[04 cl9]

I know like most of the first gen owners we all have a problem with the oil comsumption. I have a therory and would like input from everyone wheter good or bad so here it is.

About 2 weeks ago i changed my valve cover gasket and when i popped it off i noticed that the baffle under the cover was damn need black, not filled with sut but burnt and smelled burned also.
When i drained the oil it smelt burnt also, so i had a oil temp gauge laying around and installed it. As im driving to work the next day (after a fresh oil change) the temp gauge spiked at 300 deg f.

When i got to work i pulled the dipstick and it smelt burnt again (wtf lol). After talking to a few people who had a few k motors laying around so i went to go see them. I noticed that the k24a2 from the 04-06 did not have a factory oil cooler, while the k20 engines did. So in conclision i feel that since the k24 from the 04-06 tsx did not come with factory oil cooler the motors are cooking the oil if the owners motor isnt leaking or blowing smoke

 

[firstsx]

interesting... 04-06? didnt they make changes to the engine starting 06?

 

[04 cl9]

If im not mistaken they did thats why those motors did not have that prob. Im going to install a after market oil cooler and see what happens

interesting... 04-06? didnt they make changes to the engine starting 06?

 

[Grounded]

If im not mistaken they did thats why those motors did not have that prob. Im going to install a after market oil cooler and see what happens

Obviously an oil cooler will help. Since your now adding capacity and a direct way to remove it from heat and cool it.

You can also get a lower temp thermostat. If you can keep the motor running cooler all the time this would also help the oil be cooler.

The real question is why is your oil temp that high in the first place. Thats way high.

 

[awoc]

Oil coolers are not necessary. A lot of cars dont use them. The cooling system does a good job of keeping oil temps down. Unless you are racing or staying at high rpm constantly, there would be no need if you ask me. Oil consumption is due to many things, but remember this is Honda's biggest 4 cyl and it sees far higher pistons speeds as the 2.0L versions.

 

[tottenham12712]

^^agreed, besides the stock k20 oil cooler isnt all that great too begin with.

Alot of oil issues come from PCVs, Valve seals, and in drastic cases blow by(bad piston rings).

 

[stan_t]

The factory oil coolers are more like oil heaters -- when you first start the car, the coolant will get up to temperature quicker and help warm up the oil. When things heat up, I'm not sure the temperature differences of the 2 are that different anyway. All turbocharged Subarus come with OEM oil coolers, and oil consumption is a big problem in that community too, though mine didn't have the problem.

I believe alot depends on how the engine (rings) was broken in, that's my main theory on oil consumption. The other one is people using oils that are too thin and break down easily.

Oil temperature of 300F isn't right, I bet your sensor or gauge malfunctioned.

Stan

 

[04 cl9]

In reponse to all lol. I do drive alot of hwy miles daily170 miles round trip and I do about 70-80 mph which is a Lil over 3000 rpm. My water temp is perfect around 195 so I would say the engine is operating at the right temp. I just changed the pcv valve and did a compression and leak down test and both where spot on. The reason for the leak down test is I also thought bad rings but nothing. The car does not leak nor smoke so thats the reason for Mt theroy. As far as the oil grade I use 5w30 which is what the factory calls for.

Thanks again

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[tottenham12712]

Just because your car passes a compression and leak down test doesnt mean its fine. Most likely your valve seals or guides are worn and leaking when the car is cold, This is pretty common and usually not very expensive to get repaired if your that worried about it.

The tests need to be performed when the car is off for over 24 hours.

For those interested here is a very good link describing the two types of tests: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

 

[04 cl9]

@ tot I did the leak down test when it was cold and I know for sure im not blowing smoke as far as I know lol. Im just stumped and I figured since the oil was getting hot that I was cooking it

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[Grounded]

I figured since the oil was getting hot that I was cooking it

If you are indeed seeing oil temps @300* then you are cooking it. It needs to come down atleast 30* to be what is considered safe. And even then it would still be cinsidered high. Anything over 285* is bad.
Your oil temps should only ever be 40-60 over the coolant temps.

