Hey guys,

My winter beater ('94 Accord LX 5-sp) is leaking oil. From the looks of it, the gasket it leaking. The Low Oil Pressure light comes on after about 2800mi on a fresh oil change.

Two questions:

1) Is it "safe" to drive the car? Just need it to get to me and from work (~30mi each way) for a couple of months.

2) Is there a quick (hack) fix to keep it from leaking so badly? As soon as it warms up, I'll do a proper fix. But for now, I don't have a garage to work in.


Any thoughts/ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

If you can keep feeding oil into it, so the oil level stays OK, then the leak is less important. The danger of an oil leak is when you DON'T KNOW that it is leaking & the oil level gets way too low.

However, I'd make sure to get the pressure warning sorted out. The leak might actually be through the sensor itself (that's not uncommon).

 

When the low oil pressure light comes on, how much oil must be added to get it back to full?

If you are losing a lot of oil, then try to find the leak by visual inspection. The distributor area, valve cover, oil pressure switch, timing belt area are areas to look.

Also, have 3-4 quarts of oil in the car at all times to top off immediately when the low oil pressure light turns on.

 

I had the oil pressure sensor replaced just over a year ago, so I don't think that's the problem. I was under the car just last week (for toe alignment) and I saw the oil pan was streaked with oil coming from the gasket area.

My friend has been using my car for the last few months, so I don't know how much needs to be topped up when the light comes on. I'll carry a 5qt jug of oil with me then.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

If the low oil pressure light comes on, or any other red light, STOP now, turn off engine. My cousin with a PHD in Special Ed. cooked an engine in her car when she ignored a red light. So did the engineer on our line where I work. Needless to say her engineering solutions have caused more problems than see has corrected. That's another story.

My Corvair is the Exxon Valdez of the auto leaking world.

 

Word of advice on thoughts regarding oil stop leaks...those are quick fixes that may ruin an engine in the long run. And when the next oil change happens, all the additives in the stop leak will be gone, resulting in a repeat of the problem miles later. Definitely carry spare oil in the trunk.


Oil pressure is a concern. More than just troublesome gaskets. The whole oil pressure system has to be checked. Something that would leak fast would be a real concern. So the amount lost is good info to know.

 

You know the fix: just check / add oil every 700 - 1000 miles.
I do that on my '97 (same as your '94) - which has got to be one of worst versions Honda ever made.

 

Well, if you have the 1,800 rpm "buzz" issue you might as well bet new doughnut gaskets and a new pan and seal. They are pretty cheap at the dealer I work with. You need to drop the pipe to replace the pan/seal anyway. Just don't over tighten the 6mm bolts.