alchemyst6

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a 2000 Civic SI that burns about 1 quart of oil every 500 miles. No leaks. From all the research I've done it appears that it is either the oil control rings or the valve stem seals. Here are my numbers from the compression test:

Cylinder Dry Wet
1 170 220
2 180 230
3 185 220
4 180 220

Leakdown test done dry
1 16%
2 7%
3 4%
4 7%

According to Honda 185 psi is normal. What are you guys getting with your tests? I haven't seen any smoke. I am stumped.

Former User

Where is cylinder 1 losing compression?

alchemyst6

I couldn't determine but my guess would be through the rings. My roomate's car (2000 integra ls) had similar results on the leakdown (1, 10%; 2, 15%; 3 7%; 4, 8%) and it doesn't burn any oil.

Former User

Besides worn piston rings, burning oil can also be caused by bad valve stem seals or a bad head gasket.

Is the surface of the engine completely free of oil?

alchemyst6

I suspect bad valve stem seals and that will probably be the first thing I change but I'm not sure if that can account for so much oil loss. The compression numbers seem slightly low especially considered against the wet numbers. No oil anywhere on the engine. Oil meticulously changed every 3750 miles with full records. I would say this started around 90,000-100,000 miles (currently 116,000).

On a side note, I adjusted the valve lash at 86,000. There was no oil loss prior to that. It's probably not a cause but someone may have had a similar issue.

lostforawhile

you would be surprised how much oil can be lost through those seals, when I replaced the ones on my 86, all the exhaust seals were completely toasted, they have to take a lot and will burn up, every time I stared the car it was like a mosquito fogger, once I put in new seals, it cleared right up, the later model cars have much higher exhaust gas temps and will probably burn them up even faster

alchemyst6

I guess I'll have to pull the head and see. I already have the stem seals so I'll probably put them in next week. I really hope that cures the problem. I usually check the oil at the gas station and this consumption problem seemed to present itself pretty quickly.

SOHC_4dr

plus 1 for valve stem seals. stay out of vtec to

alchemyst6

Thank you everyone. Most of my driving is on the highway and I probably hit vtec about 1-2 times a week.

Former User

Please post pictures of your work.

SOHC_4dr

i burn oil only when i hit vtec (i also have a 00 si). when i do i might as well just pull my drain plug out lol i'll lose less oil that way :-/

shogee

Its probably oil control rings, they wont show up on a compression because they are not supposed to seal up the combustion chamber, one of two symptoms to determine if it is rings or stem seals oi s when it burns oil, if there is a big cloud of smoke at first start up its stem seal, if it burns during acceleration its control rings, its probably control rings because of the amount of consumption, you can check the pcv system, if its working good it can decrease the it a little

Hondatherdm

100% agree.
I think its oil rings

alchemyst6

I will post pics. I think I will do both anyways just to cover all my bases.

davidjames1983

i lose about 1 liter of oil a week took my civic em1 for compression test at honda and came back 1.205psi 2.200psi 3. 200psi 4. 206psi guy said all in normal levels. so where all my oil going????????? no signs on leak and the odd puff of smoke out the exhaust

Former User

Did you read through the posts in this thread?

Is there no engine oil whatsoever on the exterior of you engine? Have you crawled under the car and carefully looked for leaks?

Bad valve stem seals will yield good compression but will cause oil burning.

davidjames1983

honda said slight mist on sump, apart from that totally clean

SeanK325

scratched cylinder walls not allowing the rings to sit properly?

davidjames1983

would that not lose compression though??? plus every time i replace oil every week dont really drive that many miles say 200miles all less