I bent my valves recently and had new aftermarket valves installed. This was about 500-750 miles ago and since then I have had to put in about 4qts of oil. I was thinking it was the valve seals, but not sure if its the rings. The shop (DRT in Queens, NY) who installed the valves says its the rings, and that he did a good job with the valves. So I took it to another shop and we did a compression and leak down test, and he thinks the first shop used the original seals with the aftermarket valves and they are leaking. He thinks the results of my compression test were OK, and that its normal if a cyclinder is off by a little bit, as longs as its not more than 10%.

Cyl #1 = 210
Cyl #2 = 230
Cyl #3 = 230
Cyl #4 = 230

Is this normal...advice and opinions needed on rings or seals...are these #'s normal.

 

When I step on it lots of blue/black smoke exits thru the exhaust. I sometimes smell burnt oil.

 

I had the same exact problem... and I'm pretty sure it's my oil rings... the rings are getting replaced as we speak...

 

I am thinking if its the rings I will upgrade the pistons at the same time...is that what you are doing

 

actually I'm keeping the stcok pistons... i'm low on $$$


the only difference between our cars is that my oil leaked once i got to 7k-8k rpms... is your car leaking oil all the time?

 

Well I am not sure if its leaking all the time. I notice the smoke when my VTEC opens @ 7400 RPMS.

 

ahh

then yes we do have the same problem...

 

that is a ton of oil to be losing. But if your rings were fine before you swapped valves/seals then they should still be fine. If the repair shop re-used oil valve seals that is a big no-no, they will **** oil with new valves for sure. Check your plugs they should be oil covered, shiny wet black colour. I don't think your rings would have changed that drastically in such a short period of time , I think it is more likely the valve seals, no matter how good a valve job the guy did, if he re-used valve seals they will leak large. When I swapped valve seals I supplied the shop with new the new seals and asked for the old ones back, don't rely on them to order the parts, too easy to cut corners and time.

Joey

 

Not sure if they were fine...my timing belt skipped, and bent my valves. When the head was off DRT told me the pistons were scraped but fine and recommeded just new valves.

 

If it smokes on full throttle its the rings.
If it smokes at idle then its valve seals

 

Uh-oh Chris...is it still smoking when you merge on the Hwy 12??

 

If it is the rings wouldn't the compression #'s be lower? But at the same time I am confident in Ralphy(DRT) would not cut corners on a valve job, so I don't think its the seals for that reason. Confused and frustrated.

 

not necessarily.

the seals arent really related to valve replacement.
And it would be kinda hard to damage them while doing that.

Its probably your rings.

 

There was a minimal amount of oil on the plugs...not sure what this would mean, if rings or seals

 

well said Mr SGT

Bryan





[Modified by BryanSprinkel, 3:03 PM 2/18/2002]

 

when they did leakdown on number 1 where were the leaks ? exh manifold, intake manifold oil stick, where ?Sounds like oil rings aer shot, copression ring not as bad as oil ring.

just pop few drops of oil into the 210 cylinder and redo compression test if she raises back tot he levels as other cylinders then rings are gone
Greg

 

how much is it to replace rings?

 

its almost always rings in my experience.

 

I have had the same problem for a while. My rear bumper also has all these oil speckles all over it.. I also noticed I have alot of condensation.. Hrmmm...

But yea.. anytime in VTEC under a load.. 007 smoke screen time!

Im going to have Acura replace the piston rings..

 

chris i have the exact same thing. rings my friend... my valve seals are perfect