The VVT solenoids are known to form cracks in the casting. I just pulled one with three cracks in the top and two in bottom. Very faint and hard to see, but would leak a quart of oil about every 50 miles. Just replace the whole VVT solenoid, not the just the gasket. No leaks for me any more. The guy at the parts store said this is common and he's seen internal cracks which send metal chunks in to the engine. I knew the VVT was leaking from getting under the idling car and seeing oil drips from the VVT location.
These K24s leak from 4 areas the power steering being a culprit, the VVT solenoid o rings leak which hangs on the side of the next culprit which is the VTEC solenoid, the last and most common culprit is the valve gaskets as they leak into the exhaust gaskets and make it look putrid. I'm in a 04 accord lX auto 344,119miles as I write this, 14k miles on a low mileage transmission replacement (07 accord 123k original mileage) but Im losing a lot of oil. I will be replacing all those gaskets and parts see if it helps. Posted Sept 30 2023
bought a 2003 honda accord a few weeks ago. The own said there were no oil leaks. The vtec solenoid threw a code. So i orded a new one. and went to replace it. And wouldn't you know it was leaking oil. along with the oil filter. probably going to replace the gasket on the valve cover soon just to be safe. car has 225000 miles on it. So im actually kinda impressed I didn't find more. But it was pretty well maintained. it was a one owner car.
The old power steering pump gasket apparently would just get hard and not able to properly seal and the new orange one is supposed to stay more soft and rubbery. Mine actually ended up sucking air in and bubble up the power steering fluid and it would over flow out of the reservoir, almost thought the transmission was going bad because it would make revving sounds as you accelerated
I took my 2010 Accord with 139k miles on it to a trusted foreign auto repair shop yesterday for a bad oil leak. I was thinking it would be a bad oil pan or gasket but he told me it was a solenoid today 😬 I'm glad because a pan or gasket replacement would cost more. He told me $139 for part and over $100 for labor
literally was only planning on doing my valve cover gasket and vvt solenoid. but i put power steering fluid in at least once a month. 03 accord as well. so might as well. gunna have to move that hose out my way anyways. great video.
thanks for this - about to do the same basic stuff on a k23a1 (08 RDX) and it looks more or less the same. the RDX just has a bunch of extra stuff on top for the turbo. very helpful to see what the solenoid valve cover looks like back there.
What was the grease you put on the power steering O-rings? Lithium grease? I would imagine it's just going to dissolve in the oil. The orange O=ring fixes an issue with the intake hose on the pump. The flange only has 1 bolt for some reason. There are 2 holes bored on the pump.... Anyway, this causes the pump to suck in air from the leak around the Oring. This feeds the pump with air and fluid. By the time it comes out the steering rack back into the reservoir at low pressure. It's an emulsion, a soapy foam that overflows out of the reservoir around the air baffles in the cap. This is because when a fluid becomes a foam/emulsion. Its surface area will increase. It's an insanely simple system that bleeds itself through the reservoir "cap". But will have big problems if you have a leak on the intake pipe for the pump.
Always changed valve cover gaskets on B series motors all the time without Honda bond and my first K series engine I changed it and I had leaks everywhere so I guess I have to go back and put Honda bond on it.
Donny I have an 06 honda accord with the 2.4 engine. I have one leak I'm having a hard time finding. The oil is getting splashed on my alternator. When I get under the card my passenger side frame is covered in oil. I've changed so many gaskets on my car to figure it out but I still have that one specific leak. I put a lower mileage motor in my car and changed all gaskets but the head gasket set.
This will probably help me 185k miles and looks like I’m smoking out my hood on hills and other higher elevation areas where I live it’s a big joke between me and friends but I hate that smell it comes through tall my vents with the defroster on feel like I’m getting High off that
I have a 2004 Honda accord ex 2.4 I had a oil leak from the valve cover gasket and decided to change it and the other seals back in may now it leaks now from the v tech solenoid where u out the o ring at which is weird but u think it depends on where I got the part at kuz I bough that o ring from a source off eBay the valve cover with the seals I got from rockauto , that’s the only area I see the oil leaking at
K20A2 130k miles and have almost all the same leak problems(i think) power steering making a racket and engine leaking oil (vtec solenoid and oil pressure switch the most likely cause?) Its weird the power steering sounds/works worse when there is cold weather( less than 50deg F)
Do Toyota cars have the same leak issues? I always buy Honda but they always have these leak problems after 100k. Both my Civic and Accord are in the shop right now. I’m planning to buy a Toyota for my next car.
so no need to torque the VTEC Solenoid? I saw you used a drill. is It okay if I use my own 10m socket wrench that I used to crack them loose?? I haven't done my gasket on my VTEC solenoid, because I don't want to over tighten them. I'll love a feedback on this.
