little problem getting bigger

[integralover]

i seem to be burning some oil at 5k rpm's and higher. kinda like when im stepping on the gas to get on the interstate. or im taking off from a stop light. i have about 183k miles on the car. when i start it up in the morning i don't see much smoke at all. im not quite sure if it is just moisture from over night, but looks white. but , other than that i only notice it when im in the upper rpm range. i had a friend tell me that my valve seals need to be changed, and i was also told by another friend that my rings are fried. and my head seems to be leaking a tiny bit around the edge. any info would be greatly appreciated.

[riceroni]

it could be your rings...

or it might not be that bad, since it only shows up at higher RPM's...it might be a gasket. get it checked

[integralover]

thnx. im also not sure if it is the gasket, b/c when i was changing out my spark plugs a few months ago, i accidentally dropped a nut down into my third chamber. yea how stupid of me. so my friend and i just took the head off enough and moved that piston to top dead center and slipped my hand under the head and grabbed the nut. put the head back and all. then i was told later how stupid that was and i shoulda blown my head gasket. could this be the prob too?

[whtteg]

Replace your head gasket today!!! Right now before you blow the gasket and possibly overheat the motor! Anytime you remove something that has a gasket you need to replace the gasket and also clean the matting surfaces. This might not be the reason it is burning a little oil but it is also a good possiblity. While you are at it I would go ahead and replace the rings and the vlave seals while you have the head off. It will not cost you a whole lot more maybe another $200-400 but you will have a better running motor. The valve seals can wait as they can be changed with the head on the car, but the piston rings require the head to be removed.

[integralover]

ok, so that seems to be much worse than i had imagined. well, i guess i can do this when i get the vtech head. just out of curiosity, what happens when the head gasket goes? and while i seem to be doing all of this would it be better just to replace the pistons, maybe type r or gsr? and how much would new rings be? sory for all of the questons.

[whtteg]

you mean VTEC right!!?? Anyway it would be better to replace the pistons while you are at it, but if you have the money ofcoarse. What are your plans for the motor? I can assume LS/VTEC for 1 but any N20 or a Turbo etc? Are you doing a N/A motor. Let me know some info and I can give better advice.

[integralover]

damn sorry about the VTECH meant VTEC. doh. i would love to do an LS/VTEC, money is kinda a constraint. but in a few months can be done.(proper saving) im more than likely going N20, i know that in about 12 to 16 months i will finally graduate with my degree and be able to afford much more. but presently that is what ill be doing. thnx for all the great advice so far.