[Shop-talk] New engine for a Honda?

[Jim Juhas]

With that much oil loss, a compression test itself would be revealing. The various diagnostic tests that I saw suggested are all good paths to take as well. Although unlikely I would also look at the coolant for signs of oil. But given the sudden occurrence I would expect a broken part, e.g., ring, piston, gasket. If I were doing an engine rebuild, with doing the labor myself, I would expect a cost of 3000 to 4000 in machine work and parts based on my recent experiences with race engines for my MGA. But there are lots of these cars so used engines might be available. 
 
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> On Nov 20, 2025, at 6:54 AM, Moose <eric at megageek.com> wrote:
> 
> I forgot the most important part,  engine has about 154,000 miles.
> 
> Moose
> 
> 
> 
> My SO has a daily driver of a  2000 Honda Accord EX with a 2.3L I4 F OHV engine.  She loves this car, and it's in REALLY great shape. She has had the car for a little over 3 years and she changes the oil every 3000 miles faithfully.   The only problem, about a month or so ago the SR5 and check engine light came on.  I got the codes and it was coming on the evap leak.  As I was looking for into it, it seemed to be a problem to diagnose (need smoke generator, computers to turn on an off relays) and my time has been split with lots of other projects.  So I made an appointment with my local trusted mechanic.  Note, recently we also got her another car, so she switches between them and this isn't a daily, but semi-daily driver.
> 
> Then 2 days ago, the oil light comes on.  She checks the oil, the stick is dry! She puts some oil in (it takes 3 qts to come up to full.) Then drives home.  I check it the next morning.  A qt low.  So we take it out for a short ride.  No blue smoke under load, no white smoke.  Very faint smell of burning oil.  No leaks anywhere.   I did an oil change in March, and she hasn't put 3000 miles on it yet.  
> 
> For a last hope, I check the intake hoping to find oil in it and maybe it's just an erg valve.  No oil. 8>( So, car is burning oil.  I do some research and find that some Hondas had issues with rings.
> 
> OK, a ring job is more than likely more than the car is worth, but here is the rub.  The car is in great shape, and she LOVES the car.  So I'd be willing to put money into it, even if it was more than it was worth as she would want to keep this one for a long time.
> 
> My questions are...
> 
> Is there anything else I can check?  (Note, I don't think I'll see a problem with compression testing as the oil can still 'seal up' the cylinders, right?)
> Could this be related to the codes? (I don't believe so, but I'm not that well versed on Hondas.)
> 
> Would a ring job be better than a re-manufactured engine?
> 
> Has anyone ever put a re-manufactured engine in a Honda?  I did one in my Jeep decades ago and it went well.
> 
> Thanks. _______________________________________________
> 
> 
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