Hey everyone, today i was check under my hood, and i saw some oil on the head near the middle bolt.. its like near the c or h etc? i have a 99gs eclipse with about 27k miles... would this be a headgasket problem? how can i check? a compression test? i mostly use castro full syn 10w30? i live in so cal...thanks Michael

IF you are coverd by warranty, get it in and have them check it. Usually leaks at drivers side corner, at the firewall. If they check it and say it is not bad, MAKE SURE you get a copy of the work order saying that, INCASE they are wrong or messing with you. That way you have some leverage if it is bad and gets worse after the warranty is out.
GOOD LUCK

I'm assuming that the "c or h" you mentioned is one of the DOHC letters on your valve cover. If so, then I wouldn't think it's your head gasket, but rather one of your spark plug well gaskets is leaking, or possibly the valve cover itself is cracked, or maybe even just simply your oil cap's rubber gasket is leaking. Either way, that's a LOT easier than having to mess with the head gasket with or without the dealer. The oil cap leak is a common problem with the turbo DSMs and it only takes a new rubber gasket to fix it or just an entire new cap, real cheap either way. If it is your cap then only get a factory replacement cap or gasket, the aftermarket ones like Stant that you can get at any parts store are no good. I've tried using them on my 91 GSX and they start leaking less than a month old. If your head gasket is leaking then you would more than likely notice oil below the surface of the head where it makes contact with the block, and more than likely on the back side. And just like DSMLVR said go to the dealer if it's still under warranty and let them worry about it. :)

Cody

Good call Jen. I didn't pick up on that DOHC right away and leaking at the plugs. HOPE that is all it is. (Worked on a guys Tarus SHO one day, pulled all 6 plug wires and you could not even see the top of the plugs, the holes had so much oil in them. Glad it was HIS BILL to fix it and not mine.)
GOOD LUCK

read the signature, cody wrote it :D

javi d
vroom n' boom
bone-stock dsm performance :)