I have a 1998 GSR Sedan. Love it. ITR rsway, subframe brace, looped steering, short shifter, poly bushings, gutted intake.

Pulls very hard, shifts perfectly, no CEL, does not overheat, does not burn excessive oil (just what's typical of an older b18C1... 1 quart btwn changes) and is a blast to drive (esp after the ITR Rsway install and looped steering).

I changed the timing belt, waterpump, head gasket and steamed the head (new valve stem seals too).

However, she still smokes white on start-up and at WOT. I did all the troubleshooting. 91.3% sure it's a warped or cracked head (although the feelers and straight edge revealed next to no warping when I replaced the HGasket).

I don't have much time for anything (baby on the way, applied for PhD program), but want to put on a header (that's sitting in my garage) and exhaust and coilovers.

Should I sell (don't know how much I can get for it with it smoking, and I don't want to cheat anyone)? Or should I just buy and install the above parts and keep driving? Or troubleshoot again and probably end up rebuilding again?

I only have time/$ for one of the 3 choices.

 

Is it oil smoke or coolant smoke? Or just condensation because its cold out?

Most probably condensation.

 

Pretty sure it's coolant smoke, although the coolant level does not drop much at all.

 

Idk. What would lead you to believe it's coolant then?

How cold is it where you live?
How much coolant do you lose over how many miles/run time?
What does the smoke smell like?

 

ummmm you say "not that much warpage" and "not that much coolant loss" what does that mean exactly. can you smell coolant out of your exhaust? when was the last time you replaced your valve cover gaskets and more importantly, the 4 seals that go between the valve cover and the spark plug holes. If those are leaking your car will smoke every single time without fail. its a common problem. I hope its that simple and not a head problem. In the future.....never put your head back on without taking it to a machine shop and having it surfaced.

 

check the small coolant hoses from the head to the intake on the passenger side of the engine. 99% of all over heated integras are because those were leaking. Those hoses only leak while driving so when you stop you don't see any coolant leaking all over but youre slowly draining the engine while driving until one day you're on the freeway and your car shuts down suddenly.

 

"next to no warping" (whiteice, if you use quotes, please use the words you quote!) meaning I could not fit the thinnest feeler gauge through at any point.
All hoses and other gaskets were replaced as well.

The smoke is white. It was cold outside yes, but still smoked when it was warm out a few days ago. The smoke smells a bit sweet with a bit of oil mixed in at the same time, definitely not a strong odor though.

 

Might be leaking valve seals. When you let off the gas from a high rpm does it smoke also?

 

Does the car over heat? Have you tested the coolant for hydrocarbons yet? Have you done a pressure test on the coolant system?

 

I need to do a hydrocarbon test I guess. No overheating but im guessing the smell and color of the exhaust smoke point to coolant

I just replaced the valve stem seals too... Maybe I did not do it properly?

 

Valve stem seals have absolutely nothing to do with the engine burning coolant. When the car is cold, take the rad cap off and start it. Let it warm up to operating temp with the rad cap off. Some coolant will overflow out of the radiator, don't panic, it's normal, just rinse with a bit of water. After the car gets to operating temp and sits there for 5 mins or so, keep an eye on where the rad cap goes, there should not be any visible air bubbles coming out of the coolant. If you watch it for 10 mins or so and tiny bubbles continually come out chances are strong that the head gasket is bad and is allowing combustion gases into the cooling system. A hydrocarbon test would confirm or deny that.

 

I was answering Kaycee.

Yup. I've bled the system and saw a fee bubbles/gurgles before. I forgot to mention that.

 

Have you pulled the plugs to see if they have any abnormal coloring? And you said the coolant level doesn't drop noticeably right? Maybe theres a small leak in the head gasket thats causing the problem. But if you do that hydrocarbon test like 1998 suggested, you'll know for sure if its leaking or not.

 

It's not leaking coolant or losing coolant, and using the normal amount of oil but you still think there is something wrong? If it was burning coolant you would know. It's not. Sounds to me like there is nothing wrong with your car.

 

That's what is bothering me
But where is the smoke coming from? It's not just condensation, it smells a bit like a coolant oil mix, but the levels don't drop noticeably, but I did see bubbles/gurgling when the radiator cap was off.

Anyways, thanks guys.

 

It's a very strong smell when it is burning, you would know. It probably just smells because it smells. Post a video of the smoke, there's a difference between coolant and condensation. The coolant is much thicker and very white. My guess is you're seeing condensation.

This is an extreme example, but it's very white.


Here's maybe what you see?


Temperature isn't the only factor in causing you to see exhaust condensation.

 

I'm sure the "issue" is just condensation.

 

I worry too much... Tnx guys

 

Everyone had great ideas but I didnt catch anyone mentioning blown piston rings. That allows blow by and uses oil faster. Make sure one of your fans hasn't worn through part of the radiator. That happened to me once.

 

If it were a ring seal issue, it would be blue, not white smoke. If there was a hole worn in the radiator the car would over heat because the cooling system would not be able to pressurize.

 

The spark plug tube seals(which is what you are referring to when you say "the 4 seals that go between the valve cover and spark plug holes") have no bearing on the engine smoking. If they are leaking, the spark plugs will have some oil on them and that's all. In no way can that oil migrate into the combustion chamber unless the spark plug is removed and it leaks in. It is perfectly acceptable to re-install a cylinder head with out having it resurfaced. I have yet to see a cylinder head on one of these Honda four cylinder engines measure outside of Honda's cylinder head deck spec if the car was not over heated. And also, radiator hoses are not the sole reason 99% of integra's that over heat over heat. I know you're trying to be helpful, but most everything you've said is wrong. Please double check your information before posting. The less misinformation we can spread the better

 

condensation in exhaust