Shoenkun

So my 92 Accord with a 2.2L 4cylinder engine is acting up! I check the oil one day after letting it cool for a few hours (4-6 hours) and the oil stick says its low. I add the needed amount drive it around. its fine, let it cool for a while and check it again and all of a sudden it has a lot of oil in it! Just past the max line; I drain the oil, check it, its fine. But it happens again and again; what's happening?

holmesnmanny

If you park on a street that is unlevel(downward slope to the right due to a gutter) then its going to show low.

Shoenkun

Its leveled, and it changes regardless of level. I do it at home, it changes, I do it at work it changes. Me and my mechanics are confounded by it! We have no idea, I usually don't take it to mechanic cause I like to think I'm handy with my car but poops am I and two other mechanics are stumped!

holmesnmanny

Its possible the anti drain back valve in the oil filter is intermittently acting up. Change the oil filter.

lazlong

Does all 4-5 quarts of oil come out when you change the oil?

Reason I say that is I've seen oil turn tar-like and read the same way. When I did oil & lube they had this stuff that turns it back to liquid. You put like 8-10 ounces in the oil, run the vehicle for 60 seconds and it all drains right out.

cctgene

You might check to see if you have blown head gasket. Water seeping into your oil as the engine cools, thus raising the volume of liquid in your oil pan.

Just a thought.

MAD_MIKE

^this.

Cheap oil filters will cause this. Fram uses a paper check valve, Mobil 1/K&N use a metal check valve.

lazlong

Talk about an oil filter going bad: Car and Driver uncovers trouble with Corvette Stingray's LT1 V8 - Autoblog

Shoenkun

Wow dude, that sucks. I just changed my oil filter, hopefully that'll take care of the problem with the oil I changed the filter and oil a few months back (4-5) but might as well.

Shoenkun

Did that now! Checked the head gasket looks good to me but imma get a second opinion just in case! There`s no leaks and the oil looks fine -- it suppose to look milky if it does right -- coolants good. Like I said just in case

Shoenkun

Well I changed the oil twice now in the past couple months. I left to oil filter in cause it was only a few weeks old by those points. I got the cheap Fram one and like another post said it might be the filter so I`ll redo the whole oil and filter job again.
Do you know what the liquid is called, if not I`ll ask tomorrow at Autozone or something

lazlong

Sorry, can't remember the name. The auto parts store should have several brands.

holmesnmanny

You don't need to redo the oil, just replace the filter. Please update this thread if it fixes it for the next guy that has this problem.

Don't try to skimp on oil filters. It's basically a 5 dollar price difference from the worst to the best of any brand.