I picked up a 2000 Integra SE last month. Motor runs strong and sounds good. I've noticed a strong oil smell from time to time under wot. There isn't blue smoke coming from the exhaust (have had people watch) and oil levels aren't dropping. Rings appear to be in good condition. I'm curious what could cause this smell? No exhaust leaks or oil leaks either. Can the emission systems or pcv valve cause this issue? I'm kind of stumped.

 

Any modifications?

Have you done a leak down test and compression test to confim the rings are ok as you say?

Sounds like maybe your smelling somethng else like fuel or something, similar to when the cat is removed for a test pipe it will leave a egg like odor.

If you dont see any sighns of leaking then it might be internal but highly unlikely if theres no smoke out the exhaust.

Most common reason that could of hapened is the black pcv box on the back of the block is leaking from a old O ring which is very common to leak oil there, what happens is oil drips and finds its way on the cat or exhaust manifold and burns off from the heat, i would inspect that area well.

If you seem to smell it at wot then its possible you have blow by and oil is being pushed through the rings and into the air intake and the PCV valve is not doing its job, i would check the PCV valve and or just replace it with a OEM unit not a cheap one.

If its really bad and clogged when you shake it up and down you wont hear the check valve and or blow in and out the top of the pcv valve ater cleaning it of course it should move the check valve up and down if it doesnt then its really clogged and bad and needs to be replaced.

 

zero modifications on this integra. I haven't checked the back of the block yet but no oil is leaking anywhere on the garage floor. I imagine if it were leaking on the header and burning it would leave a few drops during cool down but there are none. I'll pop off the pcv valve and inspect it tonight. I also have a compression tester so i'll do that as well. Then i'll bomb over to a friends and do a leak down.

 

This is what it turned out to be.... I fixed a leaking valve cover gasket the previous owner neglected. Apparently it was much bigger than I ever knew (never drove the car for more than 1 min before buying it) I discovered ultra thick oil cake on the header when I pulled off the heat shield to paint it.

 

Thats good news, but to me it doesnt look like the vc gasket is causing that leak it could possibly be the cam seals behind the cam gears, iv seen them leak and flow in that area and get caked up burning on the hot manifold. Worth a shot to inspect that area by removing the timing belt cover.

 

It is the valve cover. I stated I fixed the leak before actually driving the car. Then I pressure washed the engine. That's why it is so clean under the gasket. I also already removed the timing cover when I inspected the timing belt and no leaks from there or the cam seal. This is for sure what caused the smell.

 

Good to hear its fixed!

 

Ya, I'm happy. I finished cleaning it all off last night. The smell is completely gone and checked oil levels again after another 500km of driving. Still at the same oil level. I'll add this to the list of weird car **** I've seen over the years.