hye guys i bought a 2002 300ex for my girlfriend and so this last weekend was the first time out with it, we went to glamis and most of the riding was in third and fourth gear crusing, and over the day and a half it ran great with no hiccups at all, the problem was when i was loading it up when we were leavin i noticed that it had been leakin a little oil where the (i think it's the oil filter cover) cover bolts to the block, i know thats where it leaked from cause of how the dust collected on it, it looks like there is a small plug thats pressed in and staked, in that cover, and i don't know whether it's leaking from there, is there a gasket that is just leakin a little? or is there an o ring i need to get to fix it? and is this a chronic problem with these covers? over all the ex ran great and pulled her up pretty much every hill she pointed it at, any suggestions guys, oh again it's the cover thats right behind and above the dipstick location, thanks, josh...

 

Behind the cover you are talking about there is two O rings. One fits around the cover and the other is a small one that fits into the block on the pointed down end of the cover and when you pull the cover off to change the oil filter you will see them. One or the other could be off a little and this should be an easy fix if its one of the Orings that are causing the leak. look here

 

thanks chet! that diagram had all of the parts on it, and i just wrote down the size of the two o rings that you mentioned, looks like it'll be a $2 fix! sweeeeeetttt... thanks, josh

 

Also when replacing the oil filter be sure and install the filter the correct way and not backwards and do not over torque the bolts holding the cover on.

 

hey i got one more question, do these motors need anything special for oil when i change it? i mean can i get by with something other then the spectro oil they put in at the stealership? howbout castrol gtx or quaker state oil, i've been using both in my ds for 14 months with the original clutch and no problems so far? any suggestions guys? thanks again, josh...

 

Ya I use to run Castrol Synthetic Blend in mine...now Im useing Thumper oil

 

No, and I would run a Wal-Mart branded (Quaker state) 10w40 non energy conserving motor oil since its out of warrantee and you can't get much cheaper than that.

Change your oil now, not later[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Depending on your location and weather type..I would run 20-50 weight oil to cover the temp differances....Synthetic blend is better for the motor wheather it is under warrenty or not you still want your machine to last...

 

ok then, sounds good for advice on oil choices, umm ok howbout the possibility of putting on an oil cooler to help the motor run cooler? and how is the reliability when they get hot like crusing slow 2nd or 3rd gear with less airflow to cool the motor? i'm not going to overheat the thing and sieze something right?! well because so far ive heard nothing but good things about the reliabilty of these honda motors... School me people..[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img], thanks, josh...

 

Take it apart and buy new seals, the person who changed the oil last probly reused the oil seal and that is a big no no