I have a 1998 Honda Accord which my daughter drives. She came home last night and told me the oil light was flickering. I looked where she had parked the car an noticed a puddle of oil.

Checked oil and it was quart down, added oil, cleaned up where oil was on motor. Started car and oil is pumping out of area near where dipstick tube goes into block. Not at that exact location but in the area where oil pan and block comes together near that dipstick tube. Quite a bit of oil was pumped out. It was also an immediate issue as the car has never dropped a lick of oil.

Any ideas?

 

My guess would be the oil pan gasket. Thats weird how it would all of a sudden start leaking. Did you check the pan and make sure all the bolts were in? One of them could have come out and caused your leak.

 

I checked the pan bolts nd they are OK. I removed the skid plate and was able to get a better view. The oil is coming out of the timing cover to the front of the motor at quite a fast amount. Is there a seal or something behind that cover which would allow that much oil to come out? Hopefully it didn't go totally dry and hurt something. The daughter said she noticed the flickering oil light about three miles from home. The motor sounds ok when there is oil in the thing.

 

Get the car to the dealer or a Honda certified technician fast. Do not drive it with that condition much longer. I've seen that happen before. Most times it is the seal that goes around the rear balance shafts gear. It starts to fail and the oil pump can not maintain oil pressure in the engine. The engine will fail due to viscousity break down.

Take the car to the dealer or tech in the morning before the engine wear gets worse. I don't want to scare you but want you to understand how serious it is.

Edit: And another thing, since they are going to have to remove the harmonic balancer, belt covers, and belts you might as well have the belts, tensioners, water pump, and oil pump (since it did leak) replaced since they are already down there. That way you can kill to birds with one stone and get more life out of the car.

 

It sounds like the balance shaft oil seal has popped out. Tow it to a shop do not drive it. You will need to do at least the seal, t-belt, balancer belt and poss, drive belts if oil has got all over them. This is really common and Honda used to fix this for free but quit doing it after the three yrs was up.

 

the oil seal was a recall issued by Honda for the 5th gen Accords. Honda supposedly resolved the issue for the 6th generation. In the case of the 5th gens, the oil seal would pop out causing a sudden loss of oil, and engine failure if not shut down immediately. The repair was installing a retainer to hold the new seal in place.

 

the recall is over though, sorry. it was only good for three years after that you are on your own

 

guess that means after 3 years, it'd prolly solve itself. both my 5th gen didn't/hadn't done it yet (seal poppin out)

 

No, that's not what I meant... Car makers only have to legally fix a major recall for like three years then they can get out of the responsiblity.

 

Yep unless it is a saftey related recall in which they are obligated to fix the problem until it is corrected regardless of the age of the vehicle.