are honda b series engines sludge-prone?

[jamesn]

i just bought a 1994 integra with 124k miles on it. it runs ok but not like a friends newer integra with 80k miles and the same engine. i pulled the valve cover and got some pics for a before/after of auto/rx. no major build up but black gook and varnish everywhere. i did a compression check and it came out
#1 180
#2 162
#3 165
#4 173
normal compression is 199lbs.
this engine looks like it borns a quart every 500 miles of city driving. not good. has anybody done a auto/rx on a honda b-series engine?

 

[Audi Junkie]

My 85k 1998 CR-V had a touch of crud in the corners. With a full bottle of ARX, it was gone in 500 miles. I don't think they are sludge-prone, just abuse-prone.

 

[AcuraTech]

The motors that have had the oil changed on a regular basis dont sludge. The ones that have had long OCI's do. Auto Rx may be a good idea.

 

[jamesn]

this car saw 4 oil changes a year since my gf got it in 1996 with 45k miles on it. it was driven about 3 miles in the morning and 3 miles at night year round. long trips on the weekends. it mostly never got warmed up. maybe that has caused the bad compression and the oil burning. i hope this cleans up the ring packs a bit.

 

[onequick99si]

I have a 99 si b16a2 with 100,000mi and did one auto rx treatment! However before I did the treatment I removed the valve cover and the valve train was spotless!! I bought the car from a family member that changed the oil every 3,000 and was very easy on it! The engine still runs as good/strong as the day it was new!

I have read on these forums that vtecs eat oil and mine did until I swithced to havoline 10w30, not only does my car run smooth the uoa was awsome!!

 

[PandaBear]

I am on M1 10w30 OCI of 12k and my result is less than 1ppm wear metal per 1k mile, with viscosity only ends up being 40w when I dump it.

B series are not sludge monster, but they do have some design weakness: cam seal leak is common, timing belt must be change at 90k (will break at 110k or so), will burn thinner oil (i.e. M1 5w30), etc.

Other than that, it is very reliable in stock form. For force induction the weakness is in the piston, and stock internal can only handle 7 or so PSI without forged component.

 

[kevz]

I have a 1990 Integra with 166k. It 15 years old this month and there is no sludge under the valve cover. There is some yellowish varnish but no nasty crud.

 

[AcuraTech]

The Integra 4 cylinders (B18b and B18c) are strong engines and with good maintenance will last a long time with very few problems. I agree with PandaBear that cam seal leaks are common, but are very easy to replace. They also dont seem to like thin oil. (Girlfriends Integra makes too much noise with M1 5w30.)