Honda Car Forum

My son has a UK Honda Civic SE sport 1.6 2002. It's now done 108,000
miles and started using oil in the engine, roughly about a litre every
1000 mile. It starts, runs well with no obvious leaks and doesn't
throw a lot of black smoke out the exaust. Also well serviced and the
emmissions were not a concern at the last MOT. Is this normal for a
Civic starting to show its age or do we need to be looking at
anything.

Thanks

Bob

Bob Dodds <13013dodds@googlemail.com> wrote in news:c0432cc5-4bed-4f65-
8fa1-8fbbddd3a297@h21g2000yqa.googlegroups.com:

> My son has a UK Honda Civic SE sport 1.6 2002. It's now done 108,000
> miles and started using oil in the engine, roughly about a litre every
> 1000 mile. It starts, runs well with no obvious leaks and doesn't
> throw a lot of black smoke out the exaust. Also well serviced and the
> emmissions were not a concern at the last MOT. Is this normal for a
> Civic starting to show its age or do we need to be looking at
> anything.
>



You've got a problem. A vehicle that young should be getting at least 8,000
miles per quart/liter.

Check VERY carefully for leaks. Not all leaks are obvious, and some don't
even leave much mess on the engine.

Check the PCV system.

Have a compression test done.

Has the car ever been run with a very low oil level?


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Right, besides the PCV system, check also valve stem seals and piston
rings. The rings can be checked with a compression test.

If you have valve stem seal leaks usually the first start after a long
park is bluish tinted smoke from the exhaust.

do your spark plugs look oily?


On Aug 18, 11:28*am, Bob Dodds <13013do...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> My son has a UK Honda Civic SE sport 1.6 2002. It's now done 108,000
> miles and started using oil in the engine, roughly about a litre every
> 1000 mile. It starts, runs well with no obvious leaks and doesn't
> throw a lot of black smoke out the exaust. Also well serviced and the
> emmissions were not a concern at the last MOT. Is this normal for a
> Civic starting to show its age or do we need to be looking at
> anything.
>
> Thanks
>
> Bob

On 19 Aug, 01:54, john <johngd...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Right, besides the PCV system, check also valve stem seals and piston
> rings. The rings can be checked with a compression test.
>
> If you have valve stem seal leaks usually the first start after a long
> park is bluish tinted smoke from the exhaust.
>
> do your spark plugs look oily?
>
> On Aug 18, 11:28*am, Bob Dodds <13013do...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > My son has a UK Honda Civic SE sport 1.6 2002. It's now done 108,000
> > miles and started using oil in the engine, roughly about a litre every
> > 1000 mile. It starts, runs well with no obvious leaks and doesn't
> > throw a lot of black smoke out the exaust. Also well serviced and the
> > emmissions were not a concern at the last MOT. Is this normal for a
> > Civic starting to show its age or do we need to be looking at
> > anything.
>
> > Thanks
>
> > Bob- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks for the tips.
The plugs were clean at the last service in May, probably would have
gone a lot longer but were changed anyway. Engine compartment is clean
and dry so nothing out of the top but I'll check underneath and the
compression when I get home. It doesn't get to stand for long as he
has a girlfriend living about a 100 miles away and that's where most
of the miles went.

Regards

Bob