I bought a 92 Civic with a 1.5 108,000 on the clock as a daily driver and when I checked the oil after 10 days and about 750 miles it was 1.5Q low. I also noticed when I really get on it on a freeway ramp it blows smoke. I believe this is either rings or valve seals but not sure how to tell which. I searched all the forums and found similar problems but no concrete answers. HELP! The engine has a newly rebuilt head, due to previous owner overheating it, which leads me to the rings but would like any input possible.

 

i would say rings, especially if the head was rebuilt. Do a compression test and see how your numbers are

 

Comp test and also I'd check with a leak down test. If you have a high percent of leakage in a cyl. listen to hear where its coming from. If you hear it threw the oil cap hole then yes I'd say rings for sure. Also considering the fact you see smoke when your getting on it, assuming the smoke is a white with a slight blue in color. In that case oil is getting past your rings. If the motor was damaged was the deck of the block also checked? Valve seals leaking are usually most noticeable when you first start the car after the vehicle has been sitting overnight or for a long period of time.

 

also look under your car for any leaks

 

Thanks for the quick replies. There are no leaks on or under the car, that is my Ford truck's specialty! Since it was snowing/icing here over the last few days, I didn't feel like poking around in the cold and wet but will do the comp and leakdown test this weekend. It seems to be pointing toward rings from what was said in the replies but another question comes to mind, what would be most noticable in the morning if it were the valve seals?

 

if it was valve seals, when you first turn your car on in the morning, you would get a puff of smoke, then most likely quit smoking.

 

Thanks. No puff first thing in the morning, only when I get on it. Comp test should confirm what I think I know already. I priced the replacement rings this afternoon and will do the testing in the morning, then time to tear it up and put it back right.