Do all H22a2 engines consume small amounts of oil? I have heard from alot of Honda owners (with a DOHC engine fitted) that the engine will consume minimal amounts of oil, especially when VTEC is engaged. Is this correct and does yours?

I ask as mine seems to be consuming minimal amounts of oil. One other thing I would like to seek some advice on, is when left for a few days without being run, my prelude will emit a cloud of very smelly white smoke upon firing up for the first time. My initial thoughts are that prehaps this is because the valve stem oil seals have diminished over time, allowing small amounts of oil to seep through if left for days. Or is this normal?

I would like to point out , that the cars emissions where spot on, when tested. Everything runs and operates as it should when warmed up.

Lastly, whilst on the subject of oil, what do you believe to be the best oil for gearbox? I read somewhere the shell helix range is particularly good, notably for vehicles suffering from worn syncromesh...

As always, your thoughts and advice are appreciated.

Mike.

 

Yes they all do consume an amount of oil. Honda says 1qt every 1000 miles.

If the white smoke has a blueish tint to it, then it's oil.

See how much you are actually burning. It does'nt sound serious yet, but top it off and then wait 1000 miles and see how much actually burned.

For your gearbox, opinions will vary, but I say Honda OEM MTF/ATF depending on what you have. Hopefully MTF for your sake.

 

Thanks for your valued input, limpmode.

How many quarts are there between the min and max level on the dipstick? I will then be able to tell you how many it consumes per 1000 miles... (I would say about 1/5 of the distance between min and max is consumed per 1000, dependant on VTEC use)

What mythed me is that the white smoke does not have a bluey tint (or I cannot see it), but it does smell really bad! Which led me to believe it is oil and the valve stems may have started to detoriate, if this is not normal?

It only occurs for a few seconds on start up, then it's completely clear..

 

Smells bad like what? Sulfurish? That might point to a bad cat, but you said it passed emmissions. I would say there is about a 1.5 qt diff between the dipstick lines. Not 100% on that, someone correct me if I'm wrong. 1/5 of the difference every 1k seems perfectly acceptable.

 

It's hard to describe the smell. Initially I thought it was just a bit of water in the system but then i noticed the smell.

That an interesting point. I am not sure what sulphur smells like, yet strangely, I think it does smell like sulphur (if that makes any sense!).

It never even crossed my mind it could be the cat but, interestingly, I noticed the bit of pipe that holda the cat looks very old. So you may well have hit the nail on the head!

How would I distinguish whether the cat or the stem seals are at fault? If the cat was at fault, would this smell/smoke not be emitted constantly, even when warm?

I think i'll get a video clip of the smoke and post it up for analysis!

 

Sulphur smells similar to rotten eggs. Or *** gas .

There is a possibility it could be your stem seals. But burning oil has a pretty distinct smell, so if it does not smell like oil then who knows. Could be excess fuel on startup, but that would not produce white smoke, it would be blackish. And neither smell is particularly putrid, at least not to me. Sulfur DEFINITELY is however.

 

With that information, i can almost certainly say the smell is sulphur then! It smells exactly as you described! Would the cat account for the white smoke (alternatively, possiby this is water vapour with the smell the cat is giving)..

 

I had been thinking condensation/water might be collecting somewhere while sitting.

Yeah you may have a bad cat then if it smells like sulphur. Unless anyone knows another reason for the smell.

 

bad catalytic usually = rotten egg smell

 

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How many quarts are there between the min and max level on the dipstick? </TD></TR></TABLE>

There is 1 quart difference from the min to the max level line on the dipstick. I know this for a fact because when my oil is at min, I fill it up with 1 quart and the level of oil goes back to max.

 

If you are burning oil that would be blueish smoke. Could be some antifreeze or the cat with the condenzation.