vtec.dc2

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update:

o.k. compression test revealed ~125 on #3..

all others seemed kinda lower than normal, like around 205..

this is on 6 cranks.. but it seemed to go higher as i kept cranking, but 125 on #3 was enough information
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I noticed smoke from breather from valve cover on cold start and goes away.. not loosing coolant.. so rings? right?


Modified by vtec.dc2 at 6:13 PM 9/23/2003

GSRwBOOST

yep.. probably..


<-- same problem a Looooooooooooong time ago.

TurboDANDEE

or excess crank case pressure/blow by

dustineck

This happened to me last week. How much smoke is coming out? If it is just a little bit then that is normal. If it is a lot of smoke and smells like oil, then you probably cracked a piston ring land. Happened to me last week and I am doing me rebuild today. This has happened to many other people I know. Check you compression to see if one cylinder is low. If it is I bet it is cylinder #3.


Modified by AzSiRacer at 6:35 PM 9/18/2003

vtec.dc2

well.. drove the car around.. no smoke out exhaust.. the smoke is constant now out the valve cover breather as well out the oil cap - seems rather white..

what exactly happens for smoke to come out? - if it is blow by.. in other words.. where does this white smoke form from and how does it find its way through valve cover?

InTeGrA B18b1

white is water. black is fuel, blue is oil,
Check your radiator see if theres black stuff in there.

vtec.dc2

i will check radiator cap once the car cools down more

i forgot to mention that i heard pop-corn type of sounds as the car warmed up for past couple days..

Trac226

What if the smoke isn't constant? Every once in a while I will get a long puff of smoke come out, but it looks black.

pornstarSR

smoke from breather is rings

if alot, alittle is sometimes normal

but if its visable then its more than normal

how it gets there is a cracked ringland, or broken ring, it doesnt get into the combustion chamber as much as when the engine fires it pushed is past the ring down into the crankcase(oilpan area) which is connected up to the head for oiling purposes.

as you might have noticed is that it puffs smoke, this is because of the combustion process

hope this helps

but smoke out of the breather sucks, cause it usually means somthings wrong

but wait is the motor built(i.e. forged pistons)?? this could MAYBE cause it when its cold MAYBE

do a leak down test that will tell you for sure

vtec.dc2

thanks for explaining..

no.. this is stock motor.. other than new headgasket and arp bolts.. i don't run breather filter, could it be just water got in there? its not doing it now.. who knows..

anyone knows whats up with pop-corn metal sound, i heard that on cold start up for past couple days

VanHonda

I had the same thing...probably rings or ringlands.

Goodluck

vtec.dc2

yep.. it seems like its rings or ringland.. now.. if i open oil cap on cold start, oil will shoot all over the place, theres still moderate amount of puff smoke from breather valve.. and engine makes odd sound (probably from oil blowing by) as i press gas pedal at idle or accelerate..

so question is.. can i drive the car until its rebuild in this conditon? what happens next if i dont boost until its fixed?

Stewie

Synthetic oil burns white.

X2BOARD

If you have a breather filter... you will typically see smoke (not much, but a bit of vapor) coming from the filter... it's normal. Crankcase gases build up in the head all of the time. You'll notice more vapor, the harder you run it. If you pull your dipstick... you should see the same type of smoke coming from there too.

Now if the smoke is thick... it may be a problem.

vtec.dc2

no.. i don't run synthetic..

vtec.dc2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X2BOARD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you have a breather filter... you will typically see smoke (not much, but a bit of vapor) coming from the filter... it's normal. .</TD></TR></TABLE>

no breather filter

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X2BOARD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crankcase gases build up in the head all of the time. You'll notice more vapor, the harder you run it. If you pull your dipstick... you should see the same type of smoke coming from there too.

Now if the smoke is thick... it may be a problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i wish that was so.. but smoke starts to happen couple minutes after the car warmed up.. as soon as i start the car and open oil cap, oil drops will sputter all over engine bay..

there isn't as much smoke out the breather valve.. but.. i noticed oil all around it on valve cover

vtec.dc2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec.dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
so question is.. can i drive the car until its rebuild in this conditon?
what happens next if i dont boost until its fixed?</TD></TR></TABLE>

dustineck

Run a compression test and check your pistons after that. I am doing a rebuild after having the same signs. It is either the piston rings or ring lands.

X2BOARD

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AzSiRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Run a compression test and check your pistons after that. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Also... what is your PCV setup ? You said you have no breather filter... you're not just running it open, are you ?

If you are... a little oil will definitely spit out of the breather.... that's what it's there for.

vtec.dc2

well.. i've ran this for a while, i have oil catch cat from pcv valve, and breather filter or open breather valve on valve cover.. i had minor oil at first.. but it started to progress.. theres also odd noise.. probabl blow by as i raise rpm

car idles and drives fine other than smoke and noise.. compression check is next..

i just want to know whats everyone opinion on driving the car with no boost in this condition

X2BOARD

firstly, put a breather filter on that thing... yer crazy !

Second... do a compression and leak down test to determine your engine's condition...then well see.

turbotypeR@SPEC

i vote for ringlands

vtec.dc2

o.k. compression test revealed ~125 on #3..

all others seemed kinda lower than normal, like around 205..

this is on 6 cranks.. but it seemed to go higher as i kept cranking, but 125 on #3 was enough information

InTeGrA B18b1

so your rings or ringlands gone? how much to replace them?

W O T

should have thrown some spoon fulls of oil down #3 and tried again, if the numbers go up a descent bit it would help to determine if its your rings and you just have to re-ring that piston or if you need to buy a replacement/forged units because of broken ringlands

Oh, and if you pull the oil cap off, of course oil is gonna spirt out lol, thats normal