Hey guys, I don't really post up much here, as i'm more of a DSMer (srwd talon), but I just purchased a honda and could use some of your input.

I recently purchased a 97' Honda Prelude and it's having a weird oil consumption issue.

At startup, idle, or when crusing around at part throttle, it doesn't smoke at all. Even if i'm going around at like 3/4 throttle, no smoke. However, if I give it enough pedal to have it downshift, (yes I bought an auto) and stay on the throttle, it smokes like a TRAIN!

So it seems like it only smokes in higher RPMs and under load.

Basically i'm just confused on why there is such a drastic change from no smoke to TONS of smoke. I thought maybe the valvestems at first, but wouldnt it smoke on startup and cruise as well? I did a compression test when I first purchased the car (dont recall #s, they were relatively high though), and they were all consistant, so I know its not a HG.

I'm not much of a honda guy so any input would be helpful! Not sure if it has anything to do with the vtec engagement or anything?...

What should my compression numbers be? It's a stock bottom end and factory headgasket.

Thanks in advance!

 

you will need to perform a leakdown and compression test.

 

I'll do a compression test again and post the specific numbers once I get home tonight, but IIRC doesn't a leakdown only really tell you if you have a bent valve or a valve that isnt seating well? From my understanding that really wouldn't have much to do with oil consumption?

 

mine was doing the same thing. with a compression/leakdown test i discovered it was valve seals. replaced them and its all gone now.

 

huh, weird, I guess i'll go ahead and do a leakdown at work tomorrow. Thanks.

 

welcome to world of honda!

word of advice, ditch that auto tranny b4 it ditches you.

The smoke is black right?

compression should be around 200 across I thought??? depending on type of compession test too. I believe theres more than one type of compression test.

Hows the valve train noise? could a valve adjustment help anybody think? if it hasn't been done in a while and is ticking.

 

Sounds like bad oil control rings.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mattsnooz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">welcome to world of honda!

word of advice, ditch that auto tranny b4 it ditches you.

The smoke is black right?

compression should be around 200 across I thought??? depending on type of compession test too. I believe theres more than one type of compression test.

Hows the valve train noise? could a valve adjustment help anybody think? if it hasn't been done in a while and is ticking.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah i've heard that about the auto, but I already have a spare, and figured if it would just be my unmodded daily driver, i'd be ok. I guess i'll find out

As far as compression goes, it'll read a little lower up here (5800ft) but IIRC it was tapping somewhere in the high 180s across on the gauge last time I did it, i'll do it again here soon.

The smoke is black/dark greyish with a little blue. Its bad! In the past everytime i've seen mass oil consumption it's been strictly almost all blue (bad turbo, bad hg, too much case pressure, etc...)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vinuneuro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like bad oil control rings.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Didn't really think about that, you think its possible that when oil pressure increases (high rpms/high load), that its pushing past the rings? or maybe thats the case with the seals? (never had a car with vtec/mivec/vvtc before this, so not sure if bad seals have other symptoms on these motors)

Thanks for the input guys!

 

Oh...your hitting vtec?....that explains it. Yes it could push past the seals

separate question all together, does your motor tick while idling?

that compression is *okay (180)

 

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

Yeah i've heard that about the auto, but I already have a spare, and figured if it would just be my unmodded daily driver, i'd be ok. I guess i'll find out

As far as compression goes, it'll read a little lower up here (5800ft) but IIRC it was tapping somewhere in the high 180s across on the gauge last time I did it, i'll do it again here soon.

The smoke is black/dark greyish with a little blue. Its bad! In the past everytime i've seen mass oil consumption it's been strictly almost all blue (bad turbo, bad hg, too much case pressure, etc...)

Didn't really think about that, you think its possible that when oil pressure increases (high rpms/high load), that its pushing past the rings? or maybe thats the case with the seals? (never had a car with vtec/mivec/vvtc before this, so not sure if bad seals have other symptoms on these motors)

Thanks for the input guys! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Bad valve seals will show themselves after vacuum conditions, after you've been idling a long time and then start moving, or high-rpm off-throttle then back on.

On-throttle without vacuum like your situation indicates bad oil-control rings.