Creepsjr

Hey guys, having some major issues with my 1999 Civic SiR (Si in the States). Pushing 175,000km (110,000mi).

My oil consumption in the last four weeks has gone through the roof and I dont understand why. It's also getting progressively worse at an alarming rate- it's almost as if the oil is just draining out the bottom. I monitored my oil consumption for 650km (about 400mi) and lost 400mL of oil (just shy of 1/2 a quart). I did not hit VTEC in that period either. Just today, I commute 40km (25mi) to work one way. It appears I lost almost 200mL!! (just shy of 1/4 quart). Overall, I've lost about a quart of oil in the last 1000km (625mi). Where the hell is the oil going?! It's getting crazy bad too!!

Here are a few things though:

1. The engine used to lose about 1/2 quart per oil change (5000km/3000mi). In the last 4 weeks it has skyrocketed.

1. There are ZERO oil stains where I park in my garage or where I park at work.

2. There is NO smoke coming out the exhaust. Is it possible for the catalytic converter to eat up that much smoke?

3. I know my VTEC solenoid gasket is leaking- and I will be addressing that tonight- but i highly doubt it is responsible for all the oil I'm losing. I imagine there would be stains on the ground where I park. Thus far I think it's just on the side of the block and slowly making its way downwards.

4. Engine is completely stock, other then 5w-30 Amsoil synthetic, which I've been running for years.

5. Someone suggested it may be my valve seals. However, when I cold start the car, there is ZERO smoke coming out the back.

6. Another person suggested the oil control rings have given out, but upon deceleration (letting the engine drop from 6000rpm to 3000rpm on its own), there again is ZERO smoke.

7. One thing I noticed (i had the wife drive the car and hit VTEC a few times while I followed) is there was no smoke, but the exhaust smelled of fresh, hot oil. Not burnt oil. Hot, just popped the oil fill cap, smelling oil. And i was a good 150-200ft behind her. Is this normal?

Does anyone have any ideas as to what is going on? My dealership stated "oh that's kinda normal" but I have not been using VTEC at all and again, consumption has gone up big time. From 1/2 quart per 3000mi, to being on par for over 3 quarts per 3000mi. Please help!

pityocamptes

What do your plugs look like?

theartofmoving

You could also try a compression test to get a better idea of how your valves and piston rings are sealing

Creepsjr

Compression test netted 175PSi across the board after the starter cranked over 4 times. Max compression was:
Cyl 1: 190
Cyl 2: 190
Cyl 3: 188
Cyl 4: 190

I'm assuming those numbers are okay. Also, the spark plugs are getting there in age, but they were not fouled. I dont know much about plugs, but a friend of mine said they're okay but should be replaced soon. I didn't look overly clsoe at them, but they appeared to be a little whitish grey. No build up. Electrode looked okay.

Is there any other way to test valve seals or oil control rings?

I replaced my VTEC solenoid gasket last night and did an oil change as well. Afterwards I noticed my idle is going from 1200 to 1600 to 1200 to 1600. Just keeps going up and down. Engine was fully warmed up too. This morning I had a check engine light come on too. Anyone have any ideas?!

purgat0ry

iTrader: (3)

Pull the CEL, there are plenty of guides on how to here on the forum, start there
For example, RonJ@HT as stickies at the top of the sub forum, his sig always contains guides necessary for trouble shooting

Easymode => https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/how-pull-cel-d4-srs-abs-codes-code-lists-1901557/

94CivicSi

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to vote Oil Control Rings, although you should have soot all over the back of your car. Unless.....your cat is still filtering it out/slowly clogging.

When I got my EJ8, it was consuming 1qt every 500-1000 miles depending on how it was driven. Like you, compression was perfect and leakdown was normal. Once I got the SOHC motor out and tore it down, it was pretty clear that oil rings were the culprit.

They were heavily cabonized to the point where the rings themselves were stuck too the lands. The spring in-between was absolutely caked with crap. This picture doesn't do it justice, but you can see that none of these components were making contact with the cylinder walls. Oil was just puring through the end gaps in the compression rings and into the combustion chamber. (you should see those pics!)



It could have been salvaged with a hone and new set of rings. A teardown is probably the only solution, although maybe it's worth trying a sea foam treatment first.

pityocamptes

I wonder if using Sea Foam, Marvel Mystery oil and ATF fluid into the cylinder and letting it soak for a week, then change out oil would make a difference??

KandabashiDevil

Hey! Another 1999 SiR in Alberta

Your oil rings on the piston are destroyed. "94CivicSi" is correct.
You aren't seeing exhaust smoke or block leaks (but you can still smell it from behind) because your motor is still running strong enough to burn it all. I'm guessing your car is painted black (like mine! ) because you would have noticed carbon build up on your rear bumper.

Creepsjr

The car is actually Milano red. There isn't anything on the bumper, save for carbon build up on the edge of the stock exhaust pipe. I replaced the VTEC solenoid gasket just the other day and consumption seems to have gone back to normal. It's still too early to tell since I've only drove about 100km on it but it looks like oil levels have not changed. I've also hit VTEC 6 or 7 times.

Idle is still messed. A buddy of mine ran the code and it came out to be p05005 i think. Intake air control idle or something. He will be doing a thorough check tomorrow- he was on the clock at the Honda dealership so he didn't have much time.

Anyway, because the idle is messed (going between 1600 to 1700rpm yesterday evening), every time the engine "blipped" up to the higher rpm, stuff came out the exhaust and on to the ground. Looked like it was lightly spraying a black carbon/water mixture.

If the oil control rings were the culprit, wouldn't the leak down test show this? As in a large change in compression pressure being held in the cylinders between the leak down and compression test?

Atomic1

Here's another vote for stuck oil control rings, same thing on my 2000si which I am saving up for a rebuild. I dont have soot on my bumper either.

Be aware of how you're checking your oil level as I've noticed most of my oil filters nowadays allow the oil to drain back into the sump overnight, you need to be consistent with how you check it.

No, leakdown would only show issues with your compression rings..... oil rings are different and can be bad while the compression rings are good.