I need some help please. My 98 Acura Integra LS is smoking. I have had a couple people look at it and they told me it was not the head gasket. It looks more like it is the fact that I changed the oil in my car and I put a thinner oil in it than they had in it before. I put in Castrol Synthetic High Mileage Oil. They said because of that some of the oil is slipping past it cause it to smoke some and the only thing I can really do is to put Rislon or Lucas in it to help clean it and seal it up, but that it was not going to do any major damage right now and nothing really needs to be replaced. Anyones help is greatly appreciated!!

 

compression/leak down test would let you know if anything is bad. Does the coolant look milky?

 

yep, this would be your best test

im assuming its smokin from the muffler

why would you use thinner oil in a higher mileage car? it still shouldnt leak through

 

The coolant does not look milky. My car is not over heating and I have been checking the oil and it is not loosing any either.


We did not know what was in the car before we did the oil change so we put in what we thought would be best. we used 5w-30 but are changing it today to 10w-40. The mechanic said maybe try 20w-50 but it may be too good. so we are going to go to the one inbetween that.

 

What color is the smoke?

When does it smoke, on acceleration or on deceleration, when idling or all the time?

I also agree a leak-down test is in order. 94

 

if the rings are suspected, you can run a dry compression test. then a wet compression test, and compare the numbers. if there's variation in the readings, it's your rings.
but yea, first off, what color is the smoke?

 

Everyone I have talked to says its the oil but we cant figure out what it is exactly. I have had someone say either the piston rings or the valve stem seals? It does not smoke when you first start it but when you accelerate it smokes more. We changed the oil Thursday and by Sat morning it seemed to be driving better and not as much smoke. We did rechange the oil Saturday to a heavy one as was suggested and now it is Sunday and I will have to see how it goes. Do you think its the piston rings or valve stem seals?

 

Come on, it is hard to help if you do not answer all the questions...

Whar Color Is the smoke???? 94

 

indeed.
however, if it is blue smoke, and you are noticing some oil consumption, a dry and wet compression test will tell you if it's the rings
so what color is it? because you could be chasing your tail here

 

blue. but we cant find anything wrong ill have to do that compression test. I have been told if its not that then its water somewhere.

 

Blue or blueish gray smoke is an indication that oil is burning, rings, valve guides or valve seals are the most common causes.

Water/coolant in combustion chamber would result in white smoke. 94

 

Trust this man.