v6 oil leaks
 

I just bought a 01 accord ex coupe with the v6.It is leaking oil as the pan is wet with fresh oil..I cleaned all of it and ran it to find the leak.Only place I see leaking is the oil pan bolts themselves,they are all tight.Is this common ?Can I reinstall bolts with some thread sealer or dos it need a complete pan sealant change?
I also found oil leaking from cam seals?It's the drivers side front head (on the end ).How hard is that to fix?? Any help would be highly appreciated!

Hmmm, something doesn't sound quite right; how many miles on the engine, has it been overheated at some point?

Not that I know,but I do know the timing belt,water pump and cam seals have been replaced..It was like 2 yrs ago.Car runs awesome.Only 110k on it..

If the oil pan is leaking, use a new liquid gasket on the oil pan. Use either Hondabond HT or Permatex Ultra Grey. Hondabond is easier to work with though.

Thanks,that's my question..The gasket isn't leaking,it's seeping around the bolts..

Here's a pic.

Here's a better one

Here's a better one

Seeping around the bolts; still doesn't sound right. Could it be the crush washer of the drain plug leaking and the oil blowing under the pan and back up to the bolts?

Well,I've been watching the plug and it's definitely coming from the bolts so far..I read somewhere to put honda bond on bolts also?I know there shouldn't be oil leaking from anything above the bolt,but maybe they didn't run their bead of honda bonds correctly around all bolt holes and it's leaking from the side of bolt,and leaking down the bolt??Is there a write up on pan removal anywhere,I can't find one..

Well,I have to eat my words! After letting it sit overnight it is wet around edge of pan..How do ya tell if it's leaking somewhere above and just leaking down?? Surely the pan sealant isn't bad after only 110k miles??Here's a pic of what was just done to it 6mnths ago.

I'm still doubting your pan gasket is leaking; I also have a 2001 V6 Accord, with 160,000 miles, and it is dry as a bone on the outside.

As for leaking higher up and running down; that is more likely. Were I in your shoes I'd buy some UV leak detection dye along with a UV "Blacklight" and UV Safety Glasses; that makes leak detection easy.

Well,guess I was right the 1st time!! I cleaned it really good ,let it run and only oil leaks there is,is the corner pan bolts (2) towards passenger side of engine..No where else..Wonder If I could just silicone the bolts and reinstall??

The oil pan bolts hold the pan against the engine block, so oil must be leaking through the gasket. I'm not sure if your car has a gasket or just hondabond.

A cam seal leak would cause oil to drop down to the pan. When you say the corner bolts, is that the side of the engine next to or opposite of the transmission?

The bolts that are leaking are on the belts side.One on front side of engine and one on the rear.I was thinking the Honda bond must not be sealing between oil and the bolt..Man,not looking forward to doing the reseal!

After further inspection I can't figure out where it's coming from,one pic is where oil pump mates to block by the idler,running down from cam seals?? Oil pump adhesive bad causing leak? The other pic is where oil is coming from,again I can't tell where it originates,oil pump?Cam seal?? I tried the dye with uv light and it helped but can't see where the leaks are from.ALSO,I found oil leaking from cam thrust covers on back of engine,also engine mount bolt (porous block?)..I wanna disassemble the front of engine to investigate but if it is the oil pump,how hard is that? I'm not sure if I should do that or send it to some9ne.What would you guys do???Thanks

The V6 is known to leak from the rear main seal. You have to take the transmission off to get to the main seal. It is not an easy DIY. Good luck.

It isn't leaking from rear main,pulled inspection plate and it's dry.

Do like Shipo stated and run some dye in the oil to exactly locate the leak.

I used the dye,I still can't see where it's coming from,looks to be from oil pump cover but it could be coming from above that and running down..I know the only way to know for sure is start disassembling, but to be honest,if it's the oil pump I'd rather pay someone to do it..UNLESS it's something I can handle??I'm pretty good mechanically,just never messed with hondas..

Can't remember but getting the upper covers off isn't that hard....on the front head I think you have to remove the serp belt(s) to get to one of the bolts.

With the covers off, do you see oil coming from the cam seal(s)?

Are you due or close to being due for a timing belt job?

The belt and seals and water pump were done at 107k,it has 110k on it now..From then receipt it says idles and tensioner were all replaced,but the girl I bought it from was from India and her mechanic was an Asian guy that I don't know,he may or may have not changed everything he listed??I'm gonna disassemble to where I can see cam seals and post some pics..

First thing there are no cam seals on the drivers side. Cams seals are on the passengers side under the t-belt cover behind the cam pulleys and inner cover, thus it is almost impossible to detect a leaking cam externally, even if you try to look through the service hole for timing marks. If there is oil leaking from the drivers side front head then I assume you need to think about replacing the valve cover gasket. Second, if the gasket has failed on the oil pan then it is not uncommon for oil leaks to appear on bolts. Assuming the leak it not from above then replace gasket and use HondaBond HT on block seams and bends, should also use when replacing valve cover seal, again for the sharp corners and seams on block only.

For the bolt you speak of it is easiest to remove the serpentine belt and serpentine belt tensioner, otherwise the idler pulley remains in the way.

Its hard to tell even with the covers off,its Def wet with oil in the pocket next to bolt so porous block??On side closest to firewall I can't see where the oil is coming from,it almost looks like oil pump seal??What would you guys do?Pressie up the block? The dye stuff wasn't worth a crud.

Here's a few pics,the bare block is just an example of where I'm seeing oil,the one by the filter housing is my engine and I can't figure out the source..How hard is it to reseal oil pump if I have too??Thanks again

It is hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like you need to replace the crank shaft seal. Furth more the oil pump seal is not hard.

Well,I got the oil pump out and it really looks like the leak is from the rubber gasket in between pump an block..I pointed out these places in the pics.Also,while I have it apart I'm gonna go ahead a epoxy the pocket next to idler (spot of porousity in most blocks),then install the coated bolt in the other know possible spot..Hopefully that fixes it! First honda I've ever worked on,so far so good..

I wish you would have continued posting, it looks like I have the same dilemma. Mine is leaking from above the pan and while I am not technically knowledgeable about the name of all the parts, it looks to be from the the part that the oil filter screws into. How much would it cost to have this done on a 2001 EX?

It depends on the source of the leak. First of all is this a V6 accord.

If the leak is where the filter seals with the valve assembly? Or is the leak where the valve assembly meets with the engine block?

Did the leak start right after a oil filter change?