B16a Running Rich And Oil Consumption

[simon c]

My JDM B16a powered by a JDM P30 standard ECU is running quite rich. The exhaust is covered in black soot and we notice grey-ish smoke when in vtec.

Does anyone know if this could cause excessive oil consumption? I have noticed that the oil level drops especially after high revs. (We ran a leakdown test and compression test and everything was cool.)

I'm gonna get Hondata to sort the ecu and get everything running properly, but I can't figure out what's causing the oil consumption. (Car uses about a litre of oil in just 300 miles of high revving 4000rpm+ freeway driving.)

[imported_Lacuna]

Sounds to me like a bad head gasket but your saying the compression check seemed normal?

[simon c]

comp test pulled 230psi per cylinder.
(we have had the head polished and ported, 3 way seats machined and an Integra type R head gasket fitted.)

[Toyz-B-Us]

What kind of numbers did you get during a leakdown test?

[simon c]

Not sure of the exact numbers of the leakdown test, but all was ok except the valves, so when we done the head work we changed all the valve guides and seals (changed for genuine Honda parts.) Engine has done 40,000miles, and the bottom end came up ok.

[dubcac]

VTEC is notorious for burning oil. If you are in VTEC a lot, you're gonna burn oil...no matter what. However, you're burning a LOT of oil. Greyish smoke in vtec? burning oil...black soot? Burning oil. If you want to see if you're running rich, check your spark plugs and see how they look. Did you recently do a leakdown test, or just after installation of the head? If it wasn't recent, definitely get one done. Burning oil can be caused by a bunch of different variables.

[simon c]

Thing is I'm not in vtec alot. Oil drains away when on the freeway doing about 4-5000rpm only.
The car is deffinately running rich, the spark plugs aer iridium and only 10 months old, but coated in soot. There is also soot around the tailpipe.

We done the leakdown test just before the head work, I'll see what the rolling road says but fear we may have to take the head off again and see what's causing the problem.

[Toyz-B-Us]

Well, if it does good on a cylinder leak down and also on a compression test, chances are it is a valve guide or valve seal problem.

[imported_Lacuna]

When the head was put back on it might not have sealed correctly. I would have another compression check done. I would be willing to put money on the head gasket.

[hammerhead]

does the car miss a lot? this might sound weird, but i had the same soot on my exhaust, and the CEL codes, are they saying that ur engine is misfiring? check your plug wires.
park in a dark area, and rev the engine and see if there are any sparks underneath the hood.