Civic-EG.com Forum 3.3.1

- Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:08 pm #64282 hey Guys,

As the title says I'm having some issues with my LS\V, first and foremost I have a fluctuating Idle, I've checked all the sensors, Idle control valve, and others I can't recall the names of them Confused but I've checked them, aside from the fact that I don't get a check engine light. Here are the symptoms maybe some of you have come across some of these issues.

ISSUES

Fluctuating Idle

White Smoke coming out of Exhaust (thinking damaged head gasket)

Temperature always rises to red line most of the time and then goes down a bit ( I have an aluminum radiator with the fan being direct)

I only get a check engine light while driving around 5,000RPM for a sustained amount of time

Engine sometimes feels like it misfires.

When changing the spark plugs I noticed some oil on the #3 spark plug, and was a little worried of that.

I'm pretty sure that I've damaged my head gasket since I got white smoke coming out and the temp even though the radiator and reservoir are filled. I'll look into that asap. If anyone has come across these issues please let me know what you did to overcome them, this will be greatly appreciated.

#7 Member of CHANCE is HOMO club

- Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:29 pm #64306 it sounds to me like you need a new head gasket. I had somewhat simular problems with the overheating part and it was my head gasket.

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300

- Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:07 pm #64575 Thanks I'm already checking into that, but it's smoking really heavily now, i'm starting to further think, that aside form the head gasket I may have some damage to the piston rings. This is a grayish sort of smoke now, CRAP I hate this )&)*Y@%*&#

#7 Member of CHANCE is HOMO club

- Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:53 pm #64598 Time for a rebuild.

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300

- Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:43 pm #64622 Thats the thing this just got done not even 2 months ago, but the guy who did it retained the stock pistons, and I bet he did not change or check the piston rings.

#7 Member of CHANCE is HOMO club

- Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:19 pm #64669 For an LS/VTEC build, you have to make sure everything is done RIGHT the first time so this doesnt happen.

Are you still using the stock LS bottom end?

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300

- Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:36 pm #64780 Yeah, I was not at the place when my friend put it together,

It's an all stock bottom LS Block. I'm currently looking for an LS Crank to have it balanced and blueprinted, as well as getting new rod bolts, rods and P30 pistons.

#7 Member of CHANCE is HOMO club

- Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:16 pm #64815

Yeah, I was not at the place when my friend put it together,

It's an all stock bottom LS Block. I'm currently looking for an LS Crank to have it balanced and blueprinted, as well as getting new rod bolts, rods and P30 pistons.

thats bad to use a LS crank for this set up,

the reason alot of LS vtec's are so unreliable is because its a non vtec crank shaft and it wasn't ment to be rev'd as high as vtec engine crank's so its lighter weight and means to vibrates more and isn't as reliable.

heavier crank = more stable higher spinning.

- Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:23 am #64824

Yeah, I was not at the place when my friend put it together,

It's an all stock bottom LS Block. I'm currently looking for an LS Crank to have it balanced and blueprinted, as well as getting new rod bolts, rods and P30 pistons.

thats bad to use a LS crank for this set up,

the reason alot of LS vtec's are so unreliable is because its a non vtec crank shaft and it wasn't ment to be rev'd as high as vtec engine crank's so its lighter weight and means to vibrates more and isn't as reliable.

heavier crank = more stable higher spinning.

Then why did mike put a LS crank in his motor? He has an ALL motor 85X89 build. Revs his to what a stock ITR goes to i believe. The crank isnt whats the problem. The LS block does not have a girdle to help support the motor on the bottom end like the Vtec motors.

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300

- Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:36 am #64832 I know what you guys mean, but i'm not reving anywhere past the OEM redline which is 7200RPMs for the time being, and I'll get the bottom end work later, now the problem is the frigging smoking dang it, I've gotten some suggestions over at superhonda.com change valve cover gasket, if that does not solve the problem change the head gasket and see how it goes.

#7 Member of CHANCE is HOMO club

- Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:48 am #64837 Valve cover gasket wont stop the smoking out the exhaust. It will how ever stop oil leaks from the valve cover gasket.

Head gasket and new rings for the pistons would be your best bet right now. and you will need to get new rod bearings too.

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300

- Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:47 am #64850

Yeah, I was not at the place when my friend put it together,

It's an all stock bottom LS Block. I'm currently looking for an LS Crank to have it balanced and blueprinted, as well as getting new rod bolts, rods and P30 pistons.

thats bad to use a LS crank for this set up,

the reason alot of LS vtec's are so unreliable is because its a non vtec crank shaft and it wasn't ment to be rev'd as high as vtec engine crank's so its lighter weight and means to vibrates more and isn't as reliable.

heavier crank = more stable higher spinning.

Then why did mike put a LS crank in his motor? He has an ALL motor 85X89 build. Revs his to what a stock ITR goes to i believe. The crank isnt whats the problem. The LS block does not have a girdle to help support the motor on the bottom end like the Vtec motors.

just because he put one in there doesn't mean its the perfect crank shaft, if you listen to what i said, the theory and physics of what i explained are 100% correct

- Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:53 am #78046 so did u ever figure it out

- Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:02 am #78049

Yeah, I was not at the place when my friend put it together,

It's an all stock bottom LS Block. I'm currently looking for an LS Crank to have it balanced and blueprinted, as well as getting new rod bolts, rods and P30 pistons.

thats bad to use a LS crank for this set up,

the reason alot of LS vtec's are so unreliable is because its a non vtec crank shaft and it wasn't ment to be rev'd as high as vtec engine crank's so its lighter weight and means to vibrates more and isn't as reliable.

heavier crank = more stable higher spinning.

Reason why it cant handle the rpms isnt the crank. The LS block isnt braced like the VTEC blocks. No girdle. Thats why it cant go that high.


Yes, did you ever do anything to the motor? Is it working or what?


Then why did mike put a LS crank in his motor? He has an ALL motor 85X89 build. Revs his to what a stock ITR goes to i believe. The crank isnt whats the problem. The LS block does not have a girdle to help support the motor on the bottom end like the Vtec motors.

just because he put one in there doesn't mean its the perfect crank shaft, if you listen to what i said, the theory and physics of what i explained are 100% correct

1986 Nissan 300zx
1980 Kawasaki KZ650
2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300