Topic: 550 Oil Pan Leaking

[Chris Liston]

Last year I had replaced my original 550 oil pan gasket with a Vesrah gasket that was included in the full engine gasket kit I purchased.  Well, its been starting to leak more and more lately when not running.  Once running the oil pan I guess expands and it doesn't leak at all.  All bolts are snugged up tight by not too tight. 

Could this gasket have just gone bad? 

I just got a new NOS Honda gasket from my dealer and will change out soon.  The Vesrah gasket was plent flexible and worked for a few months.

Thanks

[Tim.]

We're talking about the 'o-ring' around the pan, right?  I just did mine yesterday with an aftermarket gasket (part of a kit) and so far so good after 70 miles or so, some of which in ugly hot stop and go traffic.  I'll be keeping an eye on it though, and will likely drop the pan off again soon as I'm about 1000 miles into my engine rebuild, and want to make sure there's nothing but oil in the pan 

[douglascoolgrey]

Did the o-ring fit correctly before you tightened down the 10 bolts? Are those bolts still tight? Have you overfilled the oil sump?

Two reasons it may stop leaking when warm:

1. Something has expanded and seated correctly.
2. Enough oil is flowing in the pump or block, leaving less than the o-ring level of oil in the sump.

[Chris Liston]

The o-ring was seated properly and it didn't leak at all for a few months and then just started leaking.  I'll probably just have to pull it off again and dry it off and put it back again.  Stinks, I just did the oil change about 200 miles ago.  Hate wasting new oil.

I do notice that its only leaking between a few bolts and not all the way around.  I've snugged them up alittle more but its probably that wet gasket o-ring thing, once fluid gets through no matter what you do it will leak.