Hello,
I have D15B7 engine. I have oil leaking near the first and fourth pistons between the engine block and cylinder head. It's slow so I'm not losing a lot of oil yet. It's getting oily gunk on the exterior of the power steering unit and bracket on the right side, and on the engine and transmission casing on the left side.
I'll need to replace the gasket. I was wonder if it is better to replace the cylinder head gasket with a Mr. Gasket metal one that's for a D16Z#, or if that's not good to do.

 

You can replace it with a metal one. They're intentended for a higher performance setup though so you don't need it. Unless you're planning on future upgrades I'd just stick with a stock one.

BTW, RIT in the house.

 

OEM~!

 

I'm curious how you're leaking oil from the head gasket without burning/leaking coolant...

 

I also noticed that the level of the coolant resevoir is low.

The engine has been making this metallic grinding sound when I start the engine up cold. Before I noticed the leak, I wasn't sure what it was. Now, I am thinking that it was the piston rings grinding against the cylinder walls. I don't know if I should just swap the motor for a D15B7 or D16Z#. It's in a 94 Civic LX with over 160,000 miles. I don't know if just replacing the gasket is not worth it because the mechanics need to put in a lot of labor to remove the cylinder head.

 

If you swap it i'd use the metal gasket... and if you want to go for a little performance, when you put it in remove the middle section of the gasket, it will boost your compression a little bit.

 

no use getting something nice now and then mod it where you would need a new headgasket because that would require removal of the head and untorqing the head you would need to replace the head gasket again.