Burning oil still after rebuild...

[ijwhiteman]

Hi guys

We have recently finished putting the B18C back together.

Run down of whats happened in the past, it used to burn oil arround 1 litre to 1000-1500 miles depending on the way it was driven. At Snetterton it burned 800ml in 3 20min track sessions...

Spark plugs where fine then it developed a top end rattle arround cylinder 2?

A complete strip down showed no issues for the rattle but my valve stem seals where worn badley so they where replaced along with 4 new valves as the old ones where beyond cutting in.

Since stripping and cleaning the head the top end rattle has dissapeared but the oil consumption has not changed even with the new stem seals.

I have noticed after driving and then restarting fairly soon after sometimes a bit of smoke but when i check it in the morning after being sat all night absolutly nothing?

Since the rebuild i have covered about 400 miles and burnt about 500ml of oil. My mate followed me the other day and said there was distinct blue smoke but only in VTEC then didn't do it again after that? I have also noticed occasionally smoke in VTEC...

Could my Rings be shot? Engine has covered 53000 miles pulls like a steam train? And runs very nicely?

I'm doing an oil change today so will check my spark plugs again and also check condition of the PCV valve? I assume pressure control valve? I have herd these can cause issues? But i'm not convinced i think it may be something more serious?

Does anyone think it could just be the engine settling down since the rebuild?

My biggest concern is i'm of to the Nurburgring this friday for 12 days... Looks like i'm taking plenty of oil with me....

Oil is Silkoline Pro S 5W 40.

Hope you can shed some light on this.

Thanks

 

[saxophonias]

did you rebuild the entire engine? Did you change piston rings? This could be the cause.

 

[iceman]

thats gonna be some expensive drinking at ring

were seats cut, lapping done etc ?

if all done then then will be cylinder walls or rings at fault

what do compression tests show ?

 

[ijwhiteman]

did you rebuild the entire engine? Did you change piston rings? This could be the cause.

No it was just the head, the bottom end was not touched.

thats gonna be some expensive drinking at ring

were seats cut, lapping done etc ?

if all done then then will be cylinder walls or rings at fault

what do compression tests show ?

Seats where cut all valves lapped in he spent quite some time on that.

We did a compression test before we stripped the B18C which showed 150 psi across all cylinders. I immediately thought this was very low so went over and checked the B16B i had aswell which had the exact same results.

 

[ijwhiteman]

One other thing my oil used to turn black very quickly before we took it apart it does not do this anymore.

 

[CAL]

sounds like the rings, but 53k is a low mileage. if i was you id just put thicker oil in it

 

[blinx9900]

depending on how often you track the car the rings or rod bearings could be going out, even at 53k, some oil consumption is normal for our engines, especially during track days and hard driving. You have a bit more than usual, do a compression/leakdown if it really concerns you.

 

[Vtec6000]

What oil are you using? this could be causing problems. I would be looking to do a leak down test to see how everything is sealing.

 

[McJazz]

Firstly the compression reading was that with the throttle wide open, Were they were all close to each other is the main thing. A leakdown test will let you see how the rings are doing. Then go from there.

 

[haitch]

That the oil isnt black anymore is probably good, I often see people on itr-dc2 commenting on how the B18 seems to smoke more anyway? Time is running out for the trip for sure (

 

[ijwhiteman]

Checked the plugs today and they are absolutly fine no signs of it running rich and oily. Didn't feel the need to check the PCV valve as the plugs would have shown that up.

So fresh oil in ready for Germany. I will have to just keep an eye on it. I'm hoping that maybe it will get better the more driving i do...

depending on how often you track the car the rings or rod bearings could be going out, even at 53k, some oil consumption is normal for our engines, especially during track days and hard driving. You have a bit more than usual, do a compression/leakdown if it really concerns you.

Definitely a plan of action when i get back from the Ring. It only burns a lot of oil on track or when i'm using VTEC regularly. Rod bearings sounds scary...

What oil are you using? this could be causing problems. I would be looking to do a leak down test to see how everything is sealing.

Oil is Silkoline PRO S 5W 40

Firstly the compression reading was that with the throttle wide open, Were they were all close to each other is the main thing. A leakdown test will let you see how the rings are doing. Then go from there.

The compression test was done with closed throttle...

That the oil isnt black anymore is probably good, I often see people on itr-dc2 commenting on how the B18 seems to smoke more anyway? Time is running out for the trip for sure (

Maybe mine is just a well loved engine... Perhaps i will try a change of oil once i have finished up the SIlkoline bottles...

I will just take plenty of oil to Germany to ensure it doesn't seize up...

 

[adonai]

10w40 or other thicker oil, just temporarily to see if the blue smoke stops during vtec

if so then likelyhood is the rings are on their way

 

[ijwhiteman]

Just been reading a few other posts on ITR and its seems to be a complete 50/50 some use it some don't. And apparantly a Litre every 1000 miles is acceptable usage within Honda's tolerances...

I will just keep an eye on it and once i've used the silkoline up i will try a differnt oil see how that fares up.

 

[civicsport]

stop worrying you tart! if your that worried let me follow you in my car and see what happens. im sure its fine mate! o btw my sppon de-cat pipe is the nuts!

 

[shooter mcgavan]

pcv is positive crankcase ventilation valve bypass it for the crack to see if it helps.
seeing you have rebuilt the head and not the bottom end,more pressure will be on it now as nothing can bypass the stem seals as theyre new so if your rings are worn its gonna show up more now.not being smart but i wouldnt call oil consumption like that acceptable.as suggested leak down test is your best choice here and will cut out the guessing game.

 

[blinx9900]

not being smart but i wouldnt call oil consumption like that acceptable.

Acceptable no, but it does happen sometimes on engines that seem to run just fine But as much as he tracks im not surprised as most engines will consume about .5-1 bottle of oil during hard driving like track conditions.

I saw an oil analysis done once on a Honda, the result was from blackstone labs where they said a user had sent in some oil that had only been used for a track even where about 300miles were covered, the lab said the oil breakdown was consistent with a street driven car that would have 4600miles on it!

 

[ramboteamjon]

acceptable no, but it does happen sometimes on engines that seem to run just fine But as much as he tracks im not surprised as most engines will consume about .5-1 bottle of oil during hard driving like track conditions.

I saw an oil analysis done once on a honda, the result was from blackstone labs where they said a user had sent in some oil that had only been used for a track even where about 300miles were covered, the lab said the oil breakdown was consistent with a street driven car that would have 4600miles on it!

wow!!!

 

[b16 mini]

Just been reading a few other posts on ITR and its seems to be a complete 50/50 some use it some don't. And apparantly a Litre every 1000 miles is acceptable usage within Honda's tolerances...

I will just keep an eye on it and once i've used the silkoline up i will try a differnt oil see how that fares up.

i remember reading once that honda had stated somewhere that using approx 1 pint per 1000 miles was normal for a b18c,

so using a litre per 1000 miles aint much more tbh,

i wouldn't be to worried if its still pulling strong, maybe try motul chrono when you run out of silkoline, in my b18c i found castrol 10 40 to consume fast so personally wouldn't recomend that altho some b16b users love it.

 

[leeK9]

honda's burn oil

they always will

very few wont

 

[martin251184]

Always will get different opinions mate. You know my b18c did not burn a drop of oil ever and i drove that hard and tracked it. And you know i used the same oil as you.