thenation

i have been having problems with the TSX having a low oil level, so i took it in to the dealer so they can have a look, they ended up doing a oil change on it and now 3,000km later the oil level is half way down on the dip stick.....i bought a new car so i wouldn't have to deal with old car problems...going to dealer on thursday...anyone else have this problem...any help would be helpful

bought car in sep 04, got 1st oil change at 6600km

Dan Martin

It's typical for this car to burn a little oil but it's not normal to be losing that much. I lose about a half quart every 8000km.

slo007

My car is at 43.200 km with virtually no oil loss between changes.

Viking

Ok I found your old thread when you first noticed this problem. https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=Oil+level

This might be a lemon law thing, because you shouldn't be burning that much oil.

Karl O.

Halfway down where- the entire dip stick or just the "XXX" marks? Is the car cold or warm when you check the oil? How long do you let it sit after driving it- the same period of time every time you check it? After you drive the car for a while the oil is in the engine and it takes it a while to drain back down to the oil pan. The engine is designed to run safely to at least the bottom "X" so everything above that is your safety margin.

If you are using a VTEC engine at higher RPMs it is going to use oil, period. All of them do that, dating back to the early '90s at least. Just keep checking the oil level, it's no big deal. Oil consumption in K series engines is much higher at first than it is after the engine breaks in, so oil use should decline after 10k miles or so.

If you want real oil consumption, look at a highly stressed engine in a 911 Turbo- those things can use an entire quart every 1500 miles. They're designed that way.

sauceman

It's not normal. I have this problem with my car too (1 quart every 4000km), and the service guys told me it's definitely not normal. They are monitoring the oil consumption to see what's up.

I don't know whether they'll take action or not, and what that would be.

aaronng

You did your first change at 6600km!? Damn... I did mine at 1000km as per the australian-spec manual instructions.
I'm at 5000km now, which means after 4000km, my oil level is still full! You might want to check if your piston rings are ok. Might be unevenly worn that the oil is getting into the combustion space. Check your exhaust smoke when you rev. Is it blue in colour?

05_TSX_GP

First oil change at 1000km as per manual? Wow... I received a welcome letter from my dealership service dept for the first service at 8000km.

I just checked my oil level first thing yesterday morning (still less than 1000km on the clock btw), it's normal and oil looks pretty clean still.

aaronng

Makes me wonder who is right. I've seen posts on the board saying that Acura recommends the first service at 10,000 (km or miles?) Crazy... Anyway, for most Australian cars, the first oil change is at 1000km. Our weather is not as extreme, with a low of 5 degrees Celsius up to 40 degrees. And we don't salt our roads. So I'd expect that our first service should actually be at a higher mileage than USA and Canada.

k24

In europe, we have the service after every 20 000km and that´s it. 8000km sounds like a turbo engine oil change interval. Maybe they just want to earn some money.

05_TSX_GP

Just the first service is at 8,000km. I doubt it's every 8,000km. I am basically in the mildest part (weather-wise) of Canada, so shouldn't need servicing that frequently.

Handruin

Mine has an issue with low oil. I was a bit overdue for my oil change at about 6K and I was down to the minimum. At my most recent services a few weeks back I complained about an oil burning smell and the dealer said he noticed a small leak at the top that is dripping on the exhaust.

Not sure why my engine is leaking at 30K miles...but he said they'll fix it but they need the car for a day.

thenation

so I took the car to the dealer, 2 hours later they told me that its normal for the tsx to burn oil during break in, the service manager said that these engines break in at 20,000 km, they also started a oil consumption test, i have to bring the car back every 1500 kms for at least 3 times so they can check the oil, if the oil level keep droping then they will send the report to Acura Canada, they will then tell the dealer what to do. also got the speakers and dash rattle fixed.

aaronng

For the Accord Euro, Honda Australia's service schedule is
1000km or 1 month
10,000 km or 6 months
20,000 km or 12 months
30,000 km or 18 months
40,000 km or 24 months
50,000 km or 30 months
60,000 km or 36 months
70,000 km or 42 months
80,000 km or 48 months
90,000 km or 54 months
100,000 km or 60 months

I know Acura says 10000miles for the first service. Who do I believe? Honda or Acura? PS, Honda says my warranty is void if I don't service at 1000km. This is Honda Australia, NOT the dealer.

