Smoking Problems

[89civic_sedan]

I can have my car idleing and rev it up and it will look like i have a fog machine because off all the smoke.I was driving home one day and the oil light came on so i went home and when i got home i reved it up and no smoke at all none but when i put a quart of oil in and rev it up start back smoking. Can somone please explain.

[FrodoGT]

Well what Color is the smoke? There is more than one thing that can burn out of your exhaust, white would be coolant, blue is oil and blackish grey is fuel mixture if memory serves me right. Since you said that it stopped smoking when it ran low on oil then I would say your rings are toast and the oil is getting past them and burning in the cylinder...oh and btw, if your oil light came on that meant you had like less than 5 lbs of pressure (could be 3) and that meant no lube for your engine, dont drive it that way! Or rings will be your smallest problem lol.

Just curious, how many miles are on your engine?

[89civic_sedan]

198K and i dont think the oil has been changed in it either.

[FrodoGT]

Ever? How could that be? And yeah, at that mileage your going to be burning oil, but that's a little excessive. It may be on it's way out, you will want to start looking into a rebuild or another engine....

[89civic_sedan]

Top half is decent partaly new bottom half has all the miles on it and the smoke is white.

[89civic_sedan]

Also could the smoking and idleing problem be the ECU?

[FrodoGT]

Smoking, no, not white smoke anyway. Idle, yeah possibly, or wiring or sensors or one of about a dozen variables. Doing a search be alot more helpful than I could, without seeing it first hand or having alot of information from you, which you know, its hard to tell you for sure. But If your idle is really messed up I'd say vaccum leak, then look at your eacv and map sensor, Im sure I'm forgetting something but thats what these forums are for, someone else can be much more insightful than I.