Honda Car Forum

I am looking at buying a 91CRX
It smokes when driven, not when Idling
It starts up right away
Drives fine

Rundown:
200k+
Smoking, owner says one plug fowls and need cleaning occasionally
Uses about 1qt of oil a week
CVJ's need boots and lube at best, replace at worst
Timing belt still has 40kmi left before change is indicated
New tires
young brakes
new clutch



What is it worth
-or- what will it cost to fix
-or- can I keep putting oil in it and live with the smoke till I can
pull the head?

I am not worried about the CVJ's ....too much

Thanks
aal

On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 15:44:31 GMT, aal <al_h@technologist.com> wrote:

>I am looking at buying a 91CRX
>It smokes when driven, not when Idling
>It starts up right away
>Drives fine
>
>Rundown:
>200k+
>Smoking, owner says one plug fowls and need cleaning occasionally
>Uses about 1qt of oil a week

Do a compression check.
If you're lucky it could be valve guides and seals.

>CVJ's need boots and lube at best, replace at worst

Replace.

>Timing belt still has 40kmi left before change is indicated

You're gonna have to pull the head anyway.

>New tires
>young brakes
>new clutch

>What is it worth

What's it worth to YOU? The thing is a classic.
They don't make 'em like that anymore. What shape is the body in?
Look at the jacking points. Are the doorsill sound or have the jacking
points rusted out?

>-or- what will it cost to fix
>-or- can I keep putting oil in it and live with the smoke till I can
>pull the head?

Will the pollution police catch up with you?

>I am not worried about the CVJ's ....too much

Change them!

John Ings wrote:
> On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 15:44:31 GMT, aal <al_h@technologist.com> wrote:
>
> Do a compression check.
> If you're lucky it could be valve guides and seals.
>

I don't have a gauge handy
mine is in GA and I currently live in TN
>
>>CVJ's need boots and lube at best, replace at worst
>
>
> Replace.
>

I agree
I must prioritize though.

>
>>Timing belt still has 40kmi left before change is indicated
>
>
> You're gonna have to pull the head anyway.
>
good point

>
>>New tires
>>young brakes
>>new clutch
>
>
>>What is it worth
>
>
> What's it worth to YOU? The thing is a classic.
> They don't make 'em like that anymore. What shape is the body in?
> Look at the jacking points. Are the doorsill sound or have the jacking
> points rusted out?
>

I will check that out
I hope to get it for less that 800

>
>>-or- what will it cost to fix
>>-or- can I keep putting oil in it and live with the smoke till I can
>>pull the head?
>
>
> Will the pollution police catch up with you?
>

I do have that to worry about
I dont think it will pass emissions as it is

any tricks to get through that so I will have a year to get it back in shape



Thanks for the feedback

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 05:09:00 GMT, aal <al_h@technologist.com> wrote:

>any tricks to get through that so I will have a year to get it back in shape

Not if it's fouling a plug. You haven't a hope,
and if it's been doing it for very long you may have a cooked CAT

What color is the smoke? If it's blue your rings are bad, if it's black
that's just carbon build up and it's fine.
Holly

"aal" <al_h@technologist.com> wrote in message
news:zNcad.910818$yk.150954@news.easynews.com...
> I am looking at buying a 91CRX
> It smokes when driven, not when Idling
> It starts up right away
> Drives fine
>
> Rundown:
> 200k+
> Smoking, owner says one plug fowls and need cleaning occasionally
> Uses about 1qt of oil a week
> CVJ's need boots and lube at best, replace at worst
> Timing belt still has 40kmi left before change is indicated
> New tires
> young brakes
> new clutch
>
>
>
> What is it worth
> -or- what will it cost to fix
> -or- can I keep putting oil in it and live with the smoke till I can
> pull the head?
>
> I am not worried about the CVJ's ....too much
>
> Thanks
> aal

Blue (white) smoke does not necessarily mean bad rings. Often it is
valve seals and other less major causes and can also cause abnormal oil consumption.

If it is rings, the cause may be related to an overheating event in the
past which caused the rings to loose their temper and even cause partial
piston collapse.

If one plug fouls, try a "hotter" plug to burn off oil residue.

At any rate, if you get this car, make sure the price is adjusted for
anticipated major maintenance...

JT



test wrote:
>
> What color is the smoke? If it's blue your rings are bad, if it's black
> that's just carbon build up and it's fine.
> Holly
>
> "aal" <al_h@technologist.com> wrote in message
> news:zNcad.910818$yk.150954@news.easynews.com...
> > I am looking at buying a 91CRX
> > It smokes when driven, not when Idling
> > It starts up right away
> > Drives fine
> >
> > Rundown:
> > 200k+
> > Smoking, owner says one plug fowls and need cleaning occasionally
> > Uses about 1qt of oil a week
> > CVJ's need boots and lube at best, replace at worst
> > Timing belt still has 40kmi left before change is indicated
> > New tires
> > young brakes
> > new clutch
> >
> >
> >
> > What is it worth
> > -or- what will it cost to fix
> > -or- can I keep putting oil in it and live with the smoke till I can
> > pull the head?
> >
> > I am not worried about the CVJ's ....too much
> >
> > Thanks
> > aal

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