fresh gsr swap leaking - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

SFF900 · 10-15-2002, 08:43 PM

Long story short: I swapped a 95 gsr motor into my 97 civic, I got it running right but it leaks what i beleive is coolant into the cylinders. The car smokes a lot out the tailpipe and water droplets collect in my muffler. I installed eagle rods and arias 11.5:1 pistons. I am pretty sure I gapped the rings correctly. I followed the exact directions in my helms manual. I have arp head studs. I torque the head down in correct order (helms manual) and to 65 lb/ft of torque like the directions say. When i first torque it down and do a compression test i get 210-215 psi. After i drove the car around the block i do a compression test and i got ranges from 180-190 psi. The compression test should be 180-190 with the factory pistons. Anyone have any ideas on what is wrong? What else i should try? And when i had the head off i had a machine shop pressure test and test for warping. I also tested the block for any warping but both surfaces are fine. I am thinking about pulling it and starting all over? I dont really have any shops I trust in the area (that really sucks, you guys dont know how lucky you are!) Any ideas are appreciated

AccOrDZteCh · 10-15-2002, 10:17 PM

if ur compression is good then it may jsut be a seal that is bad...thermostat seal or something that isnt sealed right. thats all i can think of

water in ur muffler is GOOD. ahah that means ur engine is ok...its just condensation....car smokin is like coolant in the oil...change ur oil again..see if that helps..not exactly sure man. wish i can help more...

taz77 · 10-15-2002, 11:28 PM

what was the exact compression numbers and on which cylinders? have u had a leak down test, or coolant pressure tested?

SFF900 · 10-16-2002, 02:12 PM

Cylinder one: 200psi cyl 2: 203 psi cyl 3: 190 psi cyl 4 180psi

The pressure slowly lowers on the gauge after I do it. VERY slowly. I havent had it leakdown tested and i havent had the coolant system pressure tested. I cant take it anywhere cuz i cant drive it and there is no where in town that i trust (sioux falls, SD) Import scene is pretty small. Thanks for your help so far keep it comin

AccOrDZteCh · 10-16-2002, 05:37 PM

there may be ohters that can do it..other shops i mean..but i would go far and wide to do it...u got a good setup and probably that cylinder is the prob

JAYMAN320 · 10-16-2002, 06:24 PM

use organic oil....500-1000miles drive moderatly. since you dropped in new pistons and rings, they havent bedded in yet properly. You have to correctly seat/bed in the pistons/rings whenever you install new pistons.

Smoke seen from the tail pipe is normal as for now. But if the problem still arises after break in...the culprit lies somewhere else.

AccOrDZteCh · 10-16-2002, 08:00 PM

yea break it in...tell me more abotu organic oil

SFF900 · 10-16-2002, 10:03 PM

Guys i've been plannin on breaking it in but TRUST me this isnt normal leaking or smoking. It is white clouds that can fill my garage in less than a minute at idle...Im losing coolant when i idle it. I drove it around the block and if just falls on its face...no power. It doesnt just need to be broken in. I WISH that was the prob though! It seems to be the hg but i just cant see how to the best of my knowledge i did everything right. Anyway I think im gonna pull it and check it out. Its pretty much winter anyway and I live in South dakota so it will sit all winter anyway. Thanks for your help. What else would you guys reccomend doing while its out? I was thinking have the crank knife edged? Anyone done this? i have heard it gives good gains but is it reliable? Also anyone ever had any problems with total seal piston rings?

AccOrDZteCh · 10-16-2002, 10:15 PM

iono...but what color is ur oil?? if its white then u got a seal problem hehe..i forgot how much those run to fix.

SFF900 · 10-17-2002, 02:15 PM

my oil looks like coffee with a lot of creamer in it? Fuck i assume thats what you mean by white...What seal? thanks

AccOrDZteCh · 10-17-2002, 02:36 PM

usually when your oil turns into a white substance you are leaking...oil and coolant...usually this is a warped head...or something else. i think thats oil and coolant, no actually its oil and gasoline...definitly u got a leak in there just better not hope its a warped head...it can be other stuff..ill look into it tonight and tell u tomrrow ko.

SFF900 · 10-17-2002, 03:09 PM

Thanks a lot for your help. Its not a warped head (thank god)when i took it off i had it checked for any warping at my machine shop. Let me know

JAYMAN320 · 10-18-2002, 01:40 AM

How are the valves of the head? their condition and condition of the valv seats?

The leak could be there as well.

johnyquest · 10-18-2002, 11:56 AM

This may not be of much help, but did you check your head gasket? If you blew a seal in it, the coolant will go right into your oil... That's a real simple thing you may have overlooked, but that's what results in milky white oil...
PS- Driving around w/ it like that is BAAAD. Real bad.

But check ur head gasket-- make sure its on there right : )
(and that EVERYTHING lines up)

SFF900 · 10-18-2002, 11:58 AM

when i had the head checked at the machine shop they put it on the machine that pressure tests the head. It passed that but i guess it could still be leaking from the valve seals. I really dont think its oil though, and for it to be leaking that much there would have to be no seal whatsoever...Ill double check though..thanks