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Topic
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2008 odyssey ex-l, mfgrd 11/2007
I ordered a fel-pro vc gasket kit as the van was leaking from the vc.
When i went to put it on, I discovered I had the wrong gasket. I went back to rock auto’s site to double-check I’d ordered the correct part…yep, I did. I ordered the vc gasket kit for a 2008 odyssey ex-l.
Confused.
I double checked the Fel-Pro box to confirm the part number sent – it’s consistent with the site.
So I run down to my local “Irish” named auto parts store and the guy behind the counter happens to ask if the mfgr date was “06/08”. I’m thinking, “what does that matter?”
As it turns out, the gasket set I needed was for a 2007 motor; apparently they’d had a slight change part-way through that model year.
After getting the 2007 vc gasket set, all is well and I get the rear vc back on and move to the front vc.
*sigh*
After removing the vc from the van, I proceed to take it to my workbench to swap out the spark plug well seals. As I removed the middle one, I see a bunch of chalky grey powder underneath the seal. I scrape it out and discover a hole in the vc – right next to the plug well.
Upon further inspection, I see the outside hole of the plug well isn’t even round – it’s elliptical.
I’m confounded – how does this happen? When I bought the van, the carfax said “no accidents”. Now I’m having my doubts – perhaps this was in an unreported front end collision?
Another thing I noticed under the other plug well seals is the appearance of the aluminum melting and leaving behind the chalky grey dust….So, I go to order a new valve cover from my local Honda dealer and I insist on the 2007 vc. After looking at the Honda part diagram on majestic Honda’s site, it looks like the 2008 one, Not the 2007. (?!) so, the aftermarket vc gasket is for the 2007 but the dealer vc is for the 2008. The proper vc is “on its way” because “we have to order that”. ?
So all that to say, I’ve got the following questions:
1. Anyone ever heard of the first issue before; The difference in motors for the 2008 model year?
2. What could cause the chalky grey dust & apparent melting of the aluminum behind the plug well seals?
3. How could a hole develop in the vc like that?[IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161205/af1a1487401b46450821d570af4aea9b.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161205/877d7adb2426871013c3eba4241394d0.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161205/52e6bb3820565bfdd67a3d32ba42c47f.jpg[/IMG]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Replies
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A mid year change is normal. The hole looking out of round not normal.
Unless someone was in there and grinded on it for some reason? not
sure what to tell you on that one? Unless there was a casting problem
and that was the mid year changed?Call me crazy, but in the picture that shows the top side of the valve cover, it looks like the spark plug hole was manufactured elongated like that.
Gotta say, looking from the underside, that your engine oil or oil change intervals aren’t doing the engine any favors.
It seems the van had overheated at one point.
I had to replace the vc – see pics
[IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161206/2a282b7d6bf848c71b04f11c4dc2a7ad.jpg[/IMG]And here are some better views of the old one:
[IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161206/40571da18f0121430caf229fe60b0dbb.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161206/64c6b40ea70190f4e7ac6791818b3f98.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161206/dd6a5f16baa6ff79ecdea95cdd473442.jpg[/IMG]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[quote=”Evil-i” post=180484]Call me crazy, but in the picture that shows the top side of the valve cover, it looks like the spark plug hole was manufactured elongated like that.
Gotta say, looking from the underside, that your engine oil or oil change intervals aren’t doing the engine any favors.[/quote]
Yeah, I was not pleased to find all that gunk in there…bought it from a dealer a year ago…all notes available at the time seemed to indicate good maintenance…
Oh, the value of regular oil changes…Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the new photos. Honestly, I’ve never seen an overheat cause a valve cover to melt. You wouldn’t think the engine would continue to run long enough to get that hot.
Pure speculation, but maybe some ham-fist took a torch to the valve cover, maybe trying to free up a seized plug or for some other no-good reason. Perhaps you’re looking at a pathetic used salvage yard pick which replaced the original engine at some point. Hope not. The car is only 8 years old, and shouldn’t have been treated like a quarter century old POS beater.
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