Well this started a few weeks back. My car, only when in gear, will sometimes act like it is losing spark and/or fuel to one cylinder.

I have added 2 bottels of STP thinking it is a dirty injector, nothing.

then today went to pull out the spark plug wires and found some oil on the bottom of the number 2 spark plug wire. I do not know if this is my problem because i figured it would happen consitently if i have oil on a spark plug wire.

Remember this only happens occasionally and only when the car is in gear. Also it seems like it happens more when im in a higher gear for the speed, ie 4th gear at 30mph. If it starts to putter and i put in the clutch it revs up fine.

I have new spark plugs, distributor and wires. this is a 1994 civic coupe with 175k miles. please someone give me some help so i know where to get started. TIA

 

bump for some info

 

does anyone have any help?

 

Did you run a compression test or leakdown? If you're getting oil blowby, I believe its one of the rings/ring lands.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VolpeOwnsU &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you run a compression test or leakdown? If you're getting oil blowby, I believe its one of the rings/ring lands. </TD></TR></TABLE>

could be that or a head gasket thats on it's way out or even old valve seals. do a compression/leakdown test.

 

Do a leakdown/Compression check... before you do that though take off your oil cap and turn your car on let it idle for about 5 mins. See if there is smoke coming out of where the oil cap should be. Someone told me to do this before so I am passing the information on. Last time this happened to me I just said screw it and picked up another engine.

 

from driving my car, if i shift into a higher gear when the revs are too low then it acts like you are describing. i shift into 4th comfortably at like 40mph maybe a little lower or a little higher. try shifting at higher rpms and see if it helps.

 

Plugged fuel filter.

 

first your motor almost has 200k on it. and im tired of all these so called mechanics thinking everything is pointed at the rings. civics are known for blown valve seals. its a good possiblility since there only made of rubber and are exposed to a lot of heat but what do i know im only a master tech and work at a honda dealer but dont take my word for it

 

well im pretty sure the piston rings are bad. at WOT plumes of smoke come out. but this never happened before. It is like i have water or something so the spark is arching or skipping on occasions.