I'm trying to figure out if my block is burning oil. I have a 96 f22b1 with over 220k. I recently got my oil changed (where I live, my city doesn't allow mechanic work of any kind done in the driveway or street in front of your house). The oil changer noted that there was no oil. I so happened to check my dip stick last week and there was light colored oil and the level was normal. This is the 3rd time they noted it. What are some visual indicators if the engine is burning oil? Thanks.

 

blue smoke coming out of exhaust

 

It might just be loosing through the spark plug tubes I have a 96 with 218k an just had to replace the O-rings they come with a valve cover gasket.... jus pull out the plug wire off the spark plug and see if there is any oil on them if you cant tell you can take a plug out when I took mine out there was oil all over my plugs on the top side even had lttle black rings where it had been leaking out then burning off o the plugs...just an idea i would loose about a quart in 50miles check it an see if your not smoking

 

As mentioned smoke, also pull the plugs and look for oil fouled plugs. This can be an indication of leaking valve seals, or faulty oil control rings. A compression check may help clarify where the oil is being burnt from.

There are a few places for oil to leak from.
Valve cover
Spak plug tubes
Distributor seals
VTEC solenoid leaking.
Cam shaft seal
Oil sensor seal
Oil filter seal
Balance shaft seal
Balance shaft maintenance hole
Crankshaft seal
Rear main seal
Oil pan gasket
Oil pan drain plug gasket

 

@mad_mike, so far, the valve cover gasket and o rings, oil pan gasket, rear main seal, spark plugs, both solenoid gaskets, and o ring @ dizzy have been replaced earlier this year. Not sure why they are telling me I'm burning oil unless they are trying to sell me more expensive oil services. Does the high mileage and synthetic oils also burn eventually? I always get conventional oil. Penzoil to be exact. No blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

 

If there is no smoke it's not burning oil. A far as leaking goes park the car on a large piece of cardboard over night and see where it's dripping from. That will give you a good start.
I will say these guys changing the oil sound shady? If you checked and saw oil on the stick days before you brought it in for a change and they say it had NO oil? That's BS. No oil you would have had a dash light when it got lower that half and your engine would have blown up with no oil.

 

I know there is a leak on the passenger side. The drip is either falling on top of the tranny housing and gravitating to the ground. Not sure where else its leaking from since the rear main seal was replaced earlier.

 

Is there any oil building up under the oil pan?

 

There was oil at the bottom of the pan, but I'm not sure if that was from the road or not. The oil pan gasket was replaced. The changer didn't mention of a leak from the oil filter. Don't know where else to look.

 

Well I had a problem similar. Found out later there was a real small crack under the oil pan. Had to seal it up.

 

Here's a picture of the drip I'm referring to. Not sure where else to look since it's on the passenger side of the car. I checked and double checked the dizzy, solenoid, and anything above that area. Found some old oil, but no fresh one. Let me know what you think it is.

 

My 97 accord uses oil, a quart every 600 miles, and it NEVER smokes at any time. There are no leaks anywhere, and never any oil spots on the drive. Apparently, a Honda CAN burn oil and there be NO signs. I bought mine at 89,000 miles and it has used oil since that day. I would love to know where the oil is going.

 

Thats how mine used to look. Now it is about a thousand times worse. I work at an autocare place and they are checking it out Thursday. My heater hose is swelling and has oil over it so I will post back and let you know where they found the oil leak.

 

which heater hose is swelling? So far, I replaced 2 of 3 rubber hoses. The main radiator hose at the radiator, the side heater hose that is under the dizzy. I know there is a 3rd hose near the firewall and at the bottom of the radiator. The one under the dizzy was a bitch to replace without removing the dizzy. Connecting the other end was no fun either.

 

I normally use 5w-30. Should I be using a much heavier oil? Oil for high mileage or sythetic?

 

that seems a bit thin. where in cali do u live? i would try to use a thicker oil.

 

I tried high mileage oil and it still uses the same amount of oil. I switched to 10w40 and it still uses a quart every 600 miles. If your engine is using oil just use the regular cheapest oil. High milage oil is expensive.

 

I would go with a 10w-30 high millage oil. I cant see there being "No oil" when you have it changed. Is it low with a leak yes and there seeing that its leaking and I would say there trying to get in your wallet. I would definitely find and fix the leak before it gets to big and you end up blowing the motor. Even though you had the gaskets done check all of them just to make sure now was installer wrong or even maybe a defect in the material.
Getting off track how can a town be able to tell you what you can and cant do on your property, Thats BS.. I would understand if you was just draining the oil in your lawn but C'MON that is totally out of control.

 

It may also burn right when he started the car cold. Valve Seals can go bad too if it's burning at cold start puffing out blue smoke. Not saying his is doing it, just a thought.