Octan3

hi guys... so basically, we bought this 97 honda civic SIR with DOHC VTEC, burning a bit of oil,

but just after use of a while it was getting worse and worse, so we said ok well we got to do something... compression was like 190, and 180 for 2 cylinders, another was 150...

so we pulled the head, replaced ALL VALVE SEALS, cylinder with 150 valves weren't too nice looking so we replaced them..... and cleaned carbon off the pistons, which btw there was somewhat alot, it looked like some crunchy thick carbon

so put it back together... still smoke, so we figure ok lets drive it a bunch and put some km's on it before thinking on it again, we did that, about 500 km's later, its still smoking and burning oil... it has a catalytic converter still, im thinking to get rid of it because its probably somewhat plugged from all the burned oil in the exhaust, and it could be making the smoke more apparent..... (so maybe getting rid of it will be less embarassing driving such a bad *** car that has a smoke show out of the exhaust :O)

so, reading around here and there... im taking in that its common to burn a BIT of oil, and i think i read that the oil rings on the pistons seem to be the problem and wear out fast......, as of now 3 cylinders are 180 psi roughly and another is about 190....

so, i guess the only thing left for me is to pull the engine and replace pistons and rings... while head was off we checked cylinders wear and it was great, infact you could still see the honing scratches....,

just wondering what you would all recommend/ what you may target to be the actual problem

b20c5eg

you can replace the rings and bearings with out pulling the motor. while you had the head off you should have switch out the rings then. Just my opinion but I would say the rings are and were the problem. good luck either way

98civdx

The compression getting pretty low. if you've already done the seals and it's still burning the rings are going to be to blame.


In the future, do a "wet compression" test. Drip a little oil in the holes, if the numbers go up, it's the rings.

Octan3

yeah ive never bothered with wet compression tests, i deal with alot of engines, snowmobiles, etc, and people say its more like a lie....

What should the compression be in this motor? i was getting told 195 by some car manual i bought from "haynes" i believe the brand is,

i know snowmobiles, atleast mine, 160 new is perfect... and if you put oil in you will see like 180-190 or higher, but its basically a false reading,

of course this can be different in 4 stroke/car engines?,


Also replacing the piston/rings with engine in car, how can i do this? and do i have to take the head off again? i assume the idea would of been to unbolt the rod from the crank and push it up where the head would of been? or can you pull it down out of the cylinder? Thanks!

98civdx

If I remember correctly my buddy's b16a2 was 205-210 across the board.

It will be a pain in the *** to do with the engine in the car.
With the head off there is only a few more things stopping you from dropping it.

Personaly, I would buy/barrow a engine stand and just pull it out. Will be sooo much easier. IMO.

Octan3

yeah i got a engine stand i can use,

but i do wonder what the compression should be, im googling and finding nothing really, ive seen a few guys saying they got 230 psi, others raid it should be 184 or 194 psi.... from a haynes manual like i said, so im not sure what it truly should be?

if i knew what it should be i could gauge how worn out the pistons/rings really are

98civdx

well if you replace them, check after you do. see how much higher it is.