Is my engine screwed???

[krakakru21]

well to start off i have a 93 H22 engine in my 91 accord lx. driving home today just like everyday not hotrodding the car just driving it normal a light on the dash came on and i am not talking just any light i am talking the oil light! so it came on then turned off so i didnt think anything of it until it came back on again and started blinking. so i was worried and when i looked at my oil pressure gauge(autometer) it was at 0 psi. granted when i am at like 3500 rpm it should be at 50 psi well it was at 0. so i was scared shitless that my H22 was screwed i turned the car off immediately and coasted until i was out of harms way. so i pop the hood and i could smell the oil big time. after about 2-3 minutes of looking i think i pin pointed the problem area. it is on the lower region of the engine around the timing belt cover so i assume that it is either the rear main seal or the oil pump. or some kind of seal. so i am curious if anyone else has any idea what it could be? any suggestions are welcome because i am curious what it could be. i am going to take the timing belt cover off saturday and see if i can find the problem.

[mayberry]

shit dude....you've been snagged by the balancer shaft seal. It was a honda "service bulletin" back in the day. they sell a retainer for it now, to be installed when they do a timing belt service. you should be ok. just get the seal taken car of, and hwile you in there. put in a fresh tbelt and water pump......if your wondering what happend, the seal just worked its way out, thats why it needs the retainer to be there. hope everything works out. if you need more info, let me know-eric

[alb_accord]

man i need to get one of those gauges that show the oil preasure.
hey man do u know what is a good one for f22a engines??????

[krakakru21]

thanks for the input that is what i was thinking that a seal came out and poured my oil all over. i am using the autometer phantom series oil pressure gauge on both the H22 and was using it on the F22. i thought it was useless till yesterday and now i will never go without it, that could be the difference between my engine being good and bad. i am hoping the engine is saved because i have put alot of work into it in the last 4 months.

[phatdoughnut]

yup, i couldnt agree more. get that shit fixed!

you had the car towed home right?

[krakakru21]

oh yea as soon as i seen the oil pressure gauge i turned it off and coasted and had my brother pick me up on a flat bed trailer. so i think i caught it in time because there were no noises and the light just started blinking.

[BustedLX]

The engines probably fine, I don't think any adverse wear or anything happened. Just fix the seal, fill her up, and get back on the road.

[krakakru21]

thanks guys for all the positive input it makes me feel that much better that my baby is going to be fine.

[mrhonda]

Yeah see! I told you guys this was a serious problem. This is what, the second person on the forum who has popped a seal this week. Get those retainers installed.

[alb_accord]

hey man. does ur oil preasure gauge light up????? how much did it cost??? was it easy to install?? if u have a pic of it it will be great if u show it to me.
i had oil preasure problem before. and now i don't wanna go with the dummy light anymore so i wanna install a oil preasure gauge.

[krakakru21]

well i found the problem. it is the balancer shaft seal. i took the platic timing cover off and sure enough there was the seal popped out just sitting there. so since i have to get all of that taken off i am going with a new timing belt because it is soaked in oil and i am putting skunk2 camgears on. i just replaced the water pump in december so that is not a problem. also i am going to do the auto to manual tensioner conversion. will keep everyone posted on how it works out.

[doylna]

Yeah see! I told you guys this was a serious problem. This is what, the second person on the forum who has popped a seal this week. Get those retainers installed.

I had my timing belt/water pump etc replaced about a year ago, and am concerned now about whether the retaining clip was installed. Is there a FAQ or link on what to remove to check to make sure the clip is installed?

[mrhonda]

if you didn't request to have it installed, then it probably wasn't done. I've heard that some Honda dealers install it when they do timing belts, but none that I've ever worked at. Easiest way to check is to pull out the oil dipstick tube and look down at the 10mm bolt right above the dipstick hole, this is where the retainer attaches, if you don't see it, then obviously it doesn't have one.

[doylna]

if you didn't request to have it installed, then it probably wasn't done. I've heard that some Honda dealers install it when they do timing belts, but none that I've ever worked at. Easiest way to check is to pull out the oil dipstick tube and look down at the 10mm bolt right above the dipstick hole, this is where the retainer attaches, if you don't see it, then obviously it doesn't have one.

I hadn't read about the problem when I had the work done. I had the work done at a reputable shop, but not a dealer...

Now, pull out the dipstick, or the dipstick tube?

[mrhonda]

A reputable shop, eh? uuhhh....I just hope they used OEM parts. Anyway, pull out the dipstick and then unbolt the tube and pull it out. But chances are you don't have one.