On my 2003 Accord the hydraulic slack adjuster for the timing chain failed resulting in the valves hitting the pistons. Honda is saying they won’t do anything unless I have service records for the oil changes. They won’t accept my own records (doing my own oil changes) even with being a certified mechanic in my state. The Honda dealer said it was very low on oil at failure with no signs of leak. Oil was checked about 80 miles before engine failure and had a history of using at about a quart per 1500 miles and did not smoke or show any signs of oil consumption.

 

is there a question in there? Sorry to hear about your loss, did you fill it with oil after your last change?

 

you can try calling honda custumer relations and tell them whats going on. maybe they can help you.
do you have receipts for your own oil changes and service work??
whats the mileage on the car??

 

The question is what to do with Honda on insisting on service records even with being a certified mechanic and is the failure common on the 2003 Accord. Why are all of these Honda engines going through so much oil without any signs of source of loss? I am assuming very low on oil is at least two quarts where did it go in 80 miles. If it was blowby the exhaust would have it dripping out the tailpipe and onto the back bumper. My question is why? Is the slack adjust failure common? The check engine light came on just before failure with the code for the cam sensor.
My experience with car companies is if you can show a common problem you will get some help. I have a Friend with a Toyota with the oil jelling problem. Toyota would not do anything until I found on the web that was a common problem and happened after Toyota raised the cylinder head temperature with the redesign of the head. I remember Toyota trying to get out of it when he did his own oil changes but caved in and paid for a new motor.

 

The car is out of the Warranty time with 100,000. I am trying to get him from Honda not the dealer. I used to work with most of the mechanics and service advisors at the dealer. I learned not to get them in the middle from my first Honda. I was told by Honda Customer relations while under warranty that they couldn’t do anything about the excessive oil consumption until it went to one quart per 1000. I am just relating this all back to that. I have read that on the 2003 Accord that one of the cylinder was not honed properly creating the oil consumption along with VTEC was to blame.

 

First off i feel your pain.

Second, you contradict yourself by saying that this is a common failure then you ask... is this common?
You can contact Honda directly as stated above.

1-are you the original owner?
2-how many miles are on the car?
3-has the car ever overheated?
4-have you ever tracked the car?
5-what kind of driving do you do and what climate are you in?

Honda oil usage is NORMAL... 1500 miles per quart is a bit on the high side, but we don't know how many miles are your unit. To be honest your car is out a warranty... what do you expect Honda to do?

 

I don’t know if the excessive oil consumption problem toasted the engine as it lost a lot of oil in 80 miles. If I assume with the dealership saying it was very low they are taking quarts did something fail that was going on since the oil consumption started during warranty period. Did the slack adjuster fail and cause all the problems. Is the slack adjuster a common failure? I am relating two things. I know the mysterious oil consumption is common. I don’t know if the slack adjust failure is common. I have only found one case on the web so far. When Honda didn’t just say you are on your own but made a big deal out of the oil change receipts it is making me wonder. To end ………where did the oil go? Honda may consider using one quart per 1500 normal but I don’t. Why does this only happen on small group of vehicles.

 

Don't take this wrong because i'm not doubting you at all but where i work all the accords/crv's with this problem are people with no previous service history with us and oil change stickers in their windows that are way over due....

 

In my experience writing up service, this is the first failure I've heard of. The oil consumption isn't new however...
When the dealer asks for receipts for oil changes and service, they are just trying to show Honda that you followed the recommended service intervals. You are asking Honda to help you when you did not help Honda while maintaining your vehicle. In the end you're asking for help on a car with more than 100,000 miles...

 

So basically on our 06 since I have always done the oil changes between 3-4k miles like recommended and always used Royal Purple oil and a Honda filter. Well, one time use a Pure One filter. I just write down when I did it however and what oil and filter I used. So basically your saying if I ever have a warranty issue with the engine I'm screwed since I don't have official receipts?

 

This is not a common issue in any way shape or form. From the oil consumption to the timing chain skipping.
The timing chain tensioner can not fail if there is adequate oil pressure. Even if there is temporary low oil pressure it will not fail because it can maintain it's pressure for a little while. At this time the only way they fail is low oil level. We've done many head/ valve/ engine jobs because people can't be bothered to check/ maintain a good oil level.

And that motor will not burn excessive amounts of oil if you drive it normally. If you spend a lot of time in VTEC you can expect oil consumption in any Honda.

 

agree with ross very common on the acura side with the rsx and the car has been used and abused to no end and no service history or records of any oil service even receipts. we had a 04 TL with a broken ring gland and lost the motor but our rep did a 1 time good will on the motor and the customer paid the labor. OHIO just called for the motor back since AHM almost no engine issues.