What makes you believe that an engine consuming oil is a weak head gasket?

 

The prime symptom of a head gasket leak is overheating due to loss of coolant into the cylinders or displacement of coolant out of the cooling system. Head gaskets will not cause burning oil or blue (oil based) smoke.

Why did it fail smog? What are the HC, CO, and NO numbers?

 

TomCat39, I assumed it was because others that I’ve asked have told me that burning oil is a head gasket. I should have said I had been told, rather than I know, my apologies. Mk378, I hope it is not a overheating issue due to my car having an after market racing radiator. My wife bought me the car back in October and it had a lot of aftermarket suspension upgrades and a few engine as well. I know Honda’s rum forever, so I’m trying to get ahead of any problems. I see no oil in the engine and no oil under the car. It puffs smoke around 3,000. As far as failing smog, I’m not sure. My son took it in for the smog test. I was never given the smog report. I know there is some buildup on the rear of the car and being that my car is white, it stands out.

 

My first thought if burning oil would be valve stem seals and/or stuck oil rings on the pistons. Neither are impossible to do yourself with the right tools, but the valve stem seals are a much less complex job.

If for some reason you do end up doing a head gasket replacement, go with a mutli-layer steel (MLS) head gasket, not one of the of the graphite / fiber head gaskets.

Find out why it failed smog. Black soot on the back of the car could be caused by burning oil or excess fuel.