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undecided about repairing or replacing engine

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Old Apr 12, 2016 | 12:07 AM
  #1  
Brian Camilo's Avatar
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Question undecided about repairing or replacing engine

I have a 92 accord lx which has given me a very hard time. When I bought the car, it was smoking from the tail pipe. Huge cloud of white smoke. I thought it was just a typical head gasket problem. I made a compression test and the numbers were 130 cyl #1... 135 #2...150 #3...150#4. I went ahead and ordered a gasket kit from ebay. replaced HG,valve seals etc.. Started the car and again, huge cloud of smoke. I didn't take the head to a machine shop because they wanted to charge me $85, so I went to my local pull-a-part and bought another head for $60. put everything back, started the car and again, the cloud of smoke... I honestly don't know what could be wrong.

The previews owner (an old man probably in his 80s) told me he had driven the car like this for a very long time, and never overheated. Is it possible he damaged the piston rings by doing this? I can't decide on whether replaced the engine or repair it. any suggestions
 
Old Apr 12, 2016 | 08:04 AM
  #2  
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I would go with repairing it. You will need to rebore.

When you did the repair, did you rebore the top part of the piston shaft?
 
Old Apr 12, 2016 | 09:30 AM
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You might also consider just buying a used motor from a bone yard.
 
Old Apr 12, 2016 | 04:49 PM
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Check car-part.com for used motors from junkyards nearby to get an idea of the cost. If the yard will do a compression or a leak-down test (better test IMO), replacing the motor would be cheaper than a rebuild.
 
Old Apr 12, 2016 | 08:14 PM
  #5  
Brian Camilo's Avatar
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Originally Posted by rockhoundrob
I would go with repairing it. You will need to rebore.

When you did the repair, did you rebore the top part of the piston shaft?
No I didn't rebore the top part. To be honest, I've never knew about this step.

Originally Posted by shipo
You might also consider just buying a used motor from a bone yard.
I've been considering this option too. thanks for the response.

Originally Posted by PAhonda
Check car-part.com for used motors from junkyards nearby to get an idea of the cost. If the yard will do a compression or a leak-down test (better test IMO), replacing the motor would be cheaper than a rebuild.
Thanks for the info! I would definitely look into that.
 
Old Apr 16, 2016 | 06:08 AM
  #6  
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my accord 1990 second car has similar problem of smoking for a long time now, now oil is coming out from the tailpipe, i was told i should to change the piston ring that will solve the problem of smoking. I think you should repair it than to get another engine replacement that will be expensive thanks
 
Old Apr 16, 2016 | 06:48 AM
  #7  
shipo's Avatar
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Here in the United States a used but good condition replacement engine is typically far less expensive compared to rebuilding an engine.
 
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