Oil leak from black inspection cover

9000RPM

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
656
Reaction score
667
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
'18 CTR // '14 Cayenne
Country flag
I've been keeping an eye on this issue since April 2019 when I did the oil change on my '18 Type R. The issue is oil leaking out from where the engine mates up to the transmission. I posted here thinking it was transmission fluid and I took it to my purchasing dealer to get it diagnosed. They idled the car on the lift for about half a tank of gas but couldn't find anything. Thinking back, they probably should've test drove it instead. Anyways, they concluded they couldn't find anything, but did inform me that they put leak dye in the transmission fluid.

I've since concluded that it is not transmission oil, but engine oil. Last week, I wiped it all clean after the annual oil change and today, I crawled under there to look at it. There is a little bit of fresh oil after driving it for 100 miles.

Here are some photos. This pic shows before the oil change:
Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210516_152114


After changing the oil and wiping the area clean:
Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210516_160724


Here is what it looks like after 100 miles. Fresh oil coming out:
Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210523_161215


I took off the black inspection plate and this is what it looks like inside. It's full of oil and dirt towards the back:
Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210523_161705


Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210523_161714


Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210523_161720


Bone dry towards the front:
Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover IMG_20210523_161729



I've since moved to central New Jersey so I'll probably bring this to a new dealership and have them take another look.

Any recommendations on which dealership? I'm in Mercer county.
 

Centripetal

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Threads
0
Messages
394
Reaction score
318
Location
Boston, MA
Vehicle(s)
2006 RSX Type S, 2017 Civic Type R
Country flag
Sounds like a rear main seal. Definitely have the dealer fix it under warranty. Assuming you are within the warranty limits.
 
OP
OP
9000RPM

9000RPM

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
656
Reaction score
667
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
'18 CTR // '14 Cayenne
Country flag
Sounds like a rear main seal. Definitely have the dealer fix it under warranty. Assuming you are within the warranty limits.
I scheduled an appointment for this Wednesday. Yes, still under warranty. Only 12,xxx miles. No tunes. Just aftermarket wheels and a Hybrid Racing short shifter.
 

Centripetal

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Threads
0
Messages
394
Reaction score
318
Location
Boston, MA
Vehicle(s)
2006 RSX Type S, 2017 Civic Type R
Country flag
I scheduled an appointment for this Wednesday. Yes, still under warranty. Only 12,xxx miles. No tunes. Just aftermarket wheels and a Hybrid Racing short shifter.
Stay persistent. They may clean it up and ask you to come back for a follow up. You may even want to show them you've already cleaned it up to see if it comes back.
 


MadMage

Senior Member
First Name
Dan
Joined
May 22, 2020
Threads
31
Messages
1,312
Reaction score
1,177
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2020 Type R
Country flag
Curious is you checked how low you were on engine oil before your oil change. Would tell you how much is leaking and not being captured.
 

17RGuy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
251
Reaction score
397
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2017 Type R
Country flag
Join the club ??‍♂. I actually had my clutch case replaced under warranty last year due to some transmission fluid leaking out. Now I have your same leak and am 99% sure it is my rear main seal. I wanted to put a new clutch and lsd in for track use, so I’ll be replacing the rear main soon.

@MadMage the leakage is so minimal over a few thousand miles, you could not detect this via the dipstick at all.
 

17RGuy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
251
Reaction score
397
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2017 Type R
Country flag
Actually wondering if it could be this oil/air separator leaking? I can’t get my camera snake up there, but this looks suspect as well for possible leaking.

Honda Civic 10th gen Oil leak from black inspection cover 13F46A4E-CE6E-40BB-8C77-33DA6F1E92ED
 
OP
OP
9000RPM

9000RPM

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
656
Reaction score
667
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
'18 CTR // '14 Cayenne
Country flag
I called Honda roadside assistance and had it towed to a dealership this morning @9am.

On my way on the interstate home yesterday, the check engine light came on. Hesitation at around 3k RPM when I gave it throttle. Car was bucking.

Arrived home and plugged in my scanner, P0300 & P0304.

Removed the #4 coil and there's rust.

No one at the dealership has called me yet as of 12:15PM.
 
OP
OP
9000RPM

9000RPM

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
656
Reaction score
667
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
'18 CTR // '14 Cayenne
Country flag
Haven't heard anything back from the dealership. They're waiting on a back ordered part that doesn't even pertain to my 2 original issues.

Also still waiting on a loaner. First time showroom floor new Honda owner and I'm not impressed at all with its after sales support.
 
Last edited:


NYR2424

Senior Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
85
Reaction score
32
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2020 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
Haven't heard anything back from the dealership. They're waiting on a back ordered part that doesn't even pertain to my 2 original issues.

Also still waiting on a loaner. First time showroom floor new Honda owner and I'm not impressed at all with its after sales support.
Any update on this?

Also in NJ. Leaking oil. Getting towed to Honda dealership this afternoon. Don't know what the issue is. Oil drain plug and oil filter are on there solid.
 
OP
OP
9000RPM

9000RPM

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Threads
16
Messages
656
Reaction score
667
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
'18 CTR // '14 Cayenne
Country flag
Tech put in a dye trace. I put about 250 miles on it so far. Haven't brought it back to them. Not sure I will.
 

OsirisPalko

Senior Member
First Name
Stephen
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Threads
26
Messages
251
Reaction score
111
Location
Massachusetts
Vehicle(s)
2017 Honda Civic SI
Country flag
My 17 civic si had to have the rear main seal and cam tensioner seal replaced under warranty around 26k miles.
 

NYR2424

Senior Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
85
Reaction score
32
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2020 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
Turns out my oil filter was on way too tight and causing a leak (according to the dealership). Ugh. Hopefully that's the only issue and not a catalyst now for other issues.
 

Centripetal

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Threads
0
Messages
394
Reaction score
318
Location
Boston, MA
Vehicle(s)
2006 RSX Type S, 2017 Civic Type R
Country flag
Turns out my oil filter was on way too tight and causing a leak (according to the dealership). Ugh. Hopefully that's the only issue and not a catalyst now for other issues.
I assume your leak wasn't near the black inspection cover as that's pretty far from the oil filter.
Sponsored

 


 


Top