UPDATE: Compression Test Results Below

I changed the oil on my integra last week and the date writen on the filter was 2-8-01. Meaning that it has not had an oil change in 5 years. It is consuming about half a quart of oil every 150 miles. It appears also that either the valve cover gasket or head gasket is leaking. I havent seen any oil drips on the ground but there is a bunch of gunk on the cylinder head and block. I have not seen any coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant so im thinking that the rings are shot. I dont really notice any blue smoke however. The engine starts right up and actually runs very good. I am just wondering how long this engine is going to last because I drive it almost every day since I got it about a week or 2 ago. Thanks for your input.


Modified by CivicSiDriver02 at 3:21 AM 2/25/2006

 

u didnt check the oil b4 u bought it? its nearly impoible to tell how the long the cars going to last by a date on the oil filter and **** by your valve cover. need more info

 

If you are really worried go get a compression check to see how the piston rings are doing.

Next about the leak, it could be as simple as the cam seal going bad. This is very common. you can get a seal for about $10 and install it yourself in about 20 min. Get some gunk and clean the block, then watch for a new leak and see where it is comming from.

 

Yea i checked the oil before i bought it and it was about a quarter of a quart low and dark so I just figured it was in need of an oil change. The engine is and ls and has about 165k on it. Dont really have an other service records on it. Here are some pics of the oil leak.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Racermech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you are really worried go get a compression check to see how the piston rings are doing.

Next about the leak, it could be as simple as the cam seal going bad. This is very common. you can get a seal for about $10 and install it yourself in about 20 min. Get some gunk and clean the block, then watch for a new leak and see where it is comming from.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, Ive been meaning to do all this but just havent got the time to do it yet. I guess im just getting kind of antsy wanting to know whats wrong with it. I should know more about it by the end of the week.

 

That is defintely the cam seals need to be replaced and valve cover gasket

 

omg........ looks like S.......

you need to steam clean ur engine bay. replace everything and ur good to go. most likely worn gaskets and seals..

i would suggest a new timing belt, waterpump, ac, powersteering and alternator belts, new cap, rotor, new spark plugs and wires.

but yeah, engine bay looks a levy near by broke due to an explosion created by FEMA and the water flooded entire city...

 

Yes definitely replace the cam seal and valve cover gasket. If your worried about it get a compression test done. You can actually do it yourself very easily. The tester will run you about 20-30 bucks at your local parts place. Does it burn any oil? I know you said you cant see smoke but sometimes you cant see it and it still burns it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by buslion &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">omg........ looks like S.......

you need to steam clean ur engine bay. replace everything and ur good to go. most likely worn gaskets and seals..

i would suggest a new timing belt, waterpump, ac, powersteering and alternator belts, new cap, rotor, new spark plugs and wires.

but yeah, engine bay looks a levy near by broke due to an explosion created by FEMA and the water flooded entire city...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well the reason I brought all this up is because I am considering doing an engine swap if it is needed. I dont wanna start putting a ton of money into this one if it is a lost cause. If I can figure out where the oil is going (obviously an external leak but possibly and internal leak too) then I can decide what is going to be better. I should be doing a compression test on friday and that will either confirm or rule out an internal leak. If compression test is good then im probably going to go ahead and do the t-belt, water pump, belts and needed gaskets/seals. The car actually had a tune up very recently. It appears to have a new distributor, wires, fuel filter ect... Yea the engine bay looks like as if the hood was left open for a few years in the middle of the wilderness. Working on the car myself is not a problem as I consider myself mechanically inclined. Ive already done a few motor swaps so if it is needed im sure i tackle one more.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accord91h22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes definitely replace the cam seal and valve cover gasket. If your worried about it get a compression test done. You can actually do it yourself very easily. The tester will run you about 20-30 bucks at your local parts place. Does it burn any oil? I know you said you cant see smoke but sometimes you cant see it and it still burns it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Luckily (i guess? lol) im still in high school and am in the automotive program so I wont have to buy a comp. tester. I am not really sure if it is burning oil but it is definitely going somewhere other than the oil pan because every time I check it, its lower. Up until today I did not see any drip spots on the ground but today after I got home from work, I wanted to check a coolant leak I fixed yesterday and something hot dripped on my head and it was oil. This things got my head spinning. lol I just need some time to sort it out and take it step by step.

