Hello all! I recently acquired a 2000 Civic DX (value package). I noticed an oil drip coming from the front of the engine area near the radiator. I washed off the bottom today with degreaser but I am not seeing clearly where it is coming from. It's possible it's the oil pan gasket but I'm not able to see if it is from there exactly.

I have no real experience with Civics, mostly I work on my Miata. I am wondering what the common sources of oil leaking from this area is so I can zero in on the problem, and if not too difficult (it see,s to be a slow leak) I would plan to fix it myself.

Also, it's on its original timing belt. It's not 105,000 miles yet, but it is 10+ years. Should I change it?

 

good idea to change that and waterpump

 

Under the car is a couple of hoses at the bottom of the radiator in the center right. There is a brown oily fluid coming from this location.


By drewa2 at 2010-12-07


By drewa2 at 2010-12-07

These are crappy cell phone pictures taken from under the car looking forward to the bottom of the radiator. If you look carefully you can see a drop coming off. It looks like ATF actually, and the hoses in the pic go to a part of the radiator below it. Does this cool the transmission? This part looks corroded. My Chilton's manual does not really cover this area. The radiator pics look like they're from a manual transmission car.

Any ideas?

 

Yes that is the transmission cooling system, found only on automatic cars. The substance leaking is transmission fluid. It's a simple system, transmission fluid under low pressure passes through a small heat exchanger built into the radiator. Heat from the transmission is transferred to the relatively cool coolant found in the bottom of the radiator. If there's a problem with the cooler or the fittings on the radiator, the complete radiator must be replaced.

After fixing the leak be sure to use only Honda ATF to refill the fluid.

 

Thanks. That's what it seemed to me, but I couldn't find any information to be sure. Looks like a $90 part at Autozone or NAPA.

Too bad removing the radiator doesn't make timing belt replacement easier as in a RWD car. I could be happier about having to do both! At least I don't need to change the oil pan gastket, that was my first guess until I looked carefully.

Any tips on common problems with the timing belt and water pump? The crank pulley is the delicate part of Miata timing belts; it needs to be replaced, and there is a tendency to keyway damage. Not sure what the pitfalls are with the Civic engine.

Ebay timing belt/water pump kit ok? Looks like $75 for all.

 

Skip the eBay timing belt etc, and go with OEM Honda. hondapartsdeals.com has decent prices. If you are looking that type of overhaul, look in timing belt/tensioner/water pump. Might as well change the A/C (if applicable), P/S (if applicable), and Alternator belt while you are at it, too.

 

Timing belt is simple on the Civic. Raise the car and take off the left front wheel for access to the bottom part of the engine. Remove external belts (also the A/C idler pulley, if equipped with A/C) and crank pulley. The pulley bolt will be tight, impact wrench is most effective way to remove it. It's conventional right hand thread. When taking the pulley off, be careful not to lose the key. You don't need to replace any parts here unless you lose them. Remove the plastic covers; valve cover must be lifted to get the top one off. Support the engine and remove the top motor mount. Now it is possible to remove and replace timing belt.

 

I appreciate the tips about the timing belt!

Chilton's says that Honda says to use only Honda ATF also. Just wondering, anybody know what is special about the Honda Fluid? I understatnd that systems vary. In the Miata, my power steering uses ATF (although generic fluid seems fine enough) and the clutch hydraulics uses Dot 3 brake fluid.

Otherwise, thanks guys for the advice so far! I may yet have more questions. I am OK at wrenching but I tend to be cautious in situations I have not faced before.