This isn't an age or bad seals/gaskets/bearings issue. The reason Prelude engines burn a little is when VTEC hits, the valves extend deeper and stay open longer. When I don't use VTEC, and I have driven the duration of an oil change without using it (three times, actually, too prove this point), the engine doesn't burn a drop. The design of Prelude VTEC engines is 10 years old, so I'm sure on newer VTEC motors they have remedied this concern. Now, if your Civic was a 1998 SI, and you only used it at 3000 rpm or less, I'd ask what you bought the car for. But Prelude owners need not worry. I've never seen a Prelude VTEC that didn't puff a little smoke when it hit VTEC. This is an issue that people have lost sleep over, but there is no need to. It is the way the engine is designed, and there is nothing to fix. But remember, we're only talking about 1 qt per 2-3 months. More than that, and you do have problems. I've seen that too. But only on engines that were modded to death.