Dip Stick
10-27-2003 | 06:12 PM
#1
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Dip Stick
Hi!
I have just recently bought a 97 Prelude. The guy did an oil change before giving it to me (have receipt), it sat in the garage for about a week before I got all the paper work done.
Took it out and there was virtually no oil in the car. First thing I did, put 1L syn. in so I can get to garage. Couldn't get oil change for another day or two (stupid work hours). Put another 1L syn in , just in case.
Bought my own synthetic oil 4L - just to be sure. Got it changed in front of me. Guy put 3.75L in and said , keep rest for safe keeping (as we all know, prelude owners would need it). Checked dip stick. Just barely touching the bottom circle on the dip stick. No oil underneath, so it has to be in the engine. so we put rest of .25L in and check dip stick, its above the max line a little bit. WTF? we waited enough when we put 3.75L in for it to come up. Under a min .25L made it above the top max line?
I always check couple of times to make sure, I have the correct reading on the dip stick.
Since then, I have been driving it so easy that even if this car burns oil, it will not burn oil. Under 3k shift, I am even pressing gas very gently after shifting(yes, i know insult to prelude). Just hit VTEC once or twice, just to make sure it works, before oil change.
The car pretty much stands at a regular spot, no oil leak there. When picked up the car on hoist, there was v.v.v.minor leak somewhere. Negligible. The car is not smoking, confirmed it multiple times.
After about 2 weeks of above max oil, I checked today and it looks like there is virtually no oil in there?
Last time, when I thought the oil was low (and put 1L+1L in), and then got oil changed done. The mechanic said "wow, too much oil coming out" when changing oil.
Throughout this whole experience, the oil was always v.clean. I have bit of experience of oil burning from old car, and this one doesn't have any sign of it.
WTF is going on, have his happened to anyone? Dip stick is giving wrong reading? Should I go for another oil change? It cost $60 to get syntehtic oil change so, not so eager to get that done. The car seems to have only seen syntetic oil. 156,000km on car.
On the side note, I checked my bro's vigor couple of times, and it occasionally gives wrong readings from dip stick.
I have just recently bought a 97 Prelude. The guy did an oil change before giving it to me (have receipt), it sat in the garage for about a week before I got all the paper work done.
Took it out and there was virtually no oil in the car. First thing I did, put 1L syn. in so I can get to garage. Couldn't get oil change for another day or two (stupid work hours). Put another 1L syn in , just in case.
Bought my own synthetic oil 4L - just to be sure. Got it changed in front of me. Guy put 3.75L in and said , keep rest for safe keeping (as we all know, prelude owners would need it). Checked dip stick. Just barely touching the bottom circle on the dip stick. No oil underneath, so it has to be in the engine. so we put rest of .25L in and check dip stick, its above the max line a little bit. WTF? we waited enough when we put 3.75L in for it to come up. Under a min .25L made it above the top max line?
I always check couple of times to make sure, I have the correct reading on the dip stick.
Since then, I have been driving it so easy that even if this car burns oil, it will not burn oil. Under 3k shift, I am even pressing gas very gently after shifting(yes, i know insult to prelude). Just hit VTEC once or twice, just to make sure it works, before oil change.
The car pretty much stands at a regular spot, no oil leak there. When picked up the car on hoist, there was v.v.v.minor leak somewhere. Negligible. The car is not smoking, confirmed it multiple times.
After about 2 weeks of above max oil, I checked today and it looks like there is virtually no oil in there?
Last time, when I thought the oil was low (and put 1L+1L in), and then got oil changed done. The mechanic said "wow, too much oil coming out" when changing oil.
Throughout this whole experience, the oil was always v.clean. I have bit of experience of oil burning from old car, and this one doesn't have any sign of it.
WTF is going on, have his happened to anyone? Dip stick is giving wrong reading? Should I go for another oil change? It cost $60 to get syntehtic oil change so, not so eager to get that done. The car seems to have only seen syntetic oil. 156,000km on car.
On the side note, I checked my bro's vigor couple of times, and it occasionally gives wrong readings from dip stick.
10-28-2003 | 09:26 AM
#2
#212
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 688
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From: LA
when are you checking your oil levels? try checking it in the morning before driving it so it can all drip down into the pan. your oil capcacity is 5.1 L, and if you're not seeing any puddles under your car, i don't know what to tell you. maybe you are burning tons of oil and u just can't see it? if you are, looks like you need some new rings. time for a leakdown test maybe.
btw a synthetic oil change only costs you $35 if you do it yourself :P (it's not hard) (and $35 gets you 5 quarts of mobil 1 and a mobil 1 filter)
btw a synthetic oil change only costs you $35 if you do it yourself :P (it's not hard) (and $35 gets you 5 quarts of mobil 1 and a mobil 1 filter)
10-28-2003 | 03:07 PM
#3
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I always check it after couple of hours or rest. Usually I do check it first thing morning. It doesn't make sense though, the car shouldn't even pass emissions then if its burning 4L in a week and thats less than 500km we are talking about, close to 300km i think.
The smoke is v.clean even first thing in the morning.
Whats a leakdown test? I talked to honda about oil consumption, they never mentiond it
The smoke is v.clean even first thing in the morning.
Whats a leakdown test? I talked to honda about oil consumption, they never mentiond it
10-28-2003 | 04:04 PM
#4
#212
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 688
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From: LA
a leakdown test tells you if your piston rings are bad and if oil is being combusted in the cylinder along with the A/F.
if it's not a leak, then it's gotta be burn, and if it's neither hire a preist and exorcise the oil demon.
if it's not a leak, then it's gotta be burn, and if it's neither hire a preist and exorcise the oil demon.
10-29-2003 | 09:40 AM
#6
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 312
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From: phx, az
60 dollars for an oil change is insane. 
and i dont think you are putting enough oil in your car. i put 4 qts in my f22 and i know the h22 holds more oil. if you only put 4 qts in and then checked it without starting the car up you would probably get a full reading on the dipstick because no oil has gone into the filter yet. if you then checked it later after the car was driven you would definately get a low reading.
and i dont think you are putting enough oil in your car. i put 4 qts in my f22 and i know the h22 holds more oil. if you only put 4 qts in and then checked it without starting the car up you would probably get a full reading on the dipstick because no oil has gone into the filter yet. if you then checked it later after the car was driven you would definately get a low reading.