[Venomz]

Intermitantly, my car blows out light gray smoke. It doesn't happen all of the time, and it's not not always heavy. Sometimes it's just a little, and sometimes it's a lot. Sometimes it's smoking, and sometimes it's not.
Why?

On top of that, my engine is smoking from somewhere towards the passenger side. There's a very small oil leak somewhere as well. I've noted very small oil puddles if I leave it sitting in the same place for a day or more.
Why?

I drove this car 200 miles straight from where I bought it to home without a hiccup. The engine starts rough but it purrs after about three minutes.

The battery is still a problem, and I'm wondering if I need to take it in to get electrical work done. Is there a way that I can test where current is flowing when the car is off, or is this out of my arena?

To maintain 60 mph, the engine hovers at 3,000 RPM. At 80 (my more typical speed), it's sitting at a constant 4,000 RPM. Is that normal? If not, what thoughts can you all share with me?

On a less serious note, I'm told that a good seat from my local junkyard will cost me 50 bucks. Does that sound right, or should I push him down towards 40 or 30?

I've noticed that the fenders on pre-89's are made of fiberglass or some other composite material. Now, I have a 90. If I swipe one of these fenders from these pre-89 cars, it should fit on my car. What is it that I need to do with the lights to make them work right? And, what should I be looking to pay for one?

 

[Baker]

The battery is still a problem, and I'm wondering if I need to take it in to get electrical work done. Is there a way that I can test where current is flowing when the car is off, or is this out of my arena?

What is the battery doing, or NOT doing?

 

[Baker]

To maintain 60 mph, the engine hovers at 3,000 RPM. At 80 (my more typical speed), it's sitting at a constant 4,000 RPM. Is that normal? If not, what thoughts can you all share with me?

Is Crx a Si?
3k sounds just about right to me.

On a less serious note, I'm told that a good seat from my local junkyard will cost me 50 bucks. Does that sound right, or should I push him down towards 40 or 30?

Any specifics? Be sure that the seat is from a 89-91 Crx, 88's will not fit 89-91's. Is is an SI seat or one of the lower trim level seats and how good of shape is it in. My guess is that if it coming from a junkyard, generally their prices are pretty straight forward, either you want it or not, so i'm not sure how much haggling you would be able to do.
If it is a Si seat and in good shape $50 is pretty fair.

I've noticed that the fenders on pre-89's are made of fiberglass or some other composite material. Now, I have a 90. If I swipe one of these fenders from these pre-89 cars, it should fit on my car. What is it that I need to do with the lights to make them work right? And, what should I be looking to pay for one?

You've noticed wrong.
88-91 Crx fenders are all sheetmetal, 84-87 Crx's have the plastic fenders. The only difference between 88/89 and 90/91 fenders is the plastic molding is thicker on 88/89's and the 88/89 corner lenses are held on by screws instead of clips. They bolt up perfectly but have subtle cosmetic differences.

 

[Venomz]

What is the battery doing, or NOT doing?

Now and then, it's not holding a charge, although the man at the auto store told me that my battery was fine, after testing it. Some days it will have the juice to start my car, and some days it will not. I'm not leaving lights or anything else on, and I have no radio, so that's not draining my battery at all.

The seat is from a 90 DX, the same year and make as mine, and it's not ripped, though the water damage stains are pretty bad.

My car is a DX, not a Si. In my PT Cruiser, holding 60 is a matter of 2k RPM, and once I hit 80, about 2500 RPM. Maybe I'm just not used to the difference between American and Japanese 4 Cylinders.

About the fenders, I see. My fault on the years. But, those 84-87 plastic fenders will mount up fine, you're saying? I understand the difference now between 88-89 and 90-91.

 

[lessonsinspeed]

Intermitantly, my car blows out light gray smoke. It doesn't happen all of the time, and it's not not always heavy. Sometimes it's just a little, and sometimes it's a lot. Sometimes it's smoking, and sometimes it's not. Why?

Is the smoke more of a blue or a white? Blue indicates oil, white is coolant. Coolant can only leak in through the head gasket, which is no good. Oil can leak in through either the rings or the valve stem seals; the latter are much easier to replace. Valve stems will often smoke more at startup, when the oil has had time to creep down to the valve.