 

[04 cl9]

Well in my case its 100 over water temp im going to get a oil cooler and see what happens

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[tottenham12712]

@ tot I did the leak down test when it was cold and I know for sure im not blowing smoke as far as I know lol. Im just stumped and I figured since the oil was getting hot that I was cooking it

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You dont need to be blowing smoke to be using oil lol. If its only a small amount you will never know. The best way to test is to stick your finger in your exhaust tip and rub the soot on a glossy painted surface, if it smears theres oil, if it looks like pencil than its just carbon which is fine.

Secondly 300* like grounded has said is way way to high. Pretty sure our oil temp usually sits around 190-220 ish area. If you really are that high and you know the gauge is good, an oil cooler is only going to mask the problem and not fix it. You may have an oil passage that is blocked, or something is worn and causing excess heat.

EDIT: Im assuming this car does not have a turbo correct?

 

[04 cl9]

At tot no turbo its my daily driver. And the gauge is brand new. Like I said I average almost 200 miles a day and I travel at 75-85mph which puts me at 3200-3700 RPMs for over a hr each way.

Like I said im stumped im usually good at solving problems like this. Im going to try the oil cooler and hopefully it works I really dont have the money to pull it apart and clean it

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[stan_t]

Your gauge/sensor is bad, there is very little chance your oil temperature is actually at 300F. Forget the oil cooler, if there is really a problem that's causing high temperatures than that's what should be found and resolved. Cheap oil coolers will cause more problems than they'll "fix" -- leaks, difference in oil flow, maybe even pressure changes.

Stan

 

[tottenham12712]

At tot no turbo its my daily driver. And the gauge is brand new. Like I said I average almost 200 miles a day and I travel at 75-85mph which puts me at 3200-3700 RPMs for over a hr each way.

Like I said im stumped im usually good at solving problems like this. Im going to try the oil cooler and hopefully it works I really dont have the money to pull it apart and clean it

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Thats fine though, I take trips too other states monthly which are anywhere from 100-500 miles away. When the car is running for longer continuous times I use less oil. I know for a fact my valve seals are bad. In the winter I consume much more oil since it takes longer to warm the seals up.

When your cruising at 3k there is almost no load on the car, your throttle is only open about 10%. City driving would cause higher oil temps then highway would.

I would really recommend pulling the valve cover off and even the head and inspecting the oil channels. If you are cooking oil, a cooler is only going to mask the problem and not fix it.

 

[CalgaryTSX]

Engine oil doesn't evaporate nor cook.

If your engine oil level is going low, the engine is either leaking it or burning it.

I think what's happening is that the TSX's that are continually using oil are burning oil but there is no visible blue smoke since the cat & 4 mufflers are containing or masking the blue smoke.

In this case, I'm sure that opening up the exhaust, pre-catalytic converter, will confirm the oily film in the pipes & in the cat.

 

[Grounded]

Oil most certainly can cook. At high temperature oil beaks down, oxidize's, turns to sludge and varnish. This is the whole reason why they designate a timeframe and mileage to remove it from your engine.

 

[jam sandwich]

The type and grade oil you use plays a huge factor in how much you will burn.
If you live in a hotter climate, It's better to use a heavier weight oil (10w-30 recommended)
I remember having an oil burning issue on my h22 accord. I switched to a better brand (valvoline) 10w40 and it went away.

For my tsx, Ive noticed 5w30 is just too thin for FL climates (upper 80's-90's for most of the year) I use pennzoil ultra 10w30 now.

Use GOOD oil.

 

[whatsanacura]

The type and grade oil you use plays a huge factor in how much you will burn.
If you live in a hotter climate, It's better to use a heavier weight oil (10w-30 recommended)
I remember having an oil burning issue on my h22 accord. I switched to a better brand (valvoline) 10w40 and it went away.

For my tsx, Ive noticed 5w30 is just too thin for FL climates (upper 80's-90's for most of the year) I use pennzoil ultra 10w30 now.

Use GOOD oil.

+1, especially on the use of valvoline oil, been using that stuff ever since I got the car I highly recommend it.