So my 95 srv is a complete champion at using oil. I consistently use about a quart every 300 miles. No noticeable blue smoke BUT, when i red line in first i get this awesome huge cloud of black smoke (it's pretty impressive). There could very well be blue mixed in with that black but i still use the same amount of oil even if i drive 300 miles shifting at low RPM. I also get a nice film of black soot on my back bumper/trunk no matter how nicely i drive her.

Here is what i have replaced so far to attempt to fix the problem:
-PCV valve
-vtec solenoid gasket
-head gasket
-valve cover gasket + spark plug seals
-valve seals
-cam seals

These repairs have not decreased consumption at all...

Have not done a compression test. There are usually a few drops of oil on the ground where i park but nothing serious.

Is it possible that this amount oil could be lost at the oil cooler while i am driving?
Could it also be possible that my rings are f***d and i am burning all this oil even though i am not seeing blue smoke?

Any input would be awesome...I have been toughing it out for the last 4 years but now my oil bill from "top ups" is in excess of $500 (new record?) and i would like to fix this if possible.

 

do you hit vtec a lot? preludes are known to burn oil in vtec. mine does.

 

No, i hit vtec like once a month tops, but when i do i get this wicked sick cloud of black smoke haha.

 

Regardless of how often you hit VTEC, a healthy engine wouldnt burn a quart in 300 miles. Something is seriously wrong here...the only thing I can think of is a serious leak somewhere

 

Have you checked the oil pan gasket or rear main seal? I used to lose about a quart every 600-800 miles thought. After I changed the two seals I haven't lost any oil since.

 

compression test would help. after you do a compression test once, drop a tablespoon of oil in each cylinder and retest again. if it comes up higher the second time, then your rings are probably shot.

 

ill take a look at those seals and see. If it was my rings could it still be possible to not see lots of blue smoke?

 

mine see's a lot of blue smoke also, but not nearly as much. i'm suspecting a ring problem as well.