My '01 Civic EX commuter car (294,000 mi @ 110 mi/day) has developed a head gasket oil leak on the passenger side of the engine, in the area right behind the water-jacket. If I stay below 3000 rpm, the leak is minimal, but if I drive it hard I quickly get oil all over the transmission casing front and rear side.
A Honda dealership mechanic showed me the leak using dye in the oil and ultra-violet light..we had to use an inspection mirror to see into this hard to reach area.
Another private mechanic recommended trying some un-named stop-leak chemical before getting into what may be a $1000+ repair. I've never hear of a gasket repair chemical to be added to oil, and so I'm kind of sceptical of this. Is there such stuff ?
The car otherwise runs great, with no indications of oil in the cooling syste. I'd like to get another 100,000 miles on this car, but would the cheap stop-leak chemical solution hold for so long ?