New head, burning oil now
CamoCivic
New Wagonist
I just got a 1990 Honda Civic 4wd, manual (6 speed!!Lovin' it) wagon of the ranch in WY from my dad, for me to bring to CA to do some field work for the summer. It has 150K. As I was driving into CO over the Rockies the head gasket blew. Jeff owns an independent shop in Steamboat (ah, the irony of the name) and used to work at a Honda shop--he took a look at the head and we agreed I needed a new one for 400$ (old was warped some and pitted some--too much to resurface). He sent me on my way but now I'm burning oil. I only notice the fated blue-exhaust puff when I accelerate after I've been engine braking down steep grades (I live in Mammoth Lakes/work in Tehachapi-Lancaster&sometimes the Bay area, so this car has already done 5000miles of up&down in one month). It had synthetic 5w-30 oil, and last change I put in castrol GTX high milage 5w-30 (which I know is part synthetic). I'll do conventional 10w-40 next week when it's up for a change again (the oil is getting dirty looking fast). I called Jeff & he said the compression test on the new head was great and since it came with new guide seals, they were tight, and the valves are all good. Suggested I change the PCV valve (which I just did tonight, after breaking the first one I bought (urgh) trying to put it in in the dark last night and using a chunk of wood to tap it in (ooops--wishing I had infinitely skinny and strong fingers!). Since it was a tad low, I added some oil ring conditioner to the oil to top it off. But I'm betting the valve and conditioner won't fix it. I hear word out there on this forum about oil rings that get stuck or worn. Is this what I have? Something that is worse when I'm engine braking? How much should it be to get new one put on? And does anyone know a good mechanic in Eastern Cali (or NV or CO or WY for that matter--I would drive from CA back to WW later this summer and plan to stay where ever there is somebody good who can help me out. I'm fast falling in love with this car (only drove old 80's subaru wagons before this) and I'm going to take it on a giant East Coast tour this fall (I play music-banjo- www.littlestbirds.net-in the winter and am an ecologist/consultant/research scientist the rest of the time, so you know I don't have much$$). Also, there is a 1991 2wd, automatic wagon, 150k, for 400$ for sale in my town--would that engine likely fit (mine is 1.6l, but not sure what the 2wd ones were). Could I swap that engine into it? My car runs smooth and I am getting an average of 36mpg each tank! Got 43mpg going through UT. Amazing. And it's so cute--I'll take some pics and post them--traditional honda blue, with duck-hunt/riparian grass camo along the bottom. Perfect for a ranch car from WY. help!!!?? I should register this car here by Dec if I get steady work or decided to stay here after the fall music tour.
Comments
New head go for a drive get it nice and warm re torque. and again in 500-1k miles. I just do out of habit and paranoia.
the rebuilt top end with stock bottom having 150k.
Going down hill engine breaking causes a negative pressure in the cylinders sucking oil past the 150k mile rings. I doubt the valves are leaking or o rings thats "usually" seen as the bluish puff at startup. Try not to engine break pop it out of gear, open the windows, pull the parachute
36 is great mpg, im pushing 28 max and i drive like an wimp "186k and my 88 rt is running strong" Grab the 400& car and have parts on hand interior and body. I think the motor could be used but search the forum there is great info on it. The D16A6 in your car is worth keeping.
Heck if the auto is is decent condition and you don't want it i would drive from San diego to buy it. The girlfriend wants to drive my 88rt and thats a no no "she's never driven manual". would love to add another EE in my life.
Current plan= live with a bit of oil sucking for now, and yup, since I have a brand new head on there, and just rebuild the bottom *um, find someone to help me or pay someone to do it* when I have a time/$$. Know anyone in Cali that just can't wait to dive into a project like that?
Holding fingers for passing CA smog this week. Was told I need a new cat. grrr. I hope that's all. Hydrocarbons were too high and they assured me it wasn't the oil (high Molecular weight HC), just fuel (low weight HC) and that a new Cat was really all it needed--still has original one on there.
thanks!
sharon
And, much as 400$ is a steal for a parts car, I'm going to be on tour this fall, with all my stuff in storage, so keeping a spare car around for parts doesn't (sadly) work with my lifestyle right now. There's also a chance that I'm moving to Sweden next year in which case I might be putting CamoCivic up for sale--I'll keep everyone posted. For now--It's starting to feel like a bad relationship that is going to be really hard to ever get out of! ("no, I love you, dear car, you're great for me. I'll keep putting time/$$ into you. I'm sure these are just little blips of rough times--everything's going to be better soon. I don't care about that little puff of smoke--you're amazing and so cute and perfect for me. Are you listening to me? ...sigh..")
Try a can of sea foam 1/2 through the brake vacuum line into the warm engine let it sit 10 minutes then start the car. It will smoke really bad for 10 minutes but i assure you it will go away and also clean the carbon deposits with in the motor" intake valves, piston head, exhaust valves. The other 1/2 into the gas tank as a fuel system treatment. It neutralizes water and any deposits in the gas tank along with injector cleaning. I love the stuff.