Hi,

My D16Y8 on 95 DX started knocking a few weeks ago. I immediately stopped driving and took the oil pan out to check and piston bearing in cylinder #1 was shot. It was deformed and broke into 4 pieces. (Picture attached).

I've replaced the bearing on all the journals. I think my #1 piston journal went out of shape, it's still knocking a little. It doesn't shut off the car or it doesn't have idle issues either. No smell or no metal shavings in oil. It has a knock especially between 2,000 - 3,000 RPM.

I am planning to replace the engine but it's not gonna happen anytime soon. Maybe 6 months or a year or so. My question is, can I still drive short distances and what could happen if I do that? Maybe 1 or 2 miles.

 

The damage is done and isn't going to get any better. It's really up to you if you want to continue to drive it.

Just curious, am I seeing that correctly? Those bearings look like they are pinched so hard that they are literally oozing out the sides? I've only seen bearings that are uniform in shape minus the tang to align them in the rod/cap.

 

Honda engines are pretty durable but I'm not sure even with a new bearing it will last 6 months to a year.

Since the motor is pretty much smoked without a new crank being put in, you could try Xado engine treatment. It's pretty cheap in the states.

It may buy you that extra time you are looking for before you can get yourself another engine. It's not guaranteed but it supposedly can renew lost material to a certain degree. I know it quieted down my wifes engine knock quite a bit but it could be less worn/damaged than yours.

This stuff here:



For 50 bucks it doesn't hurt to see if you can get a little extra time from an already burned motor.

 

Yes. You are correct. The bearing went out of shape and pinched to the sides of the journal cap walls by literally oozing out. Which means, metal became soft due to excess heat. Those bearings are heat treated metals that can stand for really high heat. It must have been starving for oil for long.

What happened was, there was two internal leaks on oil pump. One at oil strainer gasket and another at oil pump o-ring. Those two leaks caused the journals to starve from oil. I should have known and took care of it because there was a minor sign. Whenever RPM goes below 500, the oil light comes on meaning, oil pump isn't doing well. Since I kept my engine maintained on the outside, RPM didn't drop below 500, 99% of the time. So, I neglected it. This car and engine got me through college. I'm not junking it. Lol. Just gonna swap out the engine when I can.

 

I'll look it up. At this point, whatever I do to it will not make any differences. It's dying anyways. Just a matter of time now before it seizes.

 

Ouch.. yea. when the oil pressure light comes on.. that would be a clue to stop driving the car.

Y8 engines are pretty easy to find. Im sure your local junkyard might have a civic where you can pull the engine.

 

Yeah my thoughts exactly. The one thing I do know is it won't hurt the motor, just not been able to find irrefutable proof it helps even though it has seemed to keep my gas mileage up pretty well.

 

Some good info in this thread. I appreciate it as I am experiencing certain symptoms myself and have my engine open for overhaul.