1995 Honda Civic EX White smoke

Okay, I have read all the discussions about Hondas and white smoke and
have heard similar stories to mine but not exactly like mine so here
it is: Last week I was driving to work and notice that every time I
accelerated my car that there was white smoke, nothing else at first
just a lot of white smoke. Continued on my journey and the first time
I hit a hill on my commute I had TONS of white smoke and my engine
seemed like it was really struggling so I took it to the Honda
dealership. I told them that there was white smoke coming out of my
car and that I did have an oil leak, I didn't know if they were
connected or not but would like it fixed along with an oil change.
They checked and indeed I did have an oil leak and need to have my O-
Rings and Valve Cover gasket replaced. They fixed these things and I
was on my merry way. Got about 5 miles stop and go traffic into my
drive home when the smoke started again only this time there was a
rattling involved and I smelled oil buring. I called the dealership
and they told me to bring in back in the next day and that I should be
just fine driving home. So I drove it home and had a friend check my
car just to be on the safe side about driving back to the dealership
and he discovered that I had very little oil in my car! He added some
oil and I smoked my way home and then the next day to the dealership.
The dealership looked over my engine and said that there was nothing
to be done I needed a new engine since there was oil in the spark
plugs and valves. They did tell me that conceivably I could drive the
car around for another two years as long as I check my spark plugs and
oil level. I don't understand the problem. Can I not get my engine
fixed rather than replaced? Does it sound like the headgasket? Also
my car does not overheat in the slightest (it was in the 90's out here
the day all this started) my friend checked my temp gauge and it's
working yet no overheating like everyone else I've talked to. My oil
isn't milkly and my antifreeze levels seem fine, it's just the oil.
Sorry this is so long thanks for listening and any advice given

 

Also the mileage is 154,450but the engine is only 2 years old with
about 40,000 miles on it, it was rebuilt by honda.

 

Well, there is definitely a mystery here. if there was just a leaky
gasket/o rings (in the cam cover, I assume) in the first place, then
that shouldn't have led to white smoke when accelerating or engine
struggling. And not to engine death the next day. And, god knows what
could possibly lead to oil in "the spark plug**S**" One cylinder
getting oiled up, sure, could be anything from a valve seal to a hole
in the piston, but more than one???????

You need a second opinion, for sure.

 

Well, there is definitely a mystery here. if there was just a leaky

They said it was all four cylinders. They said they didn't
investigate the smoke problem since I said I "thought" it was related
to the oil leak. But from what I've read since that point the smoke
would have been gray not white, right? They didn't go into detail
except to say that I need a new engine to the tune of $3,000 so it
would be better to buy one of their cars.

 

You can get a used JDM engine for much less, and have it installed by a shop
specializing in Japanese cars. All told, you'll probably be out a little
over a grand.

 

Really? That's all? My husband in calling around has gotten the
close to the 3 grand mark from other shops around here. Honda offered
me a used engine for the $3,000, I shudder to think what a new one
would run. Do you think it could be fixed though, my current one? Or
is it hopeless?

 

Go the JDM route. It will prove to be the simplest and most effective
action.

JT

 

Have him call some of the smaller specialty shops. The ones that will do
the job for a flat rate.

I had a 6 cylinder replaced in a 97 Caravan for $1000 including all parts
and labor. A used JDM is inexpensive, and will last for a long time. Most
likely longer than your motor would if you had it rebuilt.

 

He has called around, Honda said that in fact they have no clue what
is wrong with my engine so they said it just needs to be replaced. We
found a guy on craigslist that said he could replace the engine for
$500 labor and 600 to 700 for the engine. His auto shop said they
could do it for 1000 to 1700. I also need my rack and pinion (yet
another issues but unrelated) replaced and everyone says 700.

 

please find yourself a decent mechanic. anyone that says they have no
clue so just replace the engine, is too stoned to be worthy of your
business. for comparison, call around some of the honda "2ner" shops
and ask for quotes from people that actually /like/ hondas.

and the steering rack, if it actually does need replacing, is easy if
the motor's out. shouldn't cost $700.

