2 question: Oil burning smell and glowing Exaust valves

[Renegade]

Hi!
I hope I'll find solurion here
So, I have a 96 Honda Civic 1.6 VTi (160 HP) it has 120.000 km (70.000 miles) on odometer. Oh, and the car is stock. Few days now I noticed that when I'm driving on Hi RPM for some time I can smell motor oil burning. I checked the engine and teh oil isn't leaking anywhere. Our local guys told me, that it could be a sealing on (I don't know what's the word) oil-pan. I didn't noticed anything. I can smell it only when the car is hard driven.
And the second thing is, when I pull to a stop and pop the hood and peek on the cat-back exaust (exaust valve?) I see it is glowing red . Is this normal or is it realy something wrong with the (again I don't know the word ) main crankshaft. Friends told me, that my engine is going to "heaven" slowly, becouse the bearings are worn out.
I kinda know how to drive a car - if I am driving on Hi RPM, I let the engine running for a while to cool down. I never run the engine over 3.000 rpm when engine is cold and so. Hehe, only my english is quite poor. Sorry for that.
I hope you will help me with this one. I'm really worried about this ... Thanks!

[Privatebigandrew]

Well it definately wouldn't be an oil pan leak since you said it wasn't a visible leak. From the info given i would say that your pistons or rings may be warped. It is unusual for an engine to burn oil at higher rpm's vs lower rpm's. Usually, when rings wear, your engine burns oil when it is cold, then when it warms up, the rings expand and seal better. But, if your piston or rings are warped, at high RPM's they could bind and move in the ring gap. Have a leakdown lest performed on your cylinders. Also try a compression test. As for the bad gas mileage and the Cat glowing red, your cat is most likely clogged up. (possibly from the excess oil being burnt) This would cause it to overheat thus the glowing. This would cause all kind of emission problems and would also alter your O2 sensor readings, thus causing bad gas mileage.

[Renegade]

Hmm, I also noticed that when the engine is cold the RPM is not stable. The RPM drops almost to zero and then rises again to normal (idling, than I press the gas pedal and the RPM drops and then rises to normal). But when the engine is hot, there is no problem at idling.

[Renegade]

***INFO UPDATE***:
My exaust valve in glowing red even if I drive my car normal (up to 4.000 RPM). Some mechanics have told me to check ingnition timing. 1 week ago a had regular service - adjusting valves. Due to this setting, the timming could be wrong?
Going to check the ignition today or tommorow.

[Renegade]

OK, here's the deal. Today I dissconnected the O2 sensor and went for a test ride. I was really pushing the car - driving at 7 or 8.000 RPM. When I checked the exaust valve it was OK - no glowing or anything. Later this week I'm will check it again with other O2 sensor. Also there's engine light ON, but I supose that's becouse the computer is reciveing any signals from the sensor.
I'm quite sure that the problem is solved.
Ohh, yeah. About the smell. On the oil pan the sealing is leaking a bit of oil. The oil drops are directli on the exaust pipe so I can smell that stinky S . I will change the seal.