Please Help-- Overheating

Hey guys,
I have a question about my car. The problem isn't with the Tacoma. It is a problem with my Acura Integra.

Background: 1995 Acura Integra
Engine was replaced with a 6x,xxx miles
New timing belt and water pump
All done about 10-12 months ago and have put approximately 3x,xxx+ miles

Incident: 9/27/10
Car overheated on the freeway. I drove it for another 5 miles and the car turned off once I hit a stop sign. I tried to turn on the car but it would not turn on. There was a little bit of smoke that came from the driver side of the engine. I turn it on 2 hours later and the car sounded like it was struggling. I turn the car on again 12 hours after and it sounded fine. There is a leak on the radiator and I replace the upper and lower hoses, radiator, thermostat and refill the antifreeze.

After replacing those parts the car struggles when it is on the stop but works fine on the freeway. I take it back to the mechanic and there was oil in the spark plugs. I cleaned out the spark plugs. A compression test was done by the mechanic and no other leaks are present. The mechanic suggested that it is the spark plug wires be changed.

I want to know what you guys think what else could be wrong or do you think that the spark plug wires being changed would fix the problem. This car is my daily driver. I work about 65 miles away and I can't afford to drive the tacoma to and from work. I'm trying to determine if there is any other problems that the Integra could be having.

You answers are appreciated and thank you very much in advance.

 

So what did the compression check reveal ? New plugs isn't going to fix Oil left on old plugs. Have you checked the oil for water contamination ?Sounds like maybe you warped a head or blew a head gasket maybe? more info on comp test

Also what color was the smoke you noticed

 

The mechanic said the compression test was good. I failed to get the compression numbers. From what I've seen there is no water contamination(no milky creamy looking stuff). I checked 3 times 12 hours after it overheated and there wasn't any. I checked again 18 hours after and there wasn't any. Then I check today 3 more times. I checked it on the dipstick and oil cap. The smoke looked gray. There was no smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. It smells like burnt oil. I do notice the car acting like a go-cart when I press down harder than normal on the accelerator from a stop sign. The engine seems weak and doesn't know what to do until it gets to 50 then it's fine. I don't really know what it could be. I'm changing the spark plugs and wires tomorrow. The mechanic said that should fix it but I would like to bring something to his attention just in case if anyone else might have an idea. All opinions are accepted and appreciated. Thank you.

 

was going to suggest blown head gasket, explain some of the symptom..but no milky color substance and u mention good compression

 

I've been researching for it online as well and I can't figure it out. At first I thought the same exact thing you though. That's why I kept on checking the dipstick oil cap to possibly give me an answer. I didn't get any smoke out of the exhaust as well. The car doesn't over heat anymore since the radiator changed but now I have this problem to deal with. I definitely have to get AAA just in case.

 

Still could be maybe, but what bugs me is oil left on plugs after it heated up, also he drove it hot until the engine died when he stopped I believe,

overheating engine ,gets to a point where theres extensive expansion wherever it can expand usually where parts meet & bolt together (regardless if theres a gasket) say it expands at the head & block,& at the end of the head where cooling is hardest, warping head sudden loss of compression would make engine die, I know this is a stretch but ya gotta consider everything, sounds also like a vacuum leak in lo RPM possibly?

The comp. numbers would tell me something even if within specs, or who knows maybe cooked some emissions BS, I dunno

 

let us know once u replace the wires + plugs.

 

Thanks guys. I'll replace it tomorrow and hopefully have good news but it doesn't seem it would be that easy of a fix. I guess I'm expecting the worst. It looks like there could have been some oil leak but It could have been that it was so hot that the oil was burned away. That's the only thing I'm thinking. The oil levels were not as high as it was when I did an initial check. The oil level is steady now. I'll keep you guys up to date. Thanks.

 

UPDATE-- The problem was solved by replacing the spark plug wires. I really didn't think that would be fix to this problem but it was. Thanks guys for your input. I really do appreciate it.