Engine Smoking - Honda Prelude Forum

sandiegan · 03-03-2008, 03:04 PM

My engine has been smoking. Not badly, but enough that I notice it when I stop driving. Oil temperature is fine. I recently added oil, thought it might be the oil I spilled over accidentally burning off, but it is persisting. Can't seem to tell where the smoke is coming from, but it's definitely oil because it smells like it. Looks like an oily mess by the oil fill cap, but I think it is probably from my overpouring / where I whiped up. Car has 135xxx miles and had a cam seal done when the timing belt job was done. Thoughts on what could be wrong, with such limited info?

Jacques · 03-03-2008, 03:08 PM

What about the valve cover seal? When was that last changed? Or, you could look around your engine (look underneath as well) and see if there's any oil deposits anywhere.

sandiegan · 03-03-2008, 03:13 PM

It was also done with the cam seal and all that stuff, at 95k. I haven't noticed any oil under the car.

Car runs fine, no exhaust smoke.

Solid · 03-03-2008, 03:26 PM

Smoke color?

sandiegan · 03-03-2008, 03:31 PM

There's not a lot of it, so it's hard to tell. I'd go with gray, and if I had to choose, more towards white than black.

Solid · 03-03-2008, 04:41 PM

Sure it isn't water/coolant? You may have a leak.

sandiegan · 03-03-2008, 05:15 PM

When I lift the hood, the smoke comes from around the rear of the engine compartment, not the front. But I will check the radiator when I get back to my car. The smoke is greyish...

Solid · 03-03-2008, 05:21 PM

You said oil is around the filler cap. Have you ever changed the gasket that seals at the filler? There are coolant lines toward the back of the engine bay.

Rodmunch · 03-03-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid

There are coolant lines toward the back of the engine bay.

I just cleaned out my ICAV and the coolant lines that run to and from it look like they could use replacing. Maybe sandiegan's are deteriorated and leaking? Or maybe the heater core hoses are bad?

Solid · 03-04-2008, 09:10 AM

^That's what I was curious about. They could be leaking on the IM or exhaust, then creating steam.

sandiegan · 03-04-2008, 11:00 AM

But it smells like burning oil all the time. WOuldn't steam not smell like that?

I'm not sure if that gasket was replaced

Rodmunch · 03-04-2008, 11:09 AM

Maybe the oil cooler gasket is bad? Isn't that a common problem and isn't it located on the back side of the engine?

pkspx · 03-04-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodmunch

Maybe the oil cooler gasket is bad? Isn't that a common problem and isn't it located on the back side of the engine?

I had two preludes that i needed to replace that oil cooler gasket. It was bad burning/leaking all the time. I bet this is the problem.

sandiegan · 03-04-2008, 02:20 PM

I think that could be it -- I'll check around the oil filter when I get home. Does anyone know the part number on the gasket, or if it could be had at Kragen/Autozone/Pepboys,etc

sandiegan · 03-05-2008, 08:24 AM

Looks like I was wrong about leaking -- the car is leaking gobs of oil

Can't quite tell where from because I just drove it to work and don't want to jack the car up, but I suspect it is that o-ring from where the oil is landing on the ground

sandiegan · 03-05-2008, 04:36 PM

Local Honda+Acura shop said $65 to replace it. I've read it's a ***** to DIY. Good price?

what_the... · 03-05-2008, 04:45 PM

$65 in exchange for a ***** sounds like a damn good price to me!

Rodmunch · 03-05-2008, 11:58 PM

Doo Eet!!!

sandiegan · 03-06-2008, 12:21 PM

Problem solved

Solid · 03-06-2008, 02:41 PM

Did you take it to Honda to replace the seal?

sandiegan · 03-09-2008, 07:44 AM

No, local Honda/Acura (viet) techs

Honda probably would have been $250

98prelude1 · 06-07-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkspx

I had two preludes that i needed to replace that oil cooler gasket. It was bad burning/leaking all the time. I bet this is the problem.

Just to confirm what you already found out. ya the oil cooler ring goes out in the ludes my friend had it go out and it went out in mine also. I am surpizes that it took longer for the oil to drain though both our cases it drianed fast to a dangerous point. But ya a simple fix, the part is like 2 bucks and not that hard to replace. I payed a shop 85 to do mine so 65 is cheap for Honda to do it so sounds like you got a good deal. I still worrie about the time the engine had the lack of oil but what can you do.