I recently found out from a friend of mine that when VTEC turns on black smoke comes out of my exhaust until I get back out of VTEC. I realize black smoke usually means burning oil, but why would this only happen when VTEC comes on? Would it be something like a problem with the solenoid or is it just a normal thing because the engine has 132000 miles on it?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Very normal, the rings on a engone that old arent as good as, say, a engine with 10,000 miles on it and oil is getting past them. No too much you can do, and, not too much to worry about.

 

You can consider a rebuild and change the rings. But then again if the motor is out you might as well clean up the block too. To cure the smoke problem for the time being go to your local auto parts store and pick up a bottle of No Smoke. It's a clear bottle with this yellow goo that looks like Honey. Pour some into the engine and the smoke problem should go away.

 

I agree that this is normal. Unless, of course, the smoke is so thick that you can't see the car behind you.

I had a similar problem with my Sol, and ended up taking the drastic course of rebuilding the engine. It all started with the idea of just doing a ring and head job and ended up being a total semi-performance rebuild.

Eight thousand dollars later there is still smoke coming out the tail pipe when it hits VTEC, now it's just unburnt fuel.

 

note: oil makes blue smoke, not black.


[Modified by KAMiN, 12:31 PM 8/25/2002]

 

Well my friend specifically said black smoke. So would that mean something different? What would change when VTEC comes on to make black smoke come out? It is no where near enough smoke for me to be able to see out of my back window, but my friend said it is still quite noticeable when he is behind me.

Thanks everyone.

 

black smoke is just extra fuel

 

black smoke = rich
blue smoke = oil
white smoke = coolant

|eb_CRX

 

sounds like ur running a bit rich in VTEC, does ur friend have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator? if so tell him to back off the pressure a little.

 

It is my car that has the black smoke. Since my car is stock, what would that mean? How could my car be running rich? Is the computer messed up some how or is it something else totally? I am just trying to figure out what the deal is.

Thanks a lot.

 

all cars run rich stock

its normal, dont worry about it

 

ya they run rich at WOT...but not rich enough to have smoke comin otu the exhaust

you seem to be lackin spark up in the higher rpm's, or your just spittin too much fuel...post your mods! (or are you stock as in your sig (just sounds really weird for stock))

|eb_CRX


[Modified by Leb_CRX, 7:18 PM 8/25/2002]

 

Yes I am totally stock. Would it be a problem with the spark plugs? I haven't really checked on them since I got the vehicle with 120000 miles on it. Could it be that I need to replace the spark plugs or wires or maybe something else?

Thanks again all

 

ok leb you tell him...analyze the problem

haha j/k

when you going to make your car fast man....i wanna run you soon

 

get new plugs...10$ later, if the problem persists IM me

|eb_CRX

 

i gotta go with the RINGS too... might wanna consider a rebuild or a swap come 150,000 miles.

 

Well, while I'm thinking about new plugs...What is the best brand for stock replacement plugs for my car(name and part number if you know it)? And is there anything else I should change out while I'm doing this mini tune up?

thanks

 

Black smoke is the indicator of running rich. Are you burning any oil? If so, how much oil/3k miles?
Yuri K

 

I might be burning some oil, but I will have to wait until my next oil change to tell you for sure on that one. I know exactly where the oil was on the dipstick when I changed it last and I have about 1500 miles before my next 3000 mile change. I have lost maybe what looks like a tenth of a quart so far, that might have only been from me checking the oil too soon after it had been running too(not sure on that though). Am I more likely to burn oil in the higher rpms? Because if I'm burning oil it might not show up much right now becuase I haven't been getting on it hard much.

 

My wife's GSR would burn like 1.5 quarts per 3K miles if you drive hard but if you take it easy, I could get away with 0.5-3/4 of a quart. Sometimes when I'd run it to the redline you could see the black cloud behind me. I did the engine rebuild & all the problems are solved. Ususally older engine not just smoke from vavle seals & rings but they also tend to leak a tiny bit here & there.
Yuri K

 

My ex coupe smokes with the vtec kicked in. I replaced the spark plugs with splitfires and it helped a little now that I think of it. But you guys are saying that if I put in some wires it should go away right. I will be buying an air intake so maybe that will fix the running rich problem as more air will be in the mixture and maybe less smoke but probably the computer will just add more fuel and keep it at the same ratio.

 

I'm just wondering, but who said that if you put wires on, the smoking will go away? I asked if changing plugs and/or wires would help and leb said try out the plugs and if not IM him but that was it really.

 

My bad that was you I got kind of screwed up reading the posts.

 

Thats fine I just wanted to make sure you didn't go doing something that might not help.

 

yea, smoke comes out with my car as well. i have 90k and when vtec engages smoke comes out. But since the smoke is black, and most honda run a little rich from the lot. It is safe to assume it is simply a combination of age and your engine running rich. Nothing that critical to worry about, put it on back burner unless the problem worsens.