OK...

The del sol is going through oil like crazy (the block has only got about 10,000 miles on it). The head gasket is only about 8 months old) oil is not leaking anywhere. The exhaust is a month old and is verry sooted up. It's black, like it has been run for years. I put about 3-4 quarts in it accross a 2-3 week time period, and its not driven very far anymore, about 30 miles a day. What could be causing this? The head is not new at all, its the original, nor any of the valve trane with-in.

 

Well, you are then obviously burning the oil up. Perhaps your rings aren't in good shape/weren't installed properly.

Have you done a compression/leakdown test? Get some numbers. If they are low, try putting a teaspoon of oil in the cylinder and test it again. If they rise by a good amount, it's most likely your rings not sealing nicely.

You probably won't notice too much of a power loss since 3-4 quarts every 2-3 weeks is pretty gradual. Note that it will progressively get worse though.

 

valve seals?

 

I have no idea how to tell these mechanics over hear to do a compression leakdown test. They speak a moderate amount of english, but they dont understand a lot of phrases and words for car parts and tests. I usually show them on the car or they take me through all the parts pictures. It's horrible. The guy that put the new block in wasn't that great at what he did, althought the block came assembled from Honda. Pistons, rings, rods, crank......etc. But I didnt like the way he put it in with all the old sensors and such, water pump, pulleys and all were the old ones, except the timing belt (which I had to show him how to line up the cam and crank pulleys). Anyway, thanks for the advice, I will take it to honda I guess ( the engine light always comes on after about 15 minutes of driving and power is lost ).

 

That was my first thought. But not quite sure.

 

if you figure it out tell me cuz i got similar problem. Everyone tells me head gasket and I seriously doubt that it is.

 

Jeez....

Well the FIRST thing you should do is to take that car FAR away from those mechanics. There are tons of them around you probably that will know a lot more. A compression test is the same on all cars basically.

Yes, you could take it to Honda, but you do know they will charge you a lot, right? My suggestion is to diagnose the problem yourself first before you take it to a place especially like the dealer.

Sears has a $30 compression tester that is very good AND easy to use. You should do that first and try what I said. Dealers will rape you on diagnosis and labor charges. Honda-tech (through searches) has encountered pretty much every conceiveable problem, with solutions to each. Your problem is very common.

Here's what I predict Honda will say after you take it to them:
"Well, we did some test on it. The labor for that was $350. We take cash or credit. Now do you actually want us to fix it too? That will cost another $1000." You probably need an engine rebuild which will cost a MINIMUM of $1000.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turbo_b16_ex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you figure it out tell me cuz i got similar problem. Everyone tells me head gasket and I seriously doubt that it is.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you read my post? It's probably the rings. Do the teaspoon of oil test and see for yourself.

 

ring are normaly the problem. If you didn't break it in correct of if its running to lean It destroys your ring do a compression test they do like last post said and add a little oil to the cylinder and try it again.

 

not good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 23honda_gal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not good</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you for that extremely helpful information.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shamoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thank you for that extremely helpful information.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ha ha

Sounds like rings to me too. I had the same problem. Do what shamoo told you w/ the tsp. of oil.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone. I will have to get that tester from sears. Have to order it online as we dont have sears in Germany.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by c_riggan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the help everyone. I will have to get that tester from sears. Have to order it online as we dont have sears in Germany.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Any car parts store should have one. Although, I've never actually been to Germany.