I am getting ready to take my car to smog in CA and barely passed two years ago. Car is a 98 civic ex d16y8 with 115k miles. I recently did a valve lash and seems like the engine is alittle worn. when i first got the car it didnt smoke but would burn 1 quart a month. I recently added additive to the oil to and it stopped burning oil. I did a compression test and got 110-110-110-110 wet was 125-125-125-125. I looked at the spark plugs and they seem normal with no fouling or irregular burns, just seems alil lean. but that was because timing was advanced two degrees. Set it back to normal now.

Is this low compression because of piston rings or valve stem seals? The car doesn't blow out any smoke. The car for some reason has no vtec, I've tested the solenoid and it works fine. There are no CEL

 

Do a leakdown test. It will tell you. But in any case your engine is done. 135 is the minimum safe PSI per cylinder for the engine to be considered healthy. How it got to this point in only 115k miles is a shame.

 

if you a have a very low compression, will it be hard to start the car?

 

Haven't had a chance to do a leak down yet. Forgot to mention the engine has loud ticking as if a valve lash needs to be done. I've adjusted the valves and the sound is still there.

 

one at a time,put a teaspoon of oil in the cylinder and check compression again.
if compression goes up significantly,its the piston rings.

if it doesnt change,move on to the leakdown.

That ticking youre hearing is most likely a bent valve,or a sticky valve.
regardless,your motor needs rebuilt.


just my .02

 

i did the oil on a wet test and it only went up 15 psi to 125, ill do a leak down test next week when i have a chance

 

I'm not doubting you'r mechanical abilities, but could it be possible that you adjusted the valve lash too tight and now valves aren't closing all the way? The compression readings are very consistent though. Just wondering and throwing you some input.

 

You're right about the numbers being too consistent. Never seen anyone report matching numbers like that either.

 

did the ticking start before u put in the additive? Did u open the throttle while performing the compression test, if u didnt than u need too? spin it like 10 times or so (the most important one is the first crank and the psi should jump significantly, id say 60 psi or so).