Posted: 3/23/2008 9:32:12 PM EDT
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Thick black smoke under heavy acceleration. Whats the culprit, and how do I fix. Uses 1 qt oil per 4-500 miles on the FREEWAY. Oil use around town about 1/2 qt per 2k. WTF is wrong? ETA: 1996 Civic 117K miles |
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Sounds like two separate issues, Black smoke is a indication of being a rich, check the fuel system starting with the fuel pressure regulator, on Honda's a known bad one can let fuel through it into the intake, (Because its vacuum controlled) Oil consumption, like said, rings, valve guides and leaks. Start with the leaks first, If the motor is a grime pit, clean it, its a whole lot easier to find an oil leak on a clean engine than a grimy one. Get some type of leak detector, they sell it at your local auto parts store (Florescent dye) run for a couple of days and then check for the leaks. As for the internal wear, start with a compression test, there are two tests, a dry and a wet, pickup a Chilton's book for the procedure and specs. |
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Black smoke is usually excess fuel. Check the vacumn line on the fuel pressure regulator. It is located on the fuel injector rail. Sometimes the diaphram will break or pinhole and dump fuel into the intake manifold. A bad Oxygen Sensor can make the computer go full rich. A bad Coolant Temperature Sensor can tell the computer the engine temperature is -40 degrees below zero and make the mixture rich. Check the simple things they are cheaper to fix. Take it to a shop and get the computer codes read. Sometimes you will have a code with out a check engine light. Blue smoke is burned oil. If you are burning a lot of oil it will foul the spark plugs or plug up the catalytic converter. White smoke from the exhaust after the exhaust is dryed out indicates a head gasket leak. It can also happen immediately after a cold overnight start. Burnt coolant can smell like burnt sugar. And what everybody else said. 
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You need at least a top end rebuild. Seen this a million times and it's the valve guides are worn allowing oil to drain down into the chamber and burn off. After you repair this then get a new o2 sensor cause yours is shot. Despite all the internet e-mechanics who think anything with a 'H' nameplate runs for 300,000 miles, most Honda's need a rebuilt head right around 100-120k miles. Good news is it's a really easy job on your car. |
Might be true or not, but the first thing that needs to done is a proper diagnosis. Not just jumping in and replacing or rebuilding parts. 
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 On my third Accord- maybe I'm just REAL freaking lucky. No I don't think so. Everywhere else I experience rock steady performance over a long lifetime it is always skill- not luck. You and I could argue all day till we are blue in the face but numbers of cars sold and growing/shrinking market share speak. This media blitz of the "import" nameplates being no better anymore is just that- a media blitz. If you believe that you should really check out Barack as he gives great banter too. It's all about personal perceptions. I just sold my last Accord with 240K on it. I was chatting with the neighbor right after. He was disappointed and seemed like he was interested in it. He did tell me his Ford truck had been great for him- only fourth tranny in 200k. I didn't have the heart to tell him mine was sold with the original clutch. And alternator, starter, radiator, wheel bearings, muffler, and everything else except the tires and batteries. He also told me about a recent nagging electrical problem. But hey if he's happy, thinks it's just as good, and loves spending time and money fixing cars more power to him. ETA- meanwhile my folks continue to spend over 1K PER YEAR on some GM's with 40-45K on them. Latest fun is leaking Buick head gasket. Same car last year AC compressor gone. Amazing to me. Other car currently now has something loose in the serpentine belt drive. It is literally just always something. An awful lot of people, especially in a poor economy, are getting sick of the repair bills. And it will get worse. Shame too as I really would rather have myself one of those new Challengers- just won't trust it. |
This is what happens as a result of the shitty unions. Even if American vehicles weren't complete crap I still wouldn't buy them as long as they utilized union employees. We now continue with our regularly scheduled program........................... |