HELP!!!!!! My 1990 Integra GS Producing Smoke

I failed emissions the other day due to smoke. Does anyone know what can be wrong and some prices to fix ****?:frowning:

what color smoke?

i got BLack somke when i gun it ! what does that mean ?

Originally posted by IntegraRs92
i got BLack somke when i gun it ! what does that mean ?

you’re running too rich.

what does blue smoke mean?

That’s what I got some blue smoke. But, it should be okay since it’s in the shop right now. Ordering rings and pistons from NOPI so the shop dosen’t try to kill me.

so blue smoke means pistons and rings?

Blue smoke means burning oil, I believe. Which typically comes from worn piston rings. I have heard, however, that if you replace your rings you should also have the cylinders honed. I don’t see why the pistons themselves should need replacing, unless you just want higher compression pistons or something.

Burning oil can also come from the head leaking. Bad valve seals or something. I don’t know much about that. HTH until someone can give you a more definitive answer.

Ben

The Bad News…

I just picked my car up from having the check completed and the guy told me $1700.00 for a new engine. He said that the engine in there with 230K is done but to me the engine purrs like a kitten. It drives like a champ but just has smoke problem. I’m going for a second look tomorrow at another shop.

If you have blue smoke, before doing anything major, like replacing your pistons/rings, make sure to check the head, valve seals, and tubes… You dont want to lay down the $ to replace the Pistons, and then find out that it was only a valve seal leek instead… Most times (if you drive your car normally) oil leaks are because of worn seals…

Re: The Bad News…

Originally posted by AMB012977
I just picked my car up from having the check completed and the guy told me $1700.00 for a new engine. He said that the engine in there with 230K is done but to me the engine purrs like a kitten. It drives like a champ but just has smoke problem. I’m going for a second look tomorrow at another shop.

How could it be ā€œdoneā€ if it still runs? Not to mention, runs like a champ and purrs like a kitten. Sounds like it’s got a lot more life. I would just get a B16 swap or something. It’ll be cheaper and have more power. And a nearly new transmission to boot. Good luck.

Ben

has anyone replaced valve seals with out taking head off?

Thank God…

Problem fixed. Seals. I wouldn’t have thought that but thanks to all you motors heads, I saved a dollar or two. B16A is still being bought but install went down because they want old engine to rebuild. Once again, thanks.

Originally posted by TheBlazer
If you have blue smoke, before doing anything major, like replacing your pistons/rings, make sure to check the head, valve seals, and tubes… You dont want to lay down the $ to replace the Pistons, and then find out that it was only a valve seal leek instead… Most times (if you drive your car normally) oil leaks are because of worn seals…

So is there ANY way to tell if it’s just the valve seals!??

Re: Thank God…

Originally posted by AMB012977
Problem fixed. Seals. I wouldn’t have thought that but thanks to all you motors heads, I saved a dollar or two. B16A is still being bought but install went down because they want old engine to rebuild. Once again, thanks.

AMB012977: How was the shop sure that it was just valveseals?
Do you know how they determined that the rings were satisfactory but the valveseals needed replacing??

One way to check your rings is to do a compression test. If your compression numbers are not within 10% of each other pour about a spoon full of oil into the cylinder and try the test again. If your compression goes up then your rings are bad. You can also do a leakdown test but i’ve never done them. They are better than a compression test but thats beyond my talents.
If your burning black smoke then your burning too rich. I would do a tune-up and replace the O2 sensor. If you have and adjustable FPR then lower the pressure a little. You could also have a clogged injector.

when your valve seals are gone, typically you burn blue smoke when you LET OFF the throttle. In certain cases, (my car) you burn blue after sitting idle for a decent period of time. ie, warming up in the morning, sitting at a long red light, etc.
But one of the easiest ways to tell is upon deceleration you burn blue.

Rings on the other hand burn blue when you boot it.