritty soot in the tail pipe, so I know it does burn a little oil and runs rich too.

 

[K.O.S_88]

I was wondering if the valve cover gasket can cause a good size oil leak? Because I have checked all other things and there isn't any oil dripping on the ground or anywhere else underneath I check it every single day I check under the car for oil drippage and haven't ever seen any under it! I usually see a loss of 1 quart a week I know the Valve cover does leak but not sure if it would leak out this much oil though?

Also I know it does run rich cause there is a lot of black gritty soot in the tail pipe, so I know it does burn a little oil and runs rich too.

your car is burning oil if it was leaking from valve cover youll see it possibly smell it of the exhaust manifold

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

your car is burning oil if it was leaking from valve cover youll see it possibly smell it of the exhaust manifold

Oh yes I definitely smell it after I've been driving enough for it to warm up. Do you mean smell it off the exhaust manifold too?

 

[blackEG]

do a compression test and cylinder leakdown test..

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

do a compression test and cylinder leakdown test..

I'm positive it ain't the compression because It wouldn't have the power that it does thats for sure (not gently either). When I take off if I decide to push the gas hard it puts you back in your seat. It's also a MT 5spd.

12:41PM EST I forgot t ask what is Cylinder leak down test is it in the Haynes repair manual?

 

[d r i v e n]

Sounds like ya need some FIPG.

 

[andrew256]

Valve cover gaskets can leak oil but I can't imagine one leaking that much...

 

[K.O.S_88]

Oh yes I definitely smell it after I've been driving enough for it to warm up. Do you mean smell it off the exhaust manifold too?

i meant like if oil drips on the exhaust manifold you can smell burnt oil probly need bottom end rebuild new rings etc

 

[K.O.S_88]

I'm positive it ain't the compression because It wouldn't have the power that it does thats for sure (not gently either). When I take off if I decide to push the gas hard it puts you back in your seat. It's also a MT 5spd.

12:41PM EST I forgot t ask what is Cylinder leak down test is it in the Haynes repair manual?

you take your spark plugs out one by one and the main distributor plug and you have this gauge and tube and has right threading for your spark plug hole and you like crank it like 5 or 3 times or something like that then tells you how much compression for each cylinder

 

[1Lowcoupe]

usually when a valve cover gasket leaks theres oil residue all over the engine..
but it definately sounds like your burning oil.

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

Sounds like ya need some FIPG.

What does that mean? Thanks

Valve cover gaskets can leak oil but I can't imagine one leaking that much...

I wouldn't think so either

i meant like if oil drips on the exhaust manifold you can smell burnt oil probly need bottom end rebuild new rings etc

I know thats from me dripping oil on it by accident or when I accidently opened the oil cap when it was running so but shut the car off and put it back wasn't quite in thinking mode only had a few seconds of that! LOL!

you take your spark plugs out one by one and the main distributor plug and you have this gauge and tube and has right threading for your spark plug hole and you like crank it like 5 or 3 times or something like that then tells you how much compression for each cylinder

Thanks a lot I'll have to try that and get me a compression thingy forgot the real name of it but I do know what it is.

usually when a valve cover gasket leaks theres oil residue all over the engine..
but it definately sounds like your burning oil.

Yeah there is especially around where the seems are but I've gotta clean it and figure it out.

 

[Coutts]

my valve cover gasket was bad on my 95 dx sedan, every week or so i'd check under the hood to add oil and the front of the engine/trans would be covered in s**t, i'd clean it off every time. i just replaced the gasket 2 weeks ago and so far no leakage, and not as much oil is disappearing :

 

[d r i v e n]

What does that mean? Thanks

It's a sealant. A "goo gasket" as they call it.

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

It's a sealant. A "goo gasket" as they call it.

I already bought a valve cover gasket and I am also wondering to if I put the goo gasket in with the gasket I already have too would it hurt to do that?

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

my valve cover gasket was bad on my 95 dx sedan, every week or so i'd check under the hood to add oil and the front of the engine/trans would be covered in s**t, i'd clean it off every time. i just replaced the gasket 2 weeks ago and so far no leakage, and not as much oil is disappearing :

That's about what mine is too and my dads good with vehicles and he says that he guarantee it is most likely the valve cover gasket. I am hoping he is right.

I am also gonna be havin all of this done when my local mechanic puts in my Gas tank and straps on I am also having him put the Valve Cover Gasket and the furel filter I bought in too! I was wondering should I check the spark plugs to make sure they are't fouled up from the oil and what not?

 

[d r i v e n]

I already bought a valve cover gasket and I am also wondering to if I put the goo gasket in with the gasket I already have too would it hurt to do that?

No don't do that. If it's a new gasket that'll do fine. I put the red goo in place of a regular gasket and it held up very well.

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

No don't do that. If it's a new gasket that'll do fine. I put the red goo in place of a regular gasket and it held up very well.

Thanks for the Info and I greatly appreciate it thats for sure!

 

[EGHseries]

it might even be valve seals bro have some one rev the motor till like 1500 rpm for like thirty secs and then release you should smell oil out of your muffler and put your hand down there bro and yes i recommend a compression check

 

[TheGeneralLee86]

Hello I just got my car back last night from the shop and he changed the tank which had a whole in it and replaced it with the one that I bought and you wouldn't believe the difference it made just by the changing the gas tank it has regained a lot of acceleration back too. I also found out that if I shift at the shift points reccomended in the manual it hardly burns any oil at all and when I am in 4th gear MT (it has a Manual Transmission) it doesn't even slow down at all when I go up the hill and I do not have to downshift to keep from slowing down and when I go to my grandparents house 7 miles from here there is a lot of ups and downs that are fairly good grades.​

Mind you he didn't replace the fuel filter as far as I know cause the one I bought and told him was in the trunk is still in the box and sealed packaging too and the Valve cover gasket didn't get replaced as far as I know anyways and I can take the straps that I had bought back cause he ended up reusing the old ones. It also only cost me 50 bucks because I get a discount because my dad helps him a lot with other things. I am still gonna replace the fuel filter and valve cover gasket when I get time on my own because I know they will not be to hard and I have the Haynes repair manual for the year and model.​

I greatly appreciate all of your help from all of you it was of great help for sure and hopefully he did change the fuel filter I have not looked under the hood yet though to see if he had changed the fuel filter but I will do that tomorrow because I am running out of daylight here!​

 

[31dev31]

It was probably all that gunk you had in the fuel tank and the low pressure in the tank due to the hole... good to hear the good news though!