I have a 98 2.3 accord with an oil leak it looks to be coming from the edge of the pan just behind the balancer it not coming from the balancer it is coming from around the pan but it only leaks when the motor is running I have a feeling that the pan gasket it the culprit let me know if I am wrong

 

1998 doesn't have a pan gasket, it just uses sealant. But that still makes sense as the leak. Can you clean it up real good then watch it leak to really verify whether it comes from the pan "gasket"?

 

The motor was pretty clean and it appears to be comming from that area i didnt think that it would pour out like that how hard is it to change out that gasket on the pan

 

I never had to do it when I had a 98, but doesn't seem too bad.

1 Corrosion on the exhaust system can make it difficult to remove the A-pipe from underneath the pan.

2 Have to remove a couple parts (brace, coverplate) at the other end near the bellhousing.

3 Pan is "glued" on with sealant; so it might take some work with a mallet & prybar to get it off without damage.

4 Clean it good, and I think(?) there IS a gasket available even though the factory assembly doesn't use one. Your choice I guess, so think about whether you want to use a gasket or just sealant.

 

I wouldn't think oil would "pour out" of a deteriorating oil pan seal. Oil can pour out of a pushed-out front balance shaft seal (upper left in pic) or, less likely, either the crankshaft seal (bottom) or rear balance shaft gear case O-ring (upper right), then drip off the oil pan behind the harmonic balancer.

 

I had an oil leak on my 96 accord v6. My mechanic dump a bottle of re-seal and it works. Looks like the same situation as we with oil coming from the pan.