 

space cadets.

buy jdm like this:
http://www.nippon-motors.com/honda.htm

 

Yeah, my dealer told me to buy a new car because my head gasket blew.
It's pretty scary to hear. But, it's insane.
You can buy used Honda engines pretty cheaply. Especially if you live
somewhere where "the kids" are swapping the stock engines for the B
series engines and will take just about any price for the old one.
First find out exactly what is wrong with the old one, though. Maybe
not exactly, but at least get a good idea.

 

If it doesn't actually have a hole in the side and inside parts
sticking out, it can be fixed. And if the rest of the car is in decent
shape, very likely cost effectively. But the used engine route, if
available, is cheaper than doing a rebuild or buying a rebuilt. Most
junkyards will give you a warranty that the engine isn't defective
when installed, and given Honda's reputation for durability that's
pretty much all you need.

 

We are going to take it to the guy we found in the area. I actually
have somewhat of a phobia about mechanics because I have yet to have a
good trustworthy experience with one. I am going the used engine
route, hopefully that is all that needs to be fixed and my car will be
up and running again in no time, we're going to have the guy check to
see if it is the headgasket although everytime I've read about that
the car overheating always happens and mine stays steady at the same
temp that it was when I first bought it. I am never going to the
dealership again for auto repairs. They did a compression test, or at
least that's what they told me and when my husband called them they
told him that it "wasn't great" but could give him no other
information. Now I'm wondering if the test was even done or if they
just had me sit around for hours just so they could get me in the
showroom!

 

We are going to take it to the guy we found in the area. I actually
have somewhat of a phobia about mechanics because I have yet to have
a
good trustworthy experience with one. I am going the used engine
route, hopefully that is all that needs to be fixed and my car will
be
up and running again in no time, we're going to have the guy check to
see if it is the headgasket although everytime I've read about that
the car overheating always happens and mine stays steady at the same
temp that it was when I first bought it. I am never going to the
dealership again for auto repairs. They did a compression test, or
at
least that's what they told me and when my husband called them they
told him that it "wasn't great" but could give him no other
information. Now I'm wondering if the test was even done or if they
just had me sit around for hours just so they could get me in the
showroom!

 

We are going to take it to the guy we found in the area. I actually
have somewhat of a phobia about mechanics because I have yet to have
a
good trustworthy experience with one. I am going the used engine
route, hopefully that is all that needs to be fixed and my car will
be
up and running again in no time, we're going to have the guy check to
see if it is the headgasket although everytime I've read about that
the car overheating always happens and mine stays steady at the same
temp that it was when I first bought it. I am never going to the
dealership again for auto repairs. They did a compression test, or
at
least that's what they told me and when my husband called them they
told him that it "wasn't great" but could give him no other
information. Now I'm wondering if the test was even done or if they
just had me sit around for hours just so they could get me in the
showroom!

 

We are going to take it to the guy we found in the area. I actually
have somewhat of a phobia about mechanics because I have yet to have a
good trustworthy experience with one. I am going the used engine
route, hopefully that is all that needs to be fixed and my car will be
up and running again in no time, we're going to have the guy check to
see if it is the headgasket although everytime I've read about that
the car overheating always happens and mine stays steady at the same
temp that it was when I first bought it. I am never going to the
dealership again for auto repairs. They did a compression test, or at
least that's what they told me and when my husband called them they
told him that it "wasn't great" but could give him no other
information. Now I'm wondering if the test was even done or if they
just had me sit around for hours just so they could get me in the
showroom!

 

UPDATE:

Took my car to a mechanic I found on craigslist who seems like he
knows what he's doing. The fan was disconnected, I think it has been
since I had my car alarm put in which means the Honda Dealership
should have noticed that, he noticed it right after the hood was up.
On the way to the mechanics house (about a 45 min drive) my car did
not smoke at all. This was the first time that I had my inside the
car fan on while driving cause it was cooler outside than when it is
when I'm driving to and from work. He said that my rack and pinion
just needs to be binded together rather than replaced based on his
view of it. The really funny thing is that my spark plugs had no oil
in them at all before we started the drive nor after we got there. He
is doing a compression test on my car today and will hold off on the
whole new engine thing until that comes back. He said it could be
that my V-Tec isn't kicking on like it should. He could see where I
had my oil pan dripping oil but couldn't tell if Honda fixed it as
they said they did. I will let everyone know what the outcome is and
thanks so much to everyone for the advice!