Minime smoking problem

[koukimonster27]

I have a 93 civic hatch with a minime swap, kinda... The block supposedly only has about 80k on it so i cant imagine the rings are bad already. It currently has an accord ecu in it (not sure why). At any rate when u start it up theres no smoke and as long as u dont hit the gas hard it wont smoke. Soon as you get on it a little bit it dumps smoke out the back. Only seems to be burning oil too so dont think its the head gasket no coolant really gos down at all. Kinda still seems like its the the rings but not sure and was kinda hoping it isnt if anyone has any advice id appreciate it. THanks

[hrcDSM719]

What color is the smoke? (blue I assume...) Honestly man, if its smoking blue under wide open throttle acceleration, its most likely the rings....

Do a compression test, then a leakdown test. Thats really the only way to tell accurately

[koukimonster27]

Yeah thats what i was figuring to do. Dont compression tests and leakdown tests test the same thing? or does one way work better then the other?

[koukimonster27]

I did do a compression test and it came back at 90 70 80 and 80....Im guessing it is the rings but then again im not too sure how accurate the compression tester is, since its just a cheapy. And im not sure exactly what its suppose to be.

[RiceNmotioN]

rings or ring landings eather way u should be up in the 150

[koukimonster27]

So any advice on the best rebuild kit? or would it just be easier to look for a new bottom end or motor all together?

[hrcDSM719]

Compression tests and leakdown tests kind f tell you the same things. Compression tests tell you what the PSI is of each cylinder, as you saw. Leakdown tests will tell you how well the cylinder is sealing, and where (if at all) its losing compression, I.E. bent/burnt valve, rings, etc.

As far as rebuilds go, check on honda-tech.com under the d-series section. It really depends on what you want to do with the car honestly, but that sight will give you ALL the information you will need. Hope that helps!

-Jake

[beb]

You could do a wet compression test: add a little oil - like a tablespoon, max - to the cylinders through the sparkplug hole and re-take the compression. If the readings go up, the rings may be worn; if not, then maybe the valves have a problem. Too much oil and even bad valves will seal up some, though. When you start the car back up, expect that oil to make a good stink when it goes through the cat.

Harbor Freight carries a leakdown testor for $30:
(link not allowed)

Might as well get a stethescope there too, because while the 'percentage' reading is useless when looking for a really gross leak, hearing just where the air goes is really valuable. Of note: if you have a bad valve, you can hear the air through the sparkplug hole of other cylinders, even at cylinders on the other end of the block. If the rings are bad, it will come out of the dipstick tube (but even with a perfectly good cylinder, generally some air will come out here). Air comes out in all kinds of crazy places if the head gasket is bad.

[theidealone]

you can also hold a lighter above the cylinders and dipstick tube to see if air is coming out of there, while you do a leak down.