I noticed that my car was leaking oil yesterday but didn't have the time to check it out until today. There are 3 oil spots on the ground within one or two inches of each other. There is also oil leaking in the engine bay. Here's some pics of the oil leaking in the engine bay and the oil spots on the ground is directly below the leak in the pics. I had a honda mechanic take a look at it and he said that he thinks it's the cam seal going bad but isn't sure until he has a closer look at it on Thursday.

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?i...mg08381ii8.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?i...mg08391sg0.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?i...mg08401cs0.jpg

 

it looks like either the cam seal or valve cover gasket.

 

How much should it cost to replace them and what usually cause them go to bad?

 

Don't know, and old age, typically.

 

In that position, the valve cover gasket is likely. Easy fix w/ < $25 for Felpro kit last time I looked.

good luck

 

the cam seal is difficult if you don't know how to deal with timing belts. the cam gear needs to come off.

 

I'm having the mechanic do the work so was wondering what a reasonable price would be.

 

Price depends on where you are located. For example, inChicago, where HondaTechAV6 is, a timing belt job may cost $1200, whereas in Mississippi where I am,the same job costs around $450.
With the cam seal job, you are paying for the labor. The seal itself is cheap. I would expect it will take a few hundred dollars since it may take the tech a few hours. If it is merely the valve cover gasket, it shouldn't even cost $100 since it shouldn't even take the tech 1 hour to do.
What city are you in?
Has your timing belt and water pump been changed yet?

 

I'm in Sacramento, CA right now. It cost me a little over $500t to change my timing belt/waterpump, 90k service, and valve adjustment. Spark plugs, wires, cap rotor was free because of the emission warranty by honda.

 

If the tbelt job was only 500, it shouldn't cost too much for a cam seal then. Call the shop that did your tbelt and ask them how much$. Let us know what they say! I'm still not entirely convinced it is the cam seal and not the valve cover gasket. Valve cover gasket is soo easy to DIY if you have some tools though. if you lived around Mississippi i'd tell you to bring the car to my house on the weekend and I'd do the valve cover gasket for you for a few beers
By the way, did they change any seals when they did your tbelt? if not, they might as well change them if they go in to do the cam seal.