My 1993 civic dx is causing trouble again. It has recently started skipping while at idle and using more and more oil. The oil is basically blowing out the exhaust and getting all over the rear of the car. It is using approx. 1 quart per 100 miles. I decided to tear into it today to see what was going on. I checked compression and found #2 cyl only had about 30lbs. I decided to remove the head. I found a burnt exhaust valve on thee #2 cyl which explains the skip but not the oil use?? The inside ports on the exhaust manifold are each very smutty. The plug electrodes were very white (all but the one that was dead).Also the inside of my intake looks like it is covered in oil? The pvc valve and associated lines seem clear, but somehow the oil is getting in the intake and then being provided equally to each cyl. Any Idea??? I am not sure how the oil is getting there? Please give me your options. Thank you, Mike

 

Worn piston rings, bad valve stem seals, or possibly blown head gasket.

 

RonJ, thanks for the response. On the rings, I had 140lbs compression on all but #2 which has the burnt valve. Even on that cyl the plugs don't show signs of extreme oil use that I think I should see if a oil ring on 1 piston would have broke. On the stem seals, I have generously sprayed WD 40 around the top looking for signs of anything getting through without finding anything. I was hoping for the head gasket until I found the cylinder design completely surrounded by water. With no near oil port to blow out to, I don't see anyway this could cause oil out the exhaust with no water contamination. It almost has to have something to do with all the oil sign in my intake, possibly from the PVC system. The oil use went from 1 quart per 3000 miles to 1 every 100 miles in less than a month. More ideas???? Still lost???? Thanks everyone.

 

You lost the chance for good diagnostic tests when you removed the head. The piston rings are tested with a wet versus dry compression test.

Your question about the PCV system can be easily answered by checking whether the PCV valve or hoses or breather box were clogged or blocked off.

 

So far I haven't found anything blocked. I haven't removed the breather box (I think) from the back of the engine. Still checking when I get time to get back on it. Thanks

 

Is everything from the hole in the right side of the block up to my the PVC valve suppose to be open to air flow in both directions? I realize the valve is one direction only,thanks

 

Post clear pictures so people know what hole and hoses you are referring to.

 

I was replying to the hole in the block behind what appears to be a breather box that is bolted right behind the oil filter, below the intake, on the right side looking at the front. I suppose it would be the left side as the engine is sitting in the car

 

Pics are easy to post.

 

I'm sure they are for you, and if someone can't identify this part without a picture, I will try to get to the shop with my wife's camera when I get home from work tonight and take some. I looked through my manual and couldn't find any pics/ description of this part so I am sorry for my ignorance about this.

 

These pics were posted by clicking the picture button and then dragging the pic files into the browser window - pretty simple.