You want to hear about an oil leak? I adjusted my valve lash and when I put back the valve cover, the gasket came off the back AND I DIDN'T CHECK IT. I drove out to start my vacation and oil sprays into my catalytic converter and smoked out the engine bay 😂😅😫😭🤮
I've got a big leak at the VTEC strainer cover on the front, next to the belt tensioner. Do you have a video on that? I think you had the gasket in your kit with the VTEC solinoid?
I know your post is 2 years old, but I just replaced that strainer. 2 10mm bolts is all that holds it in, but you have to take off a bunch of stuff to get at it. Honda engineers didn't think that one through.
Great video. Im about to be doing everything you just did in this video. When you pressure wash the motor are there any areas that need to be covered ?
Hello thank you for all you do this video helped me out a lot I do have a question! I just changed my power Steering holes By any chance do you know the name of the part in front of the engine the vtec
Hey there,. I am assuming that my 03 Element is also a K24 motor,.. how long did this job actually take? I dont have the tools or place to work on my motor right now,. so I am trying to get an idea of the "book time" ;a dealer or repair shop "could charge"
Would you happen to know what the piece is called that the smog hose connects to? I somehow broke it off when replacing my valve cover gasket on my 2003 Honda Accord. The smog hose is the small hose next to the emissions hose on the air filter. I’m needing to know what the smog hose runs down to so that it can be replaced. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
My valve cover now has a small gap and I can see the gasket from where it meets the heads is this normal? I pounded it in the best I could torqued it all to spec and it doesn’t seem like it’s leaking I’m just concerned
Hey there i just did the valve cover gasket on mine and i got it all put back together and torqued everything down to spec and i have a small gap all the way around the valve cover and the mating surface, is it supposed to look like that?
On this engine what is the sensor on the front of the engine left of center near the head? I had mine replaced because it seemed to be leaking oil and it is still leaking. I don't know what it is called. TY
Have a 2005 CRV with oil dripping down pass side of subframe. Resealed the timing chain cover, did the front crank seal, and valve clever gasket. Still leaking. Solenoid under cam sprockets not leaking. Leak seems to come from right behind AC compressor. Any thoughts on what it would be?
at 2:49., what is that little stamped steel cover being hidden by your finger thats below the valve cover and behind the power steering pump? I'm 99% sure that's the latest and greatest oil leak on mine.
Why didnt you install the vtc strainer gasket? Didnt it come with the kit? My sisters car is doing the same thing, same year same car. I should probably do everything same time. Maybe a 3-4hr job if i dont include the oil pan gasket.
Mechanic quoted her 2500$ for new solenoid. When the problem isnt a solenoid, its oil leaks including the vrc strainer. No check engine light, no vtec issues, so why quote a new solenoid. Very few honest mechanics in the world. A whole lot of rotten apples man.
Hey, I love the vid and your spot on with your work. I just did this exact job on my friends 03 accord. Now it's leaking from the vtec solenoid area (3rd time now). I replaced the valve cover gasket (was needed), replaced the vtec gasket. 2 weeks later, leaks again at vtec solenoid. Replaced the solenoid (used the new gasket it came with). And after 3 days leaks again. What am I missing on this?
this may be far fetched, however I hear that if you pcv system is bad, there will be pressure and cause leaks. check your pcv valve and hose. there are many videos on it. no harm in doing so. I'm waiting for some time off from work to finally get my hands on my crv 03.. I'll be switching the gaskets of the part he showed here as well as the other gaskets/oil strainer. if you go to any parts diagram for your engine you will see where the gaskets are. no need to replace unless you see evidence of leak, one is right behind belt tensioner and the other is below the engine mount I believe good luck www.hondaacuraonline.com/v-2003-honda-cr-v--lx--2-4l-l4-gas/engine--vtc-oil-control-valve
Not ebay. Lots of fakes. Take the part numbers to your local dealer "parts counter." These guys are usually really helpful, they get paid commission. And usally the prices are much cheaper than online.
My Honda Accord 2.4l 2003 literally has all these oil leaks. Vtec solenoid, timing cover gasket and oil pan gasket. $1,198 total! What’s a good price for all these leaks? Thanks
Mine leaks from the right back side cover corner doesn’t seem to be coming from the cover but the catch can part in the back gets filled with oil time by time any suggestions?
