christopher225

1995 Honda Accord V6 2.7L EXLV Automatic/Leather

Recently purchased the car, took it in for an oil change, tech notified me that the oil was too low to get a reading and filled it after. Now that it's filled the car is smoking from the tailpipe. Not sure the color, does it mainly when I get up and go from an intersection, but only when car is warmed up. Has had moisture drip from it as well. Had a compression test done today and I haven't the slightest of what these results mean.

Says on invoice:
NORM: 171 MIN:142
1)150
2)145
3)145
4)155
5)150
6)155

What does it mean?!?!? LOL
Have heard blown head gasket/rings/valves.
Bad motor? Burning Oil? I am lost on this one!

Still owe over $3,000 so any tips, tricks or ideas are greatly appreciated!
Mechanic suggested using 10W-40 opposed to the recomended 5W-30 oil.
Said should reduce smoke. Can't afford to loose this car, love it!
Thanks again!

MAD_MIKE

That's pretty consistent. The rings/valves seem to be sealing fine.
A blown headgasket would show with one or more cylinders being low. With a compression check, an abnormal number is looked for not necessarily a specific number. If one of the numbers were say 120 or 180 then there would be concern for that cylinder.

Water dripping out of the tail pipe is normal. As long as its not flowing out and you are not losing coolant.

The smoke is probably being generated from oil seeping past the valve guide seals. Usually indicated when initially accelerating, it if was constantly smoking then it would most likely be a ring, but your compression looks good so I believe it to be the valve seals. You didn't state the mileage, but the seals do wear out on higher mileage vehicles.
I would try 10w-30 rather than 10w-40. The mechanic suggested a thicker oil so it would not seep past the seals as easily. But I think a 40weight would be more of a parasitic loss than it would to help prevent oil consumption.

GunSamir

Hi Mad Mike, Is that a general truth when a car smokes only at acceleration is an indication of worn valve seats, and when smokes all the time is an indication of bad rings?

Good for me to know!

thanks

MAD_MIKE

Not valve seats, valve seals. Usually an indication of worn valve seals is smoke on start up and acceleration from a stop.
If there is smoke constantly then it is most likely a bad ring or rings.
It's not definitive, as other factors may be present, but its a pretty good indication of where to look.

Dannyvho

Does the color of the smoke indicate what is being burned: dark color for oil, white color for coolant?

accordracing91

Blue for oil

As long as the numbers are consistant, you're fine. Just carry around a pinte of oil and add some when it gets low.

Accordin2me

Numbers consistent whatever at least rebuild the head. Theres no excuse for burnin oil, if your that high mileage she deserves some TLC. Be happy if its the valve guides, better than a piston ring.

(edit) And by the way accordracing91 thats tha dumbest thing ive heard in this buisness next to "Whats wrong with my tires?"

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Burning oil? What gives you that impression?

Could be a slow oil leak - OP doesn't mention the oil change interval. Let 7k miles go by between changes and low oil doesn't seem out of the question.

Cleaning the motor with a steam cleaner/Simple Green/etc and then looking for any oil spots that pop up would be the easiest way to check for leaks. After 15 years I don't think seeing a leaking valve cover gasket or oil pan gasket would be ridiculous and is a relatively cheap fix.

Accordin2me

@ themuffinman: I assumed he was burnin oil as he didnt mention a leak. I of course thought of that first but if he wa drippin like that in his driveway im sure he would have mentioned it. Anyways how u doin?

accordracing91

Yeah sure, OP doesn't even know what comp. numbers are and you want him to run out and get a rebuild kit? Get your head out of your *** noob

Accordin2me

Head out my ***? good luck. All im sayin is you told him to carry a qt of oil and hope for the best. Bein a tech, i'd rather he fix the problem, If he cant afford to fix it he should'nt be complaining. i just think your solution is stupid, im allowed my opinion so chill out.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

I don't think you have much room to talk.....

It's just as possible he's burning oil, but the OP doesn't mention when the last change was, or how much was put in it (they could have poured in 2 less quarts), etc

And you certainly didn't ask him about it - your suggestion of just carry oil around is just as "head in ***" and "noob"ish. You are not fixing any problem at all.

MAD_MIKE

For oil burning, it will be a light white/blue tinted haze to a thicker grey/blue tinted haze. It will smell like burning oil.
For excess fuel their usually will be a black mist or sooty exhaust. It will have that poignant eye watering stench.
For water, usually steam just comes out at a constant rate. With coolant you may get a sweet smell coming from the exhaust.

poorman212

Don't want to join the other conversation but would like to throw one more thing for the owner to check, besides for leaks.
I have seen bad a PCV cause oil loss. My 89 would go through a quart in 500 miles...nothing leaking from the engine any where. Pulled the PCV and the plunger was gone, could see clean through it.