3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
#1
3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
I have a 1999 Honda Civic EX. I brought in for an Oil Change in Nov 2011 at 117,938 miles. At the time I had a small oil leak (I noticed small amounts on my driveway) and the service dept said they couldn't figure out where the leak was, but just "monitor" the situation.
I brought my car in today at 119,333 for its first oil change since Nov 2011 and the mechanic dude said I was at 1 qt (appx) of oil. He suggested that maybe I should try Penzoil High Mile 5W30. .
Couple questions.
1-Did I damage my engine by driving it to 1 quart (Again I drive low miles on the week-end to the store, maybe a 30 mile drive here and there..I average 300 miles a month.)
2-There is definitely small oil stains on my driveway, nothing excessive..everytime I mention this to the mechanics they say its not unusual for older cars too leak small amounts of oil..they say it would be expensive to do an extensive analysis on the issue and just wait until the problem gets worse if it even does.. Do you agree to wait ?
3- Should I be concerned that I went thru 3 quarts of oil over 1,400 miles..
I brought my car in today at 119,333 for its first oil change since Nov 2011 and the mechanic dude said I was at 1 qt (appx) of oil. He suggested that maybe I should try Penzoil High Mile 5W30. .
Couple questions.
1-Did I damage my engine by driving it to 1 quart (Again I drive low miles on the week-end to the store, maybe a 30 mile drive here and there..I average 300 miles a month.)
2-There is definitely small oil stains on my driveway, nothing excessive..everytime I mention this to the mechanics they say its not unusual for older cars too leak small amounts of oil..they say it would be expensive to do an extensive analysis on the issue and just wait until the problem gets worse if it even does.. Do you agree to wait ?
3- Should I be concerned that I went thru 3 quarts of oil over 1,400 miles..
#6
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
simple trick to see if your burning lots of oil.....stick your finger in the tail pipe if your finger is real black than your burning lots of oil if its just a spot or real light than no but i think your burning
#7
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
it should'nt be leaking regarless of how old it is, if there is a leak somewhere it means that something needs service, try cleaning up your engine bay as much as you can from there you could start ruling certain things out as possible origins of the leak, it does'nt take a certified mechanic to locate a leak (this is why some people get raped with huge bills, they don't know what's leaking they just want it fixed) most parts like gaskets and seals are fairly inexpensive and does'nt take too much to change them out
Trending Topics
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
If you want to investigate this yourself you have to first buy some Simple green and de-grease the entire motor. Avoid directly spraying fuse panel, alternator, starter, battery, and wires. Let it all dry up. Fill your oil to the full mark and run the motor, go for a drive.
Common places are the Valve cover, VTEC solenoid gasket, spark plug grommets, oil pan gasket, front seal, rear main seal, oil plug, cam seal, distributor gasket.
Common places are the Valve cover, VTEC solenoid gasket, spark plug grommets, oil pan gasket, front seal, rear main seal, oil plug, cam seal, distributor gasket.
#9
B*a*n*n*e*d
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: 925 bay area
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
sounds like ur burning a lot of oil, also sounds like u have a lazy technician lookin at ur car. go in there with ur sleeves rolled up and get angry and say wtf u mean u cant find the leak thats what i pay u for!!! it doesnt cost an arm n a leg to find leaks, just some cleaning and watching/checking known problem areas wich any mechanic should be familiar with. Thank god im naturally mechanically inclined in a world that relies so heavily on mechanical devices
#11
The Grumpiest
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Posts: 28,333
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
15 Posts
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
More than likely you are needing a seal of some sort replaced. I had a couple that needed replacing and only a small oil leak. I didn't have that kind of loss though. The reason why more oil was not on the ground was because it was all on the underbody of the car. From the back of the engine block all the way to the fuel tank. It was coated HEAVY with oil and dirt under there.
If they can't find the leak then take it somewhere else.
If they can't find the leak then take it somewhere else.
