STLHondaLover

Hey all, I registered here several months ago, but hadn't gotten to posting. I've run into a problem, and thought of asking the people here for input. I have a 98 Prelude SH, 152,000 miles, my dad just got me for an inheritance and Christmas gift, and it's mysteriously losing oil. I've had it three weeks.

Tuesday, November 29th, I started my engine, and wondered why I was hearing a bit more valve noise than usual. I checked the level and it wasn't even to the dipstick, so I hurry to walmart and get some quality oil of the right weight to put in for topping off. Two days later, I check it, and it was down a quart.

I had a shop look at it (I don't much like working on my own car), and they couldn't find any leaks anywhere. It doesn't burn it, because the exhaust smells and looks normal. I've looked at the block myself and not seen any leaks anywhere. I had the Honda dealer put in a new PCV valve, and it doesn't seem to be helping curb the issue, as that's what the independent shop recommended, and it wouldn't hurt to get a new one on a 13 year old engine, nor was it expensive. It emits no black or white smoke, either in normal or aggressive driving, in or out of VTEC, or idle, in cold or warm weather.

I average 200-300 miles per week in my travel, and keeping putting oil in this thing isn't cost effective. Does anyone have any idea as to the cause of this mysterious loss of oil, up to a quart a day? My father and I really want to get this problem figured out without having to spend a fortune early on.

PABB4

Park in the same spot and put some cardboard under it and make sure nothing dripping. It has to be leaking or burning, that's pretty much the only two options. I would put money on burning it, but a qt a day you would def smell/ see it.
If you find no leaks and it's not burning it. I would say Trolls are stealing it in the night....

lazlong

Is the coolant oily?

STLHondaLover

There is no oil in the coolant. This is what really has me puzzled. There are no obvious issues with why it's losing so much oil in so little time. I have placed some cardboard under my car, and will see if anything shows overnight. After that, I'll see if anything shows during the day.

WhiteSOHC

Usually it's the piston rings or the valve seals. Replacing all of those could sum up most of your problem.

bigblue7t6

Yep WhiteSOHC hit it on the head, I have read many posts on this same problem, my oil control rings on my pistons were shot and it burnt oil horribly. Also if you do find it is leaking oil, the common culprits are usually the cam seal that is located behind the vtec solenoid , or a leak at the oil filter housing. Good luck

STLHondaLover

The rings or valve seals constitute a rebuild. The latter constitutes a top end job. Here's where things get sticky. Like I said, I've had the car just three weeks. The dealer didn't tell me it has such a problem, and if a rebuild is necessary, my father and I will be taking more action than just having the work done.

I checked my oil level today after two days, and it seems to have slowed or stopped since the new PCV valve. I am going to keep tabs on it every two days and see if it changes any.

STLHondaLover

Eureka! After two days I finally got a drip of motor oil on the cardboard I put down. It's at the front end of the block. Does anyone have a hunch what the culprit is?

carnot

What do you mean by front end of the block? Timing belt and water pump side? Transmission side? Side closest to the radiator or closest to the fire wall? Possibly a leaky oil pan gasket or the infamous oil cooler o-ring...

STLHondaLover

The front of the engine is where cylinder one is, which in this case is also where the timing belt is. My best guess is the oil pressure sending unit or the pan drain plug.

v4lu3s

so is it coming from under the timing cover? or coming from the side of the engine facing the firewall? if at the timing belt end it could be front main seal, or the balance shaft seal.

STLHondaLover

I can't tell by just looking underneath. All I could see was the oil drops on the cardboard and oil residue on the oil pan. I'll have to get it on a jack or on a lift and look underneath more thoroughly.

STLHondaLover

So today after I replaced my headlights, I took the time to look under the hood and body to get a greater clue as to what is making my oil go poof. It has slowed, but it's still happening.

The new PCV valve seems to be doing the trick, because I've lost half a quart since, and it's been almost a week. I am going to check it in another week to see if I still have significant loss.

I looked in the engine compartment, and the leak is coming from the side of the block facing the firewall, above the oil pan, but not as high as the intake manifold. It is not the oil filter seal. Remembering another common issue, it may be the oil cooler seal, which is located someplace on that face of the block.

Input? Insight? Suggestions?

97ludedude

I would clean the back of the block off good with brake parts cleaner and try to see if it is the oil cooler gasket or if it is your oil pressure switch which is just above that.

STLHondaLover

I just had a shop look at it and it is indeed the oil cooler.

roller3804

That is a very common seal that leaks on the h22. I don't know how a shop could miss that? I wouldn't take it back there. You might want to look inside the timing cover as well. There is a service bulletin about the front balance shaft oil seal popping out and there is a retainer to install to fix the problem.

minilogoguy18

Start from the top and work your way down, don't get under a car and look up expecting to pin point an oil leak.

STLHondaLover

I hadn't had anyone look specifically for the oil leak until now. The shop I went to is an independent shop that is not Honda or Acura specific. There is a Honda specific shop I do go to, but I haven't been having them do all the work. They did look from the top down, and showed me that it is specifically the oil cooler seal.

As for anything under the timing cover, I will not have anything like that done unless I find need for a timing belt. It's rather expensive to get under the timing cover, and requires changing the valve cover gaskets. So far the previous owners of my vehicle had been conscientious at keeping up on the maintenance and repair other than what it's needed at this maintenance interval since it was between owners for a few weeks.