Here's a little riddle for all of you car geeks out there (and I don't really have an answer…yet).

My daily driver is a "poor man's" Type R a 1989 Honda Civic Hatchback. The Civic has 180,000 miles and has always (last 50,000 miles) burned a little oil. As of late however, the little monster has a thirst for the dino-juice. It has gone from 1 quart every 1,000 miles to 1 quart (or more) every 100 miles. The funny thing is I haven't noticed any appreciable difference in performance.

So the riddle is where is all of the oil going?
Background:
Oil usage from 1qt/1000miles to 1qt/100miles
Before huge oil consumption I recently changed valve cover gasket to eliminate moderate oil leak.
The car does not appear to be leaking oil out of the block (at least, it does not leave oil on the ground when I leave it parked)
The car bellows blue smoke better than James Bond's car any time the gas pedal is depressed on the highway after coasting (not much smoke at steady throttle application)
There is no oil in the intake (crank case breather appears to be ok)
Check engine light comes on once in a while (mostly in the mornings)
The spark pugs are free from dark oily build up

This car is my "beater" car and it's my intention to drive it until it expires so the oil consumption isn't a concern but more of a riddle for me. Is the oil pressure too high and sealing the valve cover leak forcing the oil through the rings? Are the valve guides so worn that they can allow the oil to just "pour" into the combustion chambers. Why has the car not started to loose performance?

Who can give the "Car Guys" from NPR a run?

 

Valve seals, Piston rings, or oil pan leak......Time for a rebuild.

 

>Valve seals, Piston rings, or oil pan leak......Time for a rebuild.

I tend to agree but why has the engine not lost any(or much of any) performance, it starts fine, idles fine, etc. If the pistins or valves are leaking that badly the compression should be suffering and the car should be exibiting signs of that.

As for the rebuild HA HA HA...

I can find a used stock or a ZC engine for about $500 that will cost me less than any rebuild.

I'll drive it till it pops then give it a transplant.

 

The performance won't be hurt for a while......just gonna smoke a lot......I would try and get the engine now.....may take a while and you don't want your current one to crap out on you sooner.