Leftie (No@Thanks.net) writes:
> Elle wrote:
>> Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>>> Are the deposits sooty with a bit of an oily feel to them, or are they
>>> actually covered in liquid oil?
>>
>> They are much closer to sooty with an oily feel than they are to
>> looking liquidy. E.g. they are nowhere near as liquidy and bad as the
>> "oil fouled" plug shown at http://www.cyclefish.com/forum/topic...ex/3706/1#3821
>> . Do you think this matters?
>>
>> Like I wrote, the ceramic part just beneath where the spark occurs is
>> black-ish, sooty-ish on three of four of my Civic's plugs. Where the
>> spark occurs is a textured brown, like some deposits are accumulating
>> there, but they're not black (yet?). I figure this is because 1/2
>> quart every 600 miles or so is not a lot of oil burning. A concern,
>> but it could be a lot worse.
>>
>> I should have wrote my theory now is that it is either the oil control
>> rings /or/ the valve guides that are going. I have looked into
>> replacing the valve guides but assuming I wanted to gamble that it is
>> the guides and not the oil control rings, it seems cheaper to just buy
>> a new head. I think I'd consider a new used engine from a reputable
>> used Honda engine seller, first.
>>
>
>
> The compression test with and without heavy oil may help you to
> decide. It takes 5 minutes.


Since you have resigned yourself to possibly replacing the motor in
the distant future, try experimenting with heavier oils (20W50, 20W40,
10W40). Looks like you have nothing to lose. 1200 miles per quart isn't
great, but its not that bad. At least it isn't 500 miles per quart. Try a
20W50 oil for 2000 miles and see if the oil consumption is reduced. Try
what the other person said, which was a 10W30 oil and the additive
called "CD-2".

I wonder if that stinkin' dealer just dumped in the cheapest 20W50 or
straight 40 weight oil he could buy, and told you it was Mobil synthetic.