Just bought a 95 Civic CX hatch (1.5L 8 valve) with 193k to use as a high mpg work beater/commuter to save miles on my primary vehicle. My first non-GM vehicle ever. Did a spark plug change and had oil in my plug wells. Talked to some people about it and just replaced the valve/rocker cover gasket, plug tube seals, and grommet seals. Car was/is blowing blue smoke when accelerating/high rpms and using oil. Haven't driven it enough to tell how fast the oil is going out of it yet.

Just dumped in a 1/2 bottle of Bardahl No Smoke/Stop Leak today and planning to change the oil this week.

Anyone have any suggestions on this? Like I said, the car is meant to be a commuter for the next year while I have to do some cross-state regular drives and I just need it to last that long. Any advice would be awesome. Thanks!

 

193k miles? Your engine burning oil is most likely from worn piston rings, or valve seals...possibly both.

 

That is what I'm guessing too but not wanting to admit. I bought this thing with the impression Hondas are indestructable under 250,000 miles

 

They are...IF they are taken care of.

Biggest factor being that the oil was changed reguarly. 2500-3000 miles. My brothers D16Z6 has 260,XXX miles on it and doesn't burn any oil(he keeps the oil changed)..my dads D16Z6 has 278,XXX miles on it and it doesn't burn oil(he to keeps the oil changed).


My old D16Z6 which is now in my uncles CRX has 170,XXX and it doesn't burn oil(Yes, I kept the oil changed).

Honda's and engines in general that I see that burn oil have not been taken care of. I mean yes it will get to a point where eventually the engine will start to pass oil but 193K miles is premature on a D15 IMO unless it wasn't taken care of.

How nasty was it under the valve cover? That will tell alot there about how well the oil kept changed in the engine.

Just my 2 cents.

 

It really wasn't horrible under the valve cover. The oil is dirty and black, yes, but I did not see any signs of sludge build-up or old scortched oil or anything. It definately needs to be changed, which the seller told me it was due for.

Diagnosing remotely is tough (I'm in healthcare so I know it is in my business), but any ideas about how long an engine like this can limp along? Will adding anything like Restore help keep it going? Like I said in first post, I need to run this car for a year. I hesitated when I went and got the cash to pay for it and now I know why...

 

My dad has a second gen civic(1982) with a 1.3L and the Piston Rings on it we think are stuck, Allowing it to pass oil into the combustion chamber to be burned. It has been this way for years although he doesn't drive it all that far from his house. Another guy I know..an old V8 head..has a 5th gen civic..94 I believe. He has been through 3 D15B7s now. Every one of them he has not ran the RECOMMENDED 5W-30 weight oil and runs 20W-50 and months later they start to burn oil.

 

So what you're saying is run the oil Honda recommends and the engine will probably last longer?

 

I kinda rambled on that last part. But yes, Run the oil Honda Recommends and CHANGE it every 2500-3000 miles and keep the Valve adjustments in check along with the other "routine" maintinence and your engine will run for a LONG time.

With yours already burning oil though all you can do is really keep the oil level full and drive it.