Oil leak at head -------------> SOLVED !!

Hello all, I recently acquire a 91 b2200 pretty cheap, because it needs work... The issue I have is that oil is spitting out the passenger rear corner , right where the head gasket is. its not leaking, it is actual spitting oil out!

at first I thought it was the fuel pump leaking, so I replaced it and put new gaskets in, that did not change anything.

it is definitely from the head, but that puzzle me because from what I have read, there is only the 1 oil passage, and its in about the center of the head, so how could oil be not only leaking, but spitting out the corner of the head?

(A little more info on the truck, not really relevant to the oil leak).
The truck runs decently now, it had a leak in the vacuum hose between the brake booster and the engine! I have replaced the timing belt, distributor cab, rotor. and a few dry rotted hoses. Ignition timing is right on 6 degrees .It idles at about 800 rpm.

any thoughts. on the oil leak? I have no problem replacing the head gasket, but it just seems odd that it would be like this if there is no oil passage in that area!

that is weird. check for contamination in oil and coolant. if its your head gasket you might have oil in coolant and vise versa. it could also mean a cracked or warped head or block. hope this isnt the case. is it spraying from between head and block?? you could do a compression test. ive never heard of such a thing. maybe the last owner replaced the headgaskets and didnt scrape the old one off enough. good luck

Well Compression shows 120 at all 4 cylinders, I am beginning to think it is the rear cam seal/plug leaking, and then the oil follows the gap sideways and eventually flinging off the engine, due to engine vibration, rather than actually being forced out of the head somewhere.

I did look at the other side of the engine, and found oil running down that side too. (although not the dramatic spitting like the passenger side)

At this point it is the only thing that makes any sense to me. All I know for sure, is that it is leaking quite a bit of oil ! Luckily the cam seal looks like a pretty simple job.

The coolant seems fine (no oil in it), and the oil is crystal clear, no milky residue whatsoever.

Yeah, a new cam plug and valve cover gasket R&R is not that involved, and a good thing to do at this stage. Your early suspicions about the fuel pump flange gaskets was also a good thing to investigate. Hope it works.

So to update this a bit, I replaced the cam seal, figured I had the problem solved as the original cam seal had a light area where the coating was missing, causing it to leak (which it WAS leaking). But it did not change the oil spitting issue. I am really at a loss on this! I took it for a short drive, and it runs well, although after fixing numerous things I know have to iron out the idle, it wont idle at a stop sign very well, but off idle is great. Pulls pretty good, so the only thing I can really think of is has to be the head gasket. .. but as I mentioned it does not make any sense, as it is not leaking where the oil supply comes through (about middle of the head) but at the very corner on the passenger side rear of the engine.

it leaks too much oil to just think of driving it, and adding oil. I really thought I had something with that cam plug!

You said you did the fuel pump. Was the plastic spacer chipped or replaced? Did you use Permatex Aviation on both gaskets, and clean off the cylinder head seating surface and bottom of the fuel pump real well?

Did you check the valve cover for cracks?

Do all seven valve cover bolts all have their rubber grommets in good shape or new?

yes, new gaskets, new spacer, I use honda-bond sealant, I have used it for years, and I think it is one of the best sealants you can use!

it is not the valve cover, I replaced the gasket, but it is not leaking from that area anyway, its dry around the gasket.

and the fact that it is basically spurting fine droplets out from the engine, means there is pressure involved, a valve cover has no pressure (or at least not very much).

also the area around the fuel pump is dry as a bone.

looking at a photo of a new head gasket, it looks like it could be possible for oil to make its way to that rear corner, especially if it is the style without the copper ring around to help deal with pressure.

I just don't think it can be anything else.

I hate to throw time and money at it if it doesn't resolve the issue. This motor is new to me, I know honda motors very well, but obviously different manufacturers do things differently. (the cam plug was a new thing to me)

the parts are not too expensive, about $78 for a head gasket kit. and it looks easy enough to do, but with the head removed, its a good idea to have it checked, and that is where it can start adding up. A rebuilt head is about $200, but this is basically a budget minded project.

the truck is not exactly in pristine condition, it has flat black spray paint, the interior has been painted, then the paint scrubbed off. The door panels are not in very good shape. The carpet has some stains. It needs the passenger side fender replaced (I already replaced the front bumper that was damaged) and have a good used grille to swap out once the fender is replaced (don't have a replacement fender yet).

IF it was an extended cab, and in at least decent condition, I'd probably just pull the motor and put in a reman.... but this is a regular cab, and basically a beater truck. I paid $400 for it, which looking back may have been overpaying!

How's your blow-by?
If the gasket is bad at one of the drain back holes, then excessive crank case pressure can spray oil out.

doesn't seem to be any blow by.

I wonder if the head is just warped.

well I suppose, gonna have to tear it down, see whats up. I always like to check on forums first, sometimes it is a common simple fix that someone has gone through and resolved in the past. This one seems to be an oddity.

I found a shop that will test the head for $40

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" CYL HEADS, HOT TANKED, PRESSURE TEST & SURFACED VALVES VAC. TEST $40.00 EACH

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doesnt seem too bad, as long as they do a good job.

Mines been leaking oil at the hg back of engine and leaked for about a yr or so.I did reseal my fp when I did a intake resto job, and just ran a bead btwn the head and block of permatex the right stuff and worked great up till this past year.It needs a hg and have the kit and plan on doing this probably spring.My truck does run strong and smokes but(rings) are 198k and holding tight before a rebuild.Truck is not a daily and sits covered.I in fact noticed more oil coming out,so hg is going slowly and oil is good,cap no residue.Tired as dirt so yeah hg does leak oil out the back and run great.