05_TSX_GP

What does he mean by these engines break in at 20,000 km?!?

Which Acura dealership is it in the G.V. area?

thenation

richmond acura, i spoke to Al, the shop foreman

LoveMyTL-S

The 2004 TSX manual here in the USA says to change the oil every 10,000 miles. But my dealer recommends 5,000 miles. Most care here are at 3,000 miles. This VTEC engine must be really built well.......

aaronng

No matter how well built the engine is, as long as it is new, there will be some metal particles from the initial wearing in. Acura says to change oil every 10000miles, that sounds fine. But what about that vital first service where they switch from mineral to semi-synthetic oil? I still honestly can't believe that Acura says the first service is at 10000miles (although some other posts on the board say they do it at 5000miles). I reckon our Aussie-spec's requirement of 1000km (625 miles) for the first service keeps the K24's over here oil-consumption free. On our forums, so far only 1 K24 owner has complained of excessive oil consumption.

05_TSX_GP

So does Al mean the TSX engine shouldn't be driven hard until 20,000 km???

observer

This is what the US manual says: first oil change at 10000 miles for "normal conditions" and 5000 miles for "severe conditions".

However, my local Acura dealer recommends an oil change every 3750 miles. Are they just trying to rip people off?

Powered by Honda

What about the Honda break in oil that Honda puts in all their cars.

The first oil change for Hondas should be 8,000-10,000km.... I think

Powered by Honda

Yeah see! Honda has special break in oil....I dont know what they do to it but I heard its special some how??? Anyone else hear about this?

Anyways if you do you first change before that you lose the break in oil and just get the regular oil?

I'm I way off or am I right on?

sauceman

jlukja

That is what the manual says. Consider, however, that during those first few thousand miles the engine will be wearing in, will be experiencing hot spots, until all the pieces wear in completely. One could argue that the first 5000mi IS severe conditions for the engine and just change the oil at 5K. That's what I did.

IMHO, any recommendations to change the oil more frequently than the manufacturers recommendation is just a way to get more money out of you.

The manual actually says that the TSX comes with a break-in oil and not to change the oil too early, but to give it time to do its job. Yes, if you get the oil changed at the dealer they will replace it with their regular/standard Honda oil, regardless of the mileage on your car, and not the special break-in oil if you have less than 5K miles.

DesertSilver

My car lost more than average oil before it's first change (10K). I was told that was normal for break-in. I'm now at 28K and haven't had any problems so maybe for once the dealer the was right.

drkangel348

I use synthetic oil (mobil 1 - 5w20) and after around 1700mi's i'll find myself adding half of a quart. I change my oil around every 5000 - 7000 mi's.

Colin

This reply is for North American TSXs with the K24. The other engines are similar but I have no first hand knowledge of their owners manual instructions.

1) The normal oil change interval is 10,000 miles, Severe is 5000.
2) There is an additive in the oil to assist the car in "breaking in" and Acura suggests leaving this in the car till the first change.
3) The manual says to check the oil at every fill up, and top off as needed. This is because the car will use oil when the engine is new. Manual transmission owners who spend a lot of time above 5,000 RPM WILL use more oil.

FWIW, K20As (RSX-S and Euro R Accord) are smaller, higher reving engines and can use oil more rapidly. F20Cs (early S2000) spin to 9000 RPM and can use around a quart per 1000 miles when new. Also, Honda does not endorse the use a synthetics in their engines. They believe that normal oil will work as long as you follow thier recommended change intervals. ALSO it is not recommended that you use Synthetics before the car reaches 10000 miles. Mineral based oils are important for the normal break in of the motor, synthetics are too "slippery"

05_TSX_GP

Thought I'd point out a related thread here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21298
Enjoy! There are good stuff in that thread about oil!

