Skip to content
KickTyres
MajorVery commonEngine

Honda Prelude: H22A VTEC Solenoid and Oil Pressure Switch Gasket Oil Leak

H22A VTEC Solenoid and Oil Pressure Switch Gasket Oil Leak is a very common engine fault on the Honda Prelude on the 1996–2001 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $120 to $380 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Honda Prelude.

Vehicle
Honda Prelude
Engine
H22A
Years
1996–2001
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Honda Prelude as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Prelude faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Cylinder head yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The H22A engine's VTEC solenoid and adjacent oil pressure switch are sealed by O-rings and gaskets that harden and crack with age. Oil seeps past the solenoid body and switch base on the rear of the cylinder head, producing a persistent external oil leak. This is among the most commonly reported age-related faults on BB6/BB8 Preludes and is well documented across Honda specialist forums and workshop manuals.

What you would notice

  • Visible oil seeping or pooling at the rear of the cylinder head near the solenoid block
  • Oil smell from the engine bay after the car reaches operating temperature
  • Low oil level without any visible underside drips, as oil burns off on hot exhaust components

How to check it

Where to look. Rear of cylinder head, driver's side, at the VTEC solenoid assembly and oil pressure switch

With engine warm, inspect the rear of the cylinder head around the VTEC solenoid block and the nearby oil pressure switch for oil staining, fresh wet oil, or built-up grime indicating a long-running seep. Check the rocker cover gasket junction nearby as leaks are often misattributed. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the solenoid to inspect the O-ring condition if access permits.

Parts involved: Cylinder head.

What it costs to put right

$120 to $380 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the VTEC solenoid O-ring and oil pressure switch seal been replaced? When?”
  • “Does the engine bay smell of burning oil after a run?”
  • “What is the current oil level and how often is oil topped up?”

Now check the Honda Prelude you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Prelude buyer questions

Is h22a vtec solenoid and oil pressure switch gasket oil leak serious on a Honda Prelude?

We rate it major and very common on the Honda Prelude. The H22A engine's VTEC solenoid and adjacent oil pressure switch are sealed by O-rings and gaskets that harden and crack with age. Oil seeps past the solenoid body and switch base on the rear of the cylinder head, producing a persistent external oil leak. This is among the most commonly reported age-related faults on BB6/BB8 Preludes and is well documented across Honda specialist forums and workshop manuals.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Prelude?

$120 to $380 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Prelude years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1996–2001 Honda Prelude. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With engine warm, inspect the rear of the cylinder head around the VTEC solenoid block and the nearby oil pressure switch for oil staining, fresh wet oil, or built-up grime indicating a long-running seep. Check the rocker cover gasket junction nearby as leaks are often misattributed. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove the solenoid to inspect the O-ring condition if access permits. Look here: Rear of cylinder head, driver's side, at the VTEC solenoid assembly and oil pressure switch