My D16a6 is smoking

[strykersd]

So I just picked up a CRX for $400 a few days ago. The guy I bought it from pulled the head, then bought a vette and never finished it. So there was some oxidation/rust in the cylinder walls and on the pistons. At first I thought I'd just throw the engine out and find another D16A6, but I figured I'd see if I can get this one to work. So I took really fine steel wool to the cylinder walls and pistons to clean them up. So after cleaning up the cylinders I dropped the head on, bought some new parts and fired it up. Suprisingly the thing ran, then I did a compression test and got 210, 210, 192, and 212. The cylinder that had the lower compression had a small scratch in the cylinder wall so I'm thinking that could lower the compression. After letting the engine I noticed smoke coming out of the exhaust. At idle there is no smoke, but once it's warmed up and I hit the gas smoke starts to pour out. Just to clean out the radiator and cooling system I'm running water instead of coolant. If it helps when my the CRX is smoking, the smoke makes it hard to keep my eyes open and water. Oh and if it helps, when building the engine I just used a old D16Y8 head gasket. The car is also throwing a CEL, code 6. Thanks for the help guys.

[91civic4drboy]

im new to this but it sound like bad rings to me my car was doin the same thing and tats wat everyone said to me change them and its all good now.......but i like i said im a new guy

[mattie_96]

if it doesnt smoke as much when you use water, instead of ethylene glycol coolant, than you found your cause for smoking, head gasket or cracked block specifically coolant jacket related, atleast thats what i can come up with from your description.

also you stated that you used an "old y8 headgasket" which further confirms my suspicions. You obviously know the smell that is emitted from the exhaust when its "smoking". So just for a test, if you have a shitty stock exhaust manifold, pour some premixed coolant with atleast 50% coolant gel concentrate on your exhaust manifold.........is the smell the same and that steam irritates your eyes, if yes.....then again you have further troubleshooted that you are burning coolant.

Also the sharp smell and eye irritant is sometimes heavy amounts of oil being burnt, so its not to rule out one or the other, but it could also be a combination of a leaky headgasket, PLUs burning oil from either (dripping from pan or somewhere onto exhaust/valve seals are shot/lots of blowby from that specific cylinder)

And from your compression testing all 4 results seem within 10% of each other so it should be ok, but please dont quote me on this exactly as its been a while since ive checked the service limit for compression tests on engines.

But i think the culprit is probably the old headgasket so make sure you replace it with a new one and ensure that both H/G placing surfaces on head and block are clean and oil/coolant free. And i forgot to mention, hopefully you removed and installed the head according to the proper honda helms procedure, as even taking it off wrong initially might have warped the head as it is not a small block chevy cast iron, its aluminum.

[strykersd]

I have yet to run coolant in it yet, I'll give it a try tonight. Is there any way to test if the valve seals are bad? Thanks

[SupaStyl]

"old head gasket" thats ur first problem, head gaskets are one time use only. Since the compression numbers seem good, rings are most likely slightly worn and arent the source of burning coolant. Valve seals would be the next thing to check, if it is burning oil as well.

[strykersd]

I normally don't re-use head gaskets, but I just wanted to piece the engine together to see if it could run at all. Could it still be the headgasket if compression is good? Would a new Y8 headgasket fit fine or should I just stick with my A6? Oh and is there any way to check the valve seals without pulling the head? Thanks

[EF Honda EF]

code 6 is cooant temperature sensor. its the clip/sensor colset to the front of the engine bay on the head. it has a 2 wire clip. And head gaskets are one time use. also did you tighten the head down in the correct order if not you may of worped the head.