Just some side information about the car and what its intended use is. Its 95 special edition that i picked up for 800 bucks at the dealership where I work. I am planing on using it as my daily driver and college commuter car when I go to the University of Toledo in the fall. So it needs to be reliable so im not sure if I should just do the swap anyway so i have a jdm motor with 40k on it or try and fix what Ive got. Any input and direction would be appreciated greatly. Thanks.

Sorry I wrote an explicitiving book. lol

 

cam seals

 

good deal... 800 bucks! either go through the whole process of seeing what's shot or (what i'd do) is just swap in an engine you can trust... you can sell the existing engine for change

 

if you don't see oil leaking anywhere, which is my case, it could be the oil pan gasket. mine is leaking but you don't see the oil. might want to check that out also. i would just change all the seals and gaskets. i did it and while doing that you'll discover other things that may need changing...its helpful.

 

 

800bucks GOOD GOD MAN! where am i when these deals go down? (in my room bitching that i never get good deals)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by e-honda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">800bucks GOOD GOD MAN! where am i when these deals go down? (in my room bitching that i never get good deals)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well all I can say is if you get a chance to work for a honda dealership, do it! I can get cars dirt cheap off trade-ins. Ive bought a few cars and did some minor repairs and maintenence to them and turned around and resold them for a nice profit. I can get genuine parts for 30% off as well as discounts on aftermarket parts. Not trying to brag, its just a good job choice if you are still in high school or college and enjoy building your honda.

 

If I was you I would go ahead and swap the motor and if you want a back up rebuild the other. My 0.02

 

yah, that motors definitley trashed. 5 years on an oil change....my god. I cant stand it when people dont take care of their cars. They pay 20k for it but are to cheap to py for a 30$ oil change. UNBELIEVABLE. Stupid people like that always come into my work (i work at a oil change place). Ignorant *** people like that dont deserve to drive nice cars.

Congrats on the deal and definitley take that motor to the junk yard.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlackDC2_05 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I was you I would go ahead and swap the motor and if you want a back up rebuild the other. My 0.02</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RIP Indian Larry &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yah, that motors definitley trashed. 5 years on an oil change....my god. I cant stand it when people dont take care of their cars. They pay 20k for it but are to cheap to py for a 30$ oil change. UNBELIEVABLE. Stupid people like that always come into my work (i work at a oil change place). Ignorant *** people like that dont deserve to drive nice cars.

Congrats on the deal and definitley take that motor to the junk yard. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea I think I might do just that. Ill get the swap and put it in and rebuild the original for a back up, just in case. Yea its too bad the car wasn't better taken care of or I would not even be in this predicament. Oh well that's life. Thanks for the input guys.

Nice to see an Indian Larry fan. Probably would had him build me a bike someday if his life wasn't cut short in that terrible accident. R.I.P.

 

how much mileage is on the engine? how's it running? idles? what mods does it have? and do u punch it alot?


might need major tune up.. piston rings, crankcase/head gasket set... timing etc etc..

 

ouch

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pnoytegn707 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is defintely the cam seals need to be replaced and valve cover gasket</TD></TR></TABLE>
it's an ls, if you keep it stock it will last forever.

 

damn- 5 years

 

I doubt it is 5 years before the oil has been changed and you haven't notice the car being wierd.

I think what happened is the oil got leaked out of VC gasket and cam seal. Easy to DIY and some simplegreen will clean it right out. What you need to check is the oil inside the oil cap, if they are clean inside then you have no problem.

Buy a torque wrench, some gasket maker, a new VC gasket from Acura or whatever generic manufacture, a new camseal and you are all set.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by milton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how much mileage is on the engine? how's it running? idles? what mods does it have? and do u punch it alot?


might need major tune up.. piston rings, crankcase/head gasket set... timing etc etc..</TD></TR></TABLE>

The engine has 165k on it. It is running really well. The motor still sounds good and makes no unusual noises that would point me in the direction of major engine problems. Idles like its not even running, no vibrations or misfires. The car is bone stock. Since I have had it (2 weeks) it has not even been above 5k rpm. I dont drive it hard at all due to the fact I have no idea when the t-belt was last changed so I dont want to put anymore stress on it than necessary. Another bit of info that might indicate how worn the engine is my gas mileage. Ive been getting about 25 with 100% city driving. I have no idea what an ls integra normally gets around town but 25 might be on the average to low side of the spectrum.

 

Compression test results: 189-182-172-169
I guess the motor might be okay after all. I know they are within spec but are they good numbers.