#15
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
Here is a picture of where it is leaking from..where is this and any reccomendations..
Note I had an oil change yesterday so the above px could represnt residual, but I put a piece of cardboard underneath my car overnight and this matches exactly where the previous spots I found on my driveway are coming from..If you drew a straight line from the front tire to the other front tire this is where the oil is leaking from..Since I am not familiar with the parts underneath the hood I am unsure what piece of the car the attached picture represents...
Also, on the opposite site I notice a very slow drip of a clear liquid that looked like water..could the clear leak be freon.. Note I have not had the ac on recently...
Thanks everyone as you can tell I am a newbie, but trying to learn
Note I had an oil change yesterday so the above px could represnt residual, but I put a piece of cardboard underneath my car overnight and this matches exactly where the previous spots I found on my driveway are coming from..If you drew a straight line from the front tire to the other front tire this is where the oil is leaking from..Since I am not familiar with the parts underneath the hood I am unsure what piece of the car the attached picture represents...
Also, on the opposite site I notice a very slow drip of a clear liquid that looked like water..could the clear leak be freon.. Note I have not had the ac on recently...
Thanks everyone as you can tell I am a newbie, but trying to learn
#18
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
First off determine if it a top end leak or bottom. Open the hood, check under the distributor, check by the valve cover check the vtec solenoid area, then look below where the the transmission dip stick is, is wet or oil stained?
Next get in on a lift, look by the oil pan or near the trans, is it wet?
Next get in on a lift, look by the oil pan or near the trans, is it wet?
#19
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
Either it's leaking from the drain plug, or the oil pan itself. You have to clean it up 100% and then watch it.
Also the water is most likely coolant and is leaking from your waterpump. When was the last time the timing belt/waterpump was changed?
Also the water is most likely coolant and is leaking from your waterpump. When was the last time the timing belt/waterpump was changed?
#20
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
I brought it into my Honda dealer today since I couldn't find the source. He told me there is no oil leak. He told me who-ever did the oil change last week-end did a bad job and over-filled my pan. When I told him there are oil stains all over my driveway and challenged him something must be wrong, he got testy and said just get my oil changed more frequently or buy a new engine...
He did mention that if he can't see any sign of an oil leak it might be burning off.. What does burning off indicate...If it is burning off then does indicate an engine problem..
Any suggestions if I bring it to another mechanic in trying to help me resolve the issue or should I just get oil changes more frequently.. I will try the dye test though..
He did mention that if he can't see any sign of an oil leak it might be burning off.. What does burning off indicate...If it is burning off then does indicate an engine problem..
Any suggestions if I bring it to another mechanic in trying to help me resolve the issue or should I just get oil changes more frequently.. I will try the dye test though..
#21
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
Change the oil yourself. Go to the store and buy 5w30 motor oil. These cars take 4 quarts. Get a Honda oil filter.
Take note of the level the day you do the change. CLEAN the entire engine bay, and look for leaks, and check level daily.
If you don't want to do anything on your own, bring it to a Honda dealer if you have no interest in doing what we are telling you to do.
Take note of the level the day you do the change. CLEAN the entire engine bay, and look for leaks, and check level daily.
If you don't want to do anything on your own, bring it to a Honda dealer if you have no interest in doing what we are telling you to do.
#22
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
Ok...this past weekend I put in 5w30...so I will continue to monitor it..and clean it off real good tomorrow..Im a newbie so I guess I just needed a couple good online jump starts to encourage me...I changed my own headlamps about 6 months ago..that was the first thing I think I had ever done on a car..shucks prior to last week-end I could idetify the oil pan from the gas tank..
So I will continue to try it out on my own and keep everyone posted..
So I will continue to try it out on my own and keep everyone posted..
#23
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 3 quarts of Oil used over 1,395 miles - Panic or Proceed
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HA0589
Honda Accord & Crosstour (2003 - 2012)
31
03-05-2014 09:09 PM
pydwy213
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
36
09-29-2005 09:52 AM