hey guys, just hoping you could give me some insight into what could be happening/wrong

I've owned the car for about a year now and i have noticed that the car has be progressively blowing more and more smoke as vtec engages. there is smoke only when vtec hits and whenever im below the vtec threshold, there are no problems.

what could be wrong? worn rings? or could bad valve seals be the problem?

i just recently had maintenance done on the car after i took it out of winter storage...oil, tranny fluid change, cap/rotor/plugs changed, valve adjustment done and rad flushed.

any insight would be appreciated...the car runs well and still pulls strong...but im getting tired of having to add a quart of oil every couple of weeks

thanks

 

what color smoke? its probably rings, valve seals usually cause smoke on startup
get a compression test or better yet leakdown test done

 

smoke is a dark/black color...it also leaves carbon/soot on the rear bumper as well...

i was contemplating a rebuild this winter anyways so i was hoping i would be able to get some confirmation with this thread.

 

well i guess your burning oil, most likely from blown rings then
i would really suggest getting a leakdown test and you'll find out exactly whats wrong

 

might be running rich as well

 

i dont think its running rich....im still getting pretty decent gas mileage. also when i did my maintenance this spring, the old plug tips were whitish with weird crust like deposits on them. i thought the car was running a little lean if anything..

 

Well it's hard to sit here and guess what it could be but our cars are KNOWN for bad seating rings and your symptoms sound a lot like that. Lack of power could be because with all that smoke you've got a fouled 02 sensor which could throw off the ecu and put it in limp mode.

 

well its definitely not in limp mode cuz the car still pulls quite strong...i feel a little self conscious every time i hit vtec and the guy behind me eats a big puff of smoke from my exhaust...lol

 

You need new rings. Time for bottom end build up. Its never the head

 

how much $$$$$$ to rebuilt the bottom end...all oem

 

A block rebuild isn't that bad to do.

Just get the following even if it doesn't need replacing sicne later on you won't have to fix it

Stone Honing Tool
New Rings
Possibly new pistons if clearances aren't in spec
Rod Bearings
Main Bearings
Thrust Washers
Oil Pump
Water Pump

Just check all the clearances if you do a rebuild. I like to use plastiguage since I don't have a lot of tools to measure etc.

 

rings yo

 

Most you should pay is 950 less better if its shop. New rings, walls, oil pump, bearings, both seals, and polish the crank and put together. Ball park idea

 

 

thanks for the input guys...i am most likely going to rebuild it during the winter and the way i look at is if im gonna be spending money to rebuild the block, i might as well spend a little extra and do some head work as well. im looking to make around 210 whp

 

I'm going to be polite in response to the wrong answers everyone has been giving you. Black smoke is indicative of fuel....NOT oil from bad rings.

 

My R used to burn, oil, coat the back bumper with soot and smoke in VTEC. I replaced the rings and all is well. It could just be that the oil getting by the rings is dirty, giving it a darker color. Right after an oil change the clean oil being blown out might not be as apparant to the driver.

Also the extra oil being passed could screw with the emissions system (PCV, and O2 sensors) making it run rich. Just a thought, but I would say it is in fact the rings.

 

Touche in regards to the oil passing through the pcv and interfering with the sensor. Didn't think of that.

 

Just had the same problem with mine. Leak down was fine, compression a little low but still in spec. Had valve seals replaced and resurfaced the head while it was off. Problem gone.