Off topic honda problems. Help?

[Mo707]

So i don't know where too post this but about a month ago i bought a 1998 Honda civic with 244,*** miles on it for $600. When I got the car it wasn't running right. A few weeks in my shop class and i get the car running "properly". I put an aftermarket exhaust on it and about two days ago my friend(who was driving behind me) tells me he saw smoke coming out of my exhaust when i really gas it. I've also noticed that the car is having a lot of trouble accelerating. I check my oil about 10 minutes ago and I'm on the no oil line. Im thinking the head gasket is blown but my friend is thinking the piston rings. Any idea's/suggestions?
***Notes***
Its a D16y5
Just did an oil change

aa

[7thgear]

what colour is the smoke?

if it's blue, you've got oil problems (rings)

if it's white, you've got coolant problems (head gasket)

if it's black, you've got combustion problems (spark, fuel, timing, etc)

if you can't tell, then probably all 3

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

what colour is the smoke?

if it's blue, you've got oil problems (rings)

if it's white, you've got coolant problems (head gasket)

if it's black, you've got combustion problems (spark, fuel, timing, etc)

if you can't tell, then probably all 3

Its like a gray smoke and if I'm hauling a** its a lot of smoke.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Mo707

Its like a gray smoke and if I'm hauling a** its a lot of smoke.

have you checked your sparkplugs?

you can google a chart to help you diagnose what's going on by how the sparkplugs look like

when was the last time the plugs were changed?

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

have you checked your sparkplugs?

you can google a chart to help you diagnose what's going on by how the sparkplugs look like

when was the last time the plugs were changed?

The spark plugs were the first thing i changed when i got the car. They should be new. Only a month old but ill check again.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Mo707

The spark plugs were the first thing i changed when i got the car. They should be new. Only a month old but ill check again.

use this when you check them

make sure to check all 4

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

use this when you check them

make sure to check all 4

Thank you!!! Ill check them tomorrow!

[UltraFRS]

Do a compression check and that should give a good idea on the rings and head gasket. With that many miles the smoke could be leaky valve seals as well.

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by UltraFRS

Do a compression check and that should give a good idea on the rings and head gasket. With that many miles the smoke could be leaky valve seals as well.

I checked the valves when i got the car they were good. Just didnt look at the seals. How do i do a compression check?

[Calum]

All that dark grey smoke would normally indicate incomplete combustion. If you're spark plugs are new, check the fuel pressure and clean the injectors.

A compression test is done by removing all of the spark plugs, screwing a compression tester into each of the spark plug holes in turn, cranking the engine and getting a reading on the gauge. You should be able to look up what the reading should be for your engine.

A leaking valve seal will not show up on a compression test. You'd have to remove the valve cover and inspect them.

A compression test is a good pass/fail type of test, but for comprehensive results you'll want to do a leakdown test. It's very similar, but you need a leakdown tester and you don't crank, just set the pistons to TDC on the compression stroke. The tester flows air into the cylinder and measures how much is leaking. And you can then find where it's leaking. Bubbles in the coolant, you have a dead head gasket. Excessive air coming from the dip stick tube, your rings are gone or you have a dead head gasket. Air heard coming from the throttle body and the intake valves aren't sealing. Same for the exhaust.

Considering this is a Honda, you might want to do some reading over at Honda-Tech.

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by Calum

All that dark grey smoke would normally indicate incomplete combustion. If you're spark plugs are new, check the fuel pressure and clean the injectors.

A compression test is done by removing all of the spark plugs, screwing a compression tester into each of the spark plug holes in turn, cranking the engine and getting a reading on the gauge. You should be able to look up what the reading should be for your engine.

A leaking valve seal will not show up on a compression test. You'd have to remove the valve cover and inspect them.

A compression test is a good pass/fail type of test, but for comprehensive results you'll want to do a leakdown test. It's very similar, but you need a leakdown tester and you don't crank, just set the pistons to TDC on the compression stroke. The tester flows air into the cylinder and measures how much is leaking. And you can then find where it's leaking. Bubbles in the coolant, you have a dead head gasket. Excessive air coming from the dip stick tube, your rings are gone or you have a dead head gasket. Air heard coming from the throttle body and the intake valves aren't sealing. Same for the exhaust.

Considering this is a Honda, you might want to do some reading over at Honda-Tech.

I just put in new fuel injectors when i did the spark plugs. I dont get it. Everything should be good. Where can I find a compression tester?

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Mo707

I just put in new fuel injectors when i did the spark plugs. I dont get it. Everything should be good. Where can I find a compression tester?

what about o2 sensors

do you have any Air/Fuel ratio diagnostic tools?

[Mo707]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

what about o2 sensors

do you have any Air/Fuel ratio diagnostic tools?

No. I do most of my work in my auto class because i dont have much tools at my house but we dont have a diagnostic tool. Do they rent them out at auto zone?

[Calum]

Originally Posted by Mo707

I just put in new fuel injectors when i did the spark plugs. I dont get it. Everything should be good. Where can I find a compression tester?

Autozone lists them on their website. They're pretty common to be found in most tool stores, take a look.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...35&isApp=false