To maintain 60 mph, the engine hovers at 3,000 RPM. At 80 (my more typical speed), it's sitting at a constant 4,000 RPM. Is that normal? If not, what thoughts can you all share with me?

Thats perfect. Its a set gear ratio (assuming you're in the same gear), so the ratio should be the same. 60/3000 = 80/4000, so you're good on that.

 

[ludesrv]

Intermitantly, my car blows out light gray smoke. It doesn't happen all of the time, and it's not not always heavy. Sometimes it's just a little, and sometimes it's a lot. Sometimes it's smoking, and sometimes it's not.
Why?

On top of that, my engine is smoking from somewhere towards the passenger side. There's a very small oil leak somewhere as well. I've noted very small oil puddles if I leave it sitting in the same place for a day or more.
Why?

Sounds like a dead head gasket. Gray smoke is usually coolant. And an oil leak from unknown areas of the passenger is either the head gasket or the rear main seal. Do a leak down test, or get one done. You should be able to find an oil leak by yourself. Wash the engine free of dirt and grime, and then go rip on her hard for 4-5 minutes. Then check again. Oil will be coming out of your leak at that point.

 

[Baker]

The seat is from a 90 DX, the same year and make as mine, and it's not ripped, though the water damage stains are pretty bad.

I would not pay that much for a water damaged, stained seat, especially a Dx seat. Keep searching.

About the fenders, I see. My fault on the years. But, those 84-87 plastic fenders will mount up fine, you're saying? I understand the difference now between 88-89 and 90-91.

84-87 is the 1st generation Crx, will NOT even come close to fitting.Take a look at any 1st gen Crx and look at ANY 88-91(2nd gen) Crx, compare the two and you will see why, completely different design.

 

[ludesrv]

IF your fender is a composite (put a magnet on it, if it's stamped steel the magnet will stick, if it's plastic or fiberglass it won't stick) material I recommend you get the steel ones because the composite ones are usually just cheap ass replicas that don't align right at all.

 

[Venomz]

Is the smoke more of a blue or a white? Blue indicates oil, white is coolant. Coolant can only leak in through the head gasket, which is no good. Oil can leak in through either the rings or the valve stem seals; the latter are much easier to replace. Valve stems will often smoke more at startup, when the oil has had time to creep down to the valve.

It's very nice white. There's no blue in it at all, nor black. So, based solely on your reply, I'm going to plan for a head gasket. Should I be checking for anything in the head while it's off? I've never done this sorta thing before, but I've got a pair of manuals. I should be able to make it through.

Thats perfect. Its a set gear ratio (assuming you're in the same gear), so the ratio should be the same. 60/3000 = 80/4000, so you're good on that.

Good, good. I was really a little perplexed on that point. The car will only do 90-95 mph, so I was worried about something being wrong somewhere.

I would not pay that much for a water damaged, stained seat, especially a Dx seat. Keep searching.

Yeah, I kinda thought that it was a little out there.

84-87 is the 1st generation Crx, will NOT even come close to fitting.Take a look at any 1st gen Crx and look at ANY 88-91(2nd gen) Crx, compare the two and you will see why, completely different design.

Alright. Thanks. I'll assume from now on that any exterior part for a 1st gen will not fit a 2nd gen.

And an oil leak from unknown areas of the passenger is either the head gasket or the rear main seal. Do a leak down test, or get one done. You should be able to find an oil leak by yourself. Wash the engine free of dirt and grime, and then go rip on her hard for 4-5 minutes. Then check again. Oil will be coming out of your leak at that point.

Alright. I'll do that, then. Thanks for the info. And, uh, by the way, I know how to tell the difference between plastic and metal. They even sound different if you tap them. I wasn't worried about any replica, but rather about adaptability between 1st gen and 2nd gen years. And as I've been told, there's none.

 

['9445]

It's very nice white. There's no blue in it at all, nor black. So, based solely on your reply, I'm going to plan for a head gasket. Should I be checking for anything in the head while it's off? I've never done this sorta thing before, but I've got a pair of manuals. I should be able to make it through.

