I dont want to diss the previous poster, but I personally dont think you
should down cash on a "complete tuneup", unless we have different ideas of a
"complete tuneup".

Is the smoke just black or slightly blue-ish? Exactly how
"think" is it? Can you smell burned oil if you stand near the exhaust?

Most likely oil is leaking somewhere in the area of the valvetrain.... one
of the gaskets might be blown (and I'm not just talking about the head
gasket, also anything that insulates the cylinders, etc...)

First check for obvious leaks (that is, without taking off the engine
cover).... if you're lucky, you might isolate the problem right there. Have
a mechanic or someone with some car knowledge look inside the engine. I dont
think a compression check would be necessary.... in fact I cant even
directly relate these two problems. Most likely the mechanic (if he's not a
crook) will tell you which gasket/seal needs to be replaced and your car
will be back on the road, a proud swimmer in the ocean of rice (just kidding
dude).


"Recode" <recode@pppoe.ca> wrote in message
news:c1rsno$1g4g$1@news.wplus.net...
> Hi,
>
> I own a 2000 Prelude (automatic transmission) and sometime I have some
nasty
> black smoke for the exhaust system, just like my car would burn oil.
>
> I went to see the dealer about that and they told me that was OK like
that.
> A friend told me that the Vtech system was self-cleaning and the smoke was
> from the self-cleaning !?
>
> Anyone would know more about this issue ?
>
> Thanks
>
> Recode
>
>