got oil changed, couple questions for ya....

[stiller fan]

hi everyone :wave:,

i finally got my car's oil changed today. i have kinda put it off cause most of the fluid that was left was still fairly new (adding a quart every 1000-1500 miles or so).

got to the dealer, and they told me that the company that sells them the oil, that if you put a synthetic blend in your car, it should help to either reduce, or eliminate, oil consumption if it's burning. i told the guy that i was not really a true believer that synthetic could do that, but opted for it anyways. it was only 10 extra dollars, so if it doesn't work, that's a cheap, unscientific way to find out who's right here.

talked to another guy who used to work at another dealer as well (customer service rep at pat peck honda). he said that another option would be to put straight 30 weight oil in there. he has seen cars that burned oil before, and after putting that in, it stopped completely. i really don't wanna go that route, only cause altho the car is burning oil, it's not to the point where i'm having to add it once every couple days (long roadtrips being an exception, not the rule here).

could i possibly run the straight 30 weight oil in there, without damage / poor lubrication????

thoughts?

ps: rick.... i know you're going to tell me to use the auto-rx cleaner.... trying to hold off to see how this works first. going to exhaust my options before i really try another alternative....

[lpaudio2]

I have heard the opposite about synth burning easier. In my super high mileage cars I never found high milage oil etc to really change the situation.

I have heard that replacing burned oil is actually worse than non burned oil at the same milage. The crap and other junk is left in the oil as its burned off, so your left with a lot deposits etc even though your adding in new oil you still have the deposits from the oil you burned.

edit: 30 weight probably not a good idea. Might eek by if you lived somewhere in cali where its a pretty constant temp, but I cant imagine it being good for the engine.

[RTexasF]

Straight 30 weight won't hurt a thing as long as you are there in Miss. Very cold temps could turn it into a negative for cold starts. I'd be surprised if it slowed consumption but it just might.

I'd go to a 10W40 for one round to see if consumption slowed and the engine still ran well. Another alternative would be to try one of the high mileage oils in 5W30.

[benjamming]

Why is there oil consumption? Leaks? Where? Smoke? What color?

What synthetic blend was used?
What SAE30 are you considering?
It would be very strange for a synthetic to stop a leak with that kind of consumption. As Rick said, high mileage (HM) oil might help somewhat but is a band-aid.

Rick,

What's the point with the 10W40? The engine only has 115k miles. Are you suggesting MaxLife?

stiller,

What's the holdback with Auto-Rx? Unknown root cause of the consumption?

[Accordlover]

I have a synth blend (Motorcraft?) in my 96 right now, this is the first oil change interval where I have no added any oil since 102k miles. - I've never had to add anything more than maybe 1/5th of a qt.

[Accordlover]

Why is there oil consumption? Leaks? Where? Smoke? What color?

The 2.3L VTEC Motor in the 1998-2002 Accord and 1998 Odyssey has a known oil burning issue after a certain point in life. My godmom's 98 Ody is around Josh's miles, and is also drinking oil.

[stiller fan]

mine is more sipping it, moreso on the freeways.....

[RTexasF]

Rick,

What's the point with the 10W40? The engine only has 115k miles. Are you suggesting MaxLife?

Not necessarily. There are no leaks or smoke so far, the engine is simply "using" it. I realize that a 40 weight is not optimum for Honda four bangers but if it reduced the consumption drastically during one oil change interval it would possibly be worth continuing.

I would do an Auto RX treatment (twice) were it my car but Stiller doesn't appear in favor of it so I'm offering an alternative at a lower cost. The worst that can happen is no change in consumption.

[SatinSilver]

I was watching Dr. Phil one day and it showed a pic of his college car. It was an old gm big boat type car he bought for a few hundred dollars. He joked how he used 40 weight to keep it running.

I have the 6th gen 2.3 w/158k..after 3k I haven't burned any noticeable oil. 50/50 hwy/city. Last oci burned 3/4 quart over 4800 miles..50/50 hwy/city. I'm using MC 5/20 SB.

[RTexasF]

I ran 20W50 GTX in a '79 Chevy V-8 for 10 years in temps from 0 to 100+. Started that with the first oil change and never used any oil. Sold at well over 150K miles still purring. Engines and oils are better now but I still think one interval of 10W40 is worth a go in Stiller's car. Simple.....it either cuts the oil consumption or not!

[stiller fan]

RTF,

with school and taking care of stuff both in school, studying, and duty, i honestly haven't really had the time to order the stuff online....

school is tough right now. i'm trying to make top of the class.... :nerd: :thmsup:

[RTexasF]

Amigo I'm not knocking you at all so please don't think so. I know you need to score well in this school and it deserves your full attention. Your future depends on it.

Auto RX (done twice) may or may not cure the oil consumption problem and it ain't cheap, I realize that. As long as your ride keeps zipping along and you keep track of what the dipstick says, that's what counts.

I just figured that on the next oil change 10W40 would not impose any monetary hardship and just might slow the consumption some. Worth a try I think, others may not agree.

Rick

[stiller fan]

Amigo I'm not knocking you at all so please don't think so. I know you need to score well in this school and it deserves your full attention. Your future depends on it.

Auto RX (done twice) may or may not cure the oil consumption problem and it ain't cheap, I realize that. As long as your ride keeps zipping along and you keep track of what the dipstick says, that's what counts.

I just figured that on the next oil change 10W40 would not impose any monetary hardship and just might slow the consumption some. Worth a try I think, others may not agree.

Rick

rick,

yeah, i kinda thought that you were playfully jabbing at me. no harm, no foul here.... :wave:

i have been checking it every couple days, just to make sure. mix of highway and city driving around biloxi / gulfport has yield about 1/3 gone so far. we'll see how far down it goes with the syn blend in there once i get to GA this wknd and let it sit overnight.

i'm living out in town now, so i'll be getting back pay for BAH come the 1st. if all goes well, once all my bills and everything else is taken care of, along with my tax return, AND my refund from the dropped insurance company, i'll be sure to order the stuff to see how well it could work for me. :yes: :thmsup:

could a straight synthetic oil work a bit better, at least slow down the consumption a bit more? this is assuming that this OCI helps with the blended stuff in there..... :)

[benjamming]

straight synthetic oil work a bit better how? reducing consumption? cleaning? doubtful on either case.

[RTexasF]

I agree with Bama ben, there is zero advantage in going to a full synthetic in this instance. It will cost more and possibly burn a little more quickly......not bueno.

[RTexasF]

rick,
yeah, i kinda thought that you were playfully jabbing at me. no harm, no foul here....

No jab intended in any way shape or form. Just offering a possible alternative that's all.