04 TSX Oil Loss

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taiho - 27 Aug 2008 03:37 GMT

My daughter has a 2004 TSX that intermittently losses 2 quarts of oil
in 500 miles. No external leak seen, tailpipe is clean, no blue
smoke. Dealer has done cylinder pressure check (normal all
cylinders), changed PCV valve. and finally given up. She drives 70%
highway/30% city. very conservative driver. Like I said it's
intermittent. Sometimes 500-800 miles w/o significant loss (< 1/2
Qt.) and then losses 2 Qts in 500 miles. She's ready to dump the
car.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

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Tegger - 27 Aug 2008 12:25 GMT

taiho <taiho171@yahoo.com> wrote in news:53ad5aca-b576-4535-8064-
4b498334e5d5@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> My daughter has a 2004 TSX that intermittently losses 2 quarts of oil
> in 500 miles. No external leak seen, tailpipe is clean, no blue
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Qt.) and then losses 2 Qts in 500 miles. She's ready to dump the
> car.

I'm finding it a bit difficult to believe there is no blue smoke during
times of high consumption. You must have one /really/ efficient catalytic
converter.

Is there oil in the air intake pipe from air cleaner to throttle body? Pull
it off the throttle body and check.

How clean are the undersides of the valve covers? Is there varnish or
sludge?

And how, exactly, are you monitoring the oil level? When consumption is as
high as yours is, the precision of the measuring method becomes critical.

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Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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tww1491 - 28 Aug 2008 01:59 GMT

> My daughter has a 2004 TSX that intermittently losses 2 quarts of oil
> in 500 miles. No external leak seen, tailpipe is clean, no blue
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Thanks.

My old 01 Prelude would use oil when I ran it hard into the VTEC, but
nowhere near the usage you describe. Have you followed her -- have her run
it up in the gears to see if anything oil smoke comes out. Since the dealer
is clueless -- and given up, have you tried another shop.

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taiho - 31 Aug 2008 17:18 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions.

1st I see absolutely no smoke, blue or otherwise, from tailpipe at
cruise or during higher RPM 5000+.

2nd checked engine over again and see no leaks, varnish or other
evidence of leak

(Also no oil in coolant)

3rd my daughter was monitoring oil loss ~wkly and dealing with dealer
direct ( ergo I cannot testify to consumption)

Assuming operator error, I will personally monitor oil level and keep
diary of mileage and time. Hopefully this is the problem.

Thanks for the help.

taiho171

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ACAR - 06 Sep 2008 01:29 GMT

> My daughter has a 2004 TSX that intermittently losses 2 quarts of oil
> in 500 miles. No external leak seen, tailpipe is clean, no blue
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> intermittent. Sometimes 500-800 miles w/o significant loss (< 1/2
> Qt.)

actually, a half quart in 500 miles is quite a lot.

and then losses 2 Qts in 500 miles. She's ready to dump the

> car.
>
> Any ideas?

have valves adjusted, have dealer check all the grommets, gaskets and
seals, follow Tegger's advice and check the throttle body. Then do an
oil change; use Mobil 1 Extended Performance with a new oil filter.
Add as much oil as indicated in the owner's manual and check the
dipstick level. Then check oil level in a consisent manner every week.
The easiest is to park the car on level ground and check the oil after
the car is parked overnight.

If the car continues to burn a half quart every 500 miles your
daughter has the right idea about the car but the wrong idea about
maintenance, especially oil change interval. Honda engines should be
good for at least 200,000 miles without excessive oil consumption.

good luck!

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