White smoke out of breather filter

[GoFaassttt]

I changed my stock pcv setup to an open breather system. I blocked off the intake manifold and the intake elbow nipples and plumbed the two valve cover lines into a Jazz mini breather (w/ filter). The stock pcf valve was left in place.

White smoke emanates from the breather filter under idle. It disappears when I open the throttle. The smoke smells similar to exhaust fumes but not as strong. I drove the car and noticed a little white smoke seeping from under the hood when I stopped.

The car is an AP1 with 96,000 miles and burns a quart of oil every 1,000 miles (low end of the acceptable scale per Honda). I ran the same breather setup when the car was sc'd (removed at 86,000 miles) but never noticed any white smoke.

I am concerned and not sure where to go next. Is the white smoke normal or is it an indication of a problem with the rings, valve guides or something else?

[repiv]

Does this happen after full warm-up or does it happen after a cold start? The while smoke is most likely oil vapours. If you're burning 1 qt./ 1000 miles, that is getting quite significant. I've never seen this white smoke to that extent. What comes out of the oil fill cap when you remove it? Have a rag handy as oil can come splashing out. You should see the same white smoke out the oil fill hole. It may be possible that your mini catch can (if that's what it is) doesn't have adequate baffling to condense the oil vapours.
Might be time to do a compression and leak down test just to see what condition your engine is in.

[GoFaassttt]

It happens during cold start and after full warmup. Very light white smoke (difficult to notice) does come out of the oil fill cap hole.

The catch can does not have any baffling. However the last time I ran this setup I did not have this issue. Something has changed. I will do a compression and leak down test and go from there.

Thanks.

[repiv]

Well, the white smoke may have always been there, but with the stock PCV system in place, you just never saw the smoke. I'll bet had you removed the oil cap before you did the mod on the PCV, you would have seen the white smoke. I've never actually had my engine running with the oil cap off, so I can't say for sure that this is abnormal. When I get a chance, I'll go out, fire up the engine and take off the oil cap and tell you what I see.

[repiv]

Just went out and fired up the engine. I also have an "open" catch can system with the PCV inlet to the intake manifold plugged, but my catch can is baffled and it's big.
Removed the oil cap and there's a lot of pressure coming out but NO white smoke that I could see with and without illumination.
My engine does not consume oil to any extent over a 3000 mile oil change interval. It may very well be you have excessive oil vapours under the valve cover. This could be due to crankcase pressure (loose rings) or bad valve seals. You did say you go through about 1 qt in 1000 miles.

[GoFaassttt]

Yes ... I logged my oil consumption for 5 months (7,500 miles of driving) and averaged 1 qt for every 1,000 miles.

Today I installed a set of krankvents I had laying around. I did not get the "swoosh" sound when pulling up the dipstick.

Not sure if this matters ... my head was ported and Supertech valves were installed 42,000 miles ago.

[repiv]

Krankvents are somewhat like a much stronger PCV valve. You may not see any smoke coming out of the catch can since it might keep more of the under valve cover environment where it is. But because of this, if you remove the oil cap, you should still see it there, meaning that you haven't eliminated the smoke. What's the cause of it still exists. Although you're getting near the unacceptable limit of oil consumption, the smoke may simply be a condition of the set-up you have (valves and porting). This is not saying there's something abnormal. It may just be what it is for your car.
Still, a compression/leakdown test might be worth the effort. Your engine has had a strained life and in it's more advanced mileage, it would be nice to know what health it's in.

[GoFaassttt]

Update from today's tests ...

Compression was low in all four cylinders with all four leaking into the crankcase. A bore scope was inconclusive on wall scoring as they had difficulties with reflections from the FRM walls.

All four plugs were fouled (installed 3 months ago).

Here are the test #’s:

Dry Compression … 140, 135, 200, 140
Wet Compression … 190, 155, 210, 170
Leakdown … 70%, 62%, 74%, 27% … all leaking into crankcase

Next step is to tear down the motor to determine whether new rings, a new short block or other are necessary. I plan to do the teardown and work myself.

[repiv]

Sorry to hear of your results. That might explain the stuff you've been seeing. Looks like you've got a bit of work ahead of you.

[GoFaassttt]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

I'm actually looking forward to working on the car except for the $ part. I knew I was pushing the f20c's limits by running high boost and eventually something may give.

[GoFaassttt]

Update.

Cylinders 1 and 2 had noticeable scoring, 3 had minor and 4 had none I could see.

[repiv]

Just a point of curiosity ................................ How many miles was that engine F.I. (supercharged)? Do you know if it still had the old style 2-hole oiljet banjo bolts? I'm trying to correlate any relationship between a boosted engine and the possible inadequacy of lubrication and cooling provided by the old oiljets under each cylinder.

[GoFaassttt]

The engine was supercharged for 70k miles with 1/2 under stock boost and the other half ranging from 10 to 13.5#'s.

The car should have 4-hole oil jet banjo bolts as it is an '03.