Im looking at buying a `98 Prelude and had a question about it for you guys. Its drivin by a lady who has had it since 27k miles. It currently has 82k on it. I guess about 4-5k ago it was using oil so she took it to the dealer where it has been serviced from new. They ended up contacting Honda and rebuilding the engine for no charge to her. They said it was a manufacture defect or something. I not totally sure what all was done but I know it received new rings and rod bearings as well as a valve job. My question is, should I be nervous about this or would you guys consider it a good thing. I just get nervous about it even though it was performed at a Honda dealer. Help me out....

 

Should be fine. Contact the dealer and find out exactly what was done.

 

ya I plan on having it checked out complete at that dealer. I want a full compression and leak down test done on it to make sure the rings were done right. It was driven by a grandmother for the lad almost 60k so I know it wasn't due to a kid smashin on it...

 

sometimes a rebuild will not help with oil usage. sometimes require a new block.

 

Why would a new block help? I understand if it had 200k on it and the pistons had scored the cylinder walls to the point that the rings could not seal to them, but not at 82k. A leak down or compression test should be able to tell if the rings aren't getting a good seal on the cylinder wall.