These oil shit is WAY over my head, I know they are very important to an engine's proper operation but I'll just leave it to my dealer's service, follow the set schedule; and keep an eye on the oil level once a week especially during early mileage.

TSXReefer

Oil is right up to the line, no detectable usage.

beannns

I'm at around 3,000 miles and I just had to add a quart of oil. While that might be weird in itself, my question is actually whether or not it will be a problem that I mixed regular oil with the special break-in oil. I used regular mobil 5w-30.

esk

My engine oil light came on recently and it was more than 2 quarts low. The car has 45,000 miles and my last oil change was at 40,000. The dealer changed the oil and said the car normally burns a quart every 1,000 miles. Find this hard to believe. I also use synthetic oil.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

A couple of questions... did you check the oil level after the oil change from the dealer to make sure it was full? When was the last time you checked the oil level? One qt per 1000 mile is not normal.

esk

I changed my own oil and I always check the oil level when I'm done. When I noticed that the oil level was low, I checked the filter and oil plug and there was no sign of leaking oil. I hate to say that I never did check the oil level between changes, but I'm monitoring it now to see how much oil it's losing.

TSXReefer

I have a 2005 TSX with 28K on the clock and have never been able to detect oil loss. It seems the oil is right up on the line when I go my oil changes. I do care what the book says about 10k oil changes, I change at ~3500 mile intervals. This is the most problem free car I have ever owned by far!

curls

1 quart per 1000 miles is the actual written line where it becomes a problem in Acura's eyes. In my experience, burning any oil w/ an Acura means you're in for a fight with the service department, but in the end they came through for me and got me a new engine because of their inability to determine exactly where the oil was going.

DesertSilver

As I has stated in an earlier post, I had an oil consumption problem before the 1st oil change. I now have over 95,000 miles and haven't since had a problem. I think the motor just needed to break in properly. This has been about the strongest running, most trouble free motor I've ever owned. At nearly 100K miles it still feels as strong as after break-in with super clear exhaust. Great motor that will probably easily run another 100k but lousy body and chassis integrity. I'm looking for a replacement right now because I've had it with rattles and squeaks. Turning the stereo up doesn't cut it any more, not in a supposedly "luxury" car.

glacius

My schedule went something like this (in miles):

5K - changed by Acura
10K - changed by Acura
15K - changed by me Mobil 1 - 5W30
18.5K - Noticed oil was barely hitting the dipstick - added 3 quarts
19K - changed by me Mobil 1 - 5W30
22K - oil light went on, again bone dry - added another 3 quarts

I realize I should be checking more often, it's just not something I've been conditioned to do.. Should I take it in to the dealer for a oil consumption test? Did I go to synthetic too early? Should I have had the engine flushed before putting in synthetic?

- Mike

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Did you need to add any oil between the 5K-10K and 10K-15K changes?

glacius

*hangs head*

I didn't check between those intervals, but I know my oil light didn't come on and there was a decent amount of oil when I drained it.. That's not to say it wasn't low, but I can't say for sure..

I'll be monitoring my oil over the next several months to see how it's going..

If it makes a difference, I didn't do an engine flush when I switched from regular to synthetic..

Othello

Well I'm going in today to start up the oil consumption test once again. Had the oil changed on March 16 with 85,201km on the odometer. Checked it today at 86,788km and the oil level is below the bottom marker of the dipstick (less than halfway from the bottom of the dipstick), I'm guessing this is atleast 2 litres consumed in 1,587km.

I'll take it in and have them top it up then verify the level before I even leave the lot, I've noticed that they sometimes overfil the oil when doing oil consumption tests to reduce the likelyhood of you reaching the second mark in the distance specified by them.