87 Accord oil burning when cold.

I used to have an '87 Accord seadn (2.0/2bbl/5spd) that developed a
habit of burning oil REAL BAD when it was cold, but as soon as it warmed
up, the oil burning cleared up completely - flew thru emissions test, no
problems. It was suggested a worn valve seal was the culprit (would
expand and close up once warm), so I had the head rebuilt, to no avail.

Anyway, I lived with it (as did my neighbors) for a while until I wrote
the car off...

Now I've picked up an '87 Accord hatchback, with the same engine and the
same problem, though not as bad (yet). The thing runs great,
compression to spare; I suspect the engine was rebuilt not too long ago,
because it goes like stink. There's gotta be something else.

Two out of three near-identicals Accords now with this problem - is this
a known thing? Is there a known fix?

Only other possible thing I can think of is the PCV valve, which I
couldn't replace on the first car because I could never get the %@#*$&
thing out of the @^$#)# manifold... now I've managed to get it loose and
replace it on this one, and just waiting to get the alternator working
again to try it out. Unless someone has another suggestion?

 

what are the symptoms that indicate that it's buring oil only when cold?
you need to be more specific so we can help.

 

what are the symptoms that indicate that it's buring oil only when cold?
you need to be more specific so we can help.

 

Ummm... it blows out huge amounts of burnt-oil-smelling blue smoke when
the engine is cold, and doesn't once it's warmed up. Can't get much
more specific than that.

 

Ummm... it blows out huge amounts of burnt-oil-smelling blue smoke when
the engine is cold, and doesn't once it's warmed up. Can't get much
more specific than that.

 

Hello,
I suggest that you run a compression check on each cylinder and repost
after you have done that. It's possible that some or all of the rings
might need to be replaced. It's fairly common for older cars with over a
100,000 miles on them to eventually develop problems with the rings. When
the rings get in really bad shape--you have lots of smoke coming out the
exhaust pipes.

 

Hello,
I suggest that you run a compression check on each cylinder and repost
after you have done that. It's possible that some or all of the rings
might need to be replaced. It's fairly common for older cars with over a
100,000 miles on them to eventually develop problems with the rings. When
the rings get in really bad shape--you have lots of smoke coming out the
exhaust pipes.

 

My experience is that worn rings tend to cause a more consistant, less
severe oil burning - it blows a little blue all the time, expecially
under acceleration, rather than heavy burning while cold that goes away
once things warm up.

 

My experience is that worn rings tend to cause a more consistant, less
severe oil burning - it blows a little blue all the time, expecially
under acceleration, rather than heavy burning while cold that goes away
once things warm up.

 

never had this prob on a honda, just wondering if
it could be the valve guides? My 85 Nissan did this....

t

 

I realize that you are right related to vehicles that have a major problem
with all or at least most all of the rings. However, if there is only a
minor problem with one or two rings--you may end up with the problem that
you mentioned. A compression check should help you determine if I am or am
not correct. If I am wrong--you would have learned that you need to look
elsewhere for the cause of the problem. I just know that in most
cases--heavy smoke coming out of the exhaust is usually caused by one or
more bad rings. I believe that lots of mechanics would agree with me.

 

I realize that you are right related to vehicles that have a major problem
with all or at least most all of the rings. However, if there is only a
minor problem with one or two rings--you may end up with the problem that
you mentioned. A compression check should help you determine if I am or am
not correct. If I am wrong--you would have learned that you need to look
elsewhere for the cause of the problem. I just know that in most
cases--heavy smoke coming out of the exhaust is usually caused by one or
more bad rings. I believe that lots of mechanics would agree with me.

 

you didn't state the symptoms, so relax guy. stating mileage would help
too.

causes include valve stem seals, piston rings, pcv valve, even esoteric
stuff like changing spark plugs & allowing oil to run into the cylinders.

in your case, i'd say rings. do the compression test.

 

you didn't state the symptoms, so relax guy. stating mileage would help
too.

causes include valve stem seals, piston rings, pcv valve, even esoteric
stuff like changing spark plugs & allowing oil to run into the cylinders.

in your case, i'd say rings. do the compression test.

 

I had an '85 with the 1.8 engine that did the same thing. When the weather
was cold like 35 degrees F or less it would smoke bad til it warmed up. It
had good compression and ran great. I decide to put rings in it and when I
pulled the pistons I found that the oil control rings on every one of them
was stuck in the ring grooves. There was very little wear in the bores and
ring end gaps of the compression rings were all well within specs. I
cleaned the grooves, honed the cylinders and put in the new rings and the
problem was solved. I wondered if there would have been some way to free the
rings up with out pulling them. Anyway it's got about 6,000 miles on it
since then and doesn't smoke at all now.

John

 

I had an '85 with the 1.8 engine that did the same thing. When the weather
was cold like 35 degrees F or less it would smoke bad til it warmed up. It
had good compression and ran great. I decide to put rings in it and when I
pulled the pistons I found that the oil control rings on every one of them
was stuck in the ring grooves. There was very little wear in the bores and
ring end gaps of the compression rings were all well within specs. I
cleaned the grooves, honed the cylinders and put in the new rings and the
problem was solved. I wondered if there would have been some way to free the
rings up with out pulling them. Anyway it's got about 6,000 miles on it
since then and doesn't smoke at all now.

John

 

I did say it was BURNING oil, not USING it, and pointing out that it
"cleared up" and "passed emissions" should indicate it was SMOKING
pretty badly before. At least for anyone who's paying attention.

270,000-some kilometers.

 

I did say it was BURNING oil, not USING it, and pointing out that it
"cleared up" and "passed emissions" should indicate it was SMOKING
pretty badly before. At least for anyone who's paying attention.

270,000-some kilometers.

 

Hmmmm, that's interesting... I haven't checked the compression yet, but
like I said elsewhere, the way the thing performs, I don't expect
there's a significant compression problem, and besides, every instance
I've ever seen, from other cars to motorcycles to lawnmowers, worn
compression rings result in minimal but consistant smoking regardless of
engine temperature. Oil rings though... wonder if there's a
relatively easy way to check that without pulling off the head and its
5,342 vacuum hoses. Too bad I didn't know to check that when I had the
oilpan off, it woulda been easy to pull of a rod end cap and slip a
piston out...

 

Hmmmm, that's interesting... I haven't checked the compression yet, but
like I said elsewhere, the way the thing performs, I don't expect
there's a significant compression problem, and besides, every instance
I've ever seen, from other cars to motorcycles to lawnmowers, worn
compression rings result in minimal but consistant smoking regardless of
engine temperature. Oil rings though... wonder if there's a
relatively easy way to check that without pulling off the head and its
5,342 vacuum hoses. Too bad I didn't know to check that when I had the
oilpan off, it woulda been easy to pull of a rod end cap and slip a
piston out...