Thats perfect. Its a set gear ratio (assuming you're in the same gear), so the ratio should be the same. 60/3000 = 80/4000, so you're good on that.

Good, good. I was really a little perplexed on that point. The car will only do 90-95 mph, so I was worried about something being wrong somewhere.

If it'll only do 90-95 there's definitely something wrong power-wise. On the head gasket theory, while there is no way for oil to leak into the cylinders via the head gasket (coolant completely surrounds the liners), it is possible for the oil to leak out the side of the block. I had this when my head gasket went, it caused a huge oil leak out the side of the block (like a quart every couple days).

 

[90crxhf_w/ZC]

your piston rings are about to go...... trust me dude trust me, if it is the only thing you trust me on trust me on this i know the colors of smoke and the internals on motors i had the same problem on my old motor

 

[ludesrv]

your piston rings are about to go...... trust me dude trust me, if it is the only thing you trust me on trust me on this i know the colors of smoke and the internals on motors i had the same problem on my old motor

This is a brutal post. You have no information as to why his rings would be gone.

Gray smoke is coolant, not oil. Pistons rings only seal oil out of the combustion chamber aswell as create an air tight seal to make compression.

 

[Baker]

your piston rings are about to go...... trust me dude trust me, if it is the only thing you trust me on trust me on this i know the colors of smoke and the internals on motors i had the same problem on my old motor

WOW! :rolleyes1:
This coming from the person who wanted to raise the rev limit on a STOCK twin cam Zc to 9k. Yea i would go ahead and take this guys word.:?

I agree and would look into headgasket. I had a Saturn and a stock Civic hatch that had the same puffs of smoke, both head gasket problems.

 

[lessonsinspeed]

Any overheating problems? I just had my head gasket fail a couple months ago, and the telltale sign was it overheating like none other (along with one brief episode of a lot of white smoke).

 

[90crxhf_w/ZC]

pistons rings go through wear and driving your car hard or what not...... and no i didnt want to take my car to 9k i wanted to take it to 8 but the ecu that i have it is chipped for 9k gosh you guys asume way to much **** and its pissing me off... if you ask me why i say that ill tell you and stop asumeing crap got it......

and yes it is or it could be many of things
black- running rich or burning oil
white- HEAD GASKET
grayish- rings are about to go out
blueish- burned valves i think cant remember though

and yes grayish color is a sigh of oil getting in some how so the oil ring on the piston is probaly going out or how else would you have gray smoke duhhhhhhhh

 

[90crxhf_w/ZC]

Any overheating problems? I just had my head gasket fail a couple months ago, and the telltale sign was it overheating like none other (along with one brief episode of a lot of white smoke).

exactly white smoke is head gasket my point exactly thank you atleast someone knows there exhaust colors.... my head gasket just went out like last week and it smoked white like a freight train for a while.......

 

[90crxhf_w/ZC]

oh ok guys my bad i read the posts wrong and yeah he said white... and uhh yeah that is the head gasket sorry for being such a dick....

 

[Venomz]

Regarding the speed, the old owner told me that the car had lost some compression over the years. I'm not certian how to fix that, but I think a polish and new rings would do it.

Nah, it's not overheating at all. It's purring along, and that smoke isn't there all of the time. Just off and on.

I said light gray in my first post, so that might have confused the issue. I should have just called it white, but you know that the 'white' isn't really white. It's got just a tinge of gray to it.

 

[lessonsinspeed]

black- running rich or burning oil
white- HEAD GASKET
grayish- rings are about to go out
blueish- burned valves i think cant remember though

and yes grayish color is a sigh of oil getting in some how so the oil ring on the piston is probaly going out or how else would you have gray smoke duhhhhhhhh

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. It's not whats going bad, its whats burning that will determine the color. Oil leaking through the head gasket, past the rings, or down the valve stems will burn blue either way. White is coolant, which is a pretty solid indication of the head gasket. Overfueling usually seems to yield a brown smoke from my experience (and my car overfueled like a mofo for awhile).

 

[90crxhf_w/ZC]

ok yeah i agree with you i never looked at it that way, sorry haha i guess i need to start looking at every point of view