Not sure why but my car is out of oil. I have been getting warning lights for everything, check vsa cmbs emissions and oil. I checked my oil and my dipstick is clean , dry. I have no visible oil leak and 61k miles. Any idea why I would have no oil other than Acura service forgetting to fill it on my last oil change. I am due for a b136 service. Where could my oil have gone? There is no oil drip or burning.

 

The other day my battery went dead on my 2007. When I jumped it, I was getting low oil, xm radio antenna not working and other warning signs like you. I checked my oil and nothing was showing on the dipstick. I drove about three miles to a Walmart to get a couple quarts of Mobil 1. When I went to check the oil level again it was showing to the full line. No idea what caused it to show low for that moment.

 

How's your battery? A low battery could be the cause of the multiple warning lights and possibly the door handle issue you mentioned in the other thread. To be safe, I'd replace the battery and see if things improve. Not sure about the oil - did you try driving it and then checking the oil again?

 

yeah I checked it a 3 times after different drives. I am really amazed that there isn't any registering. i put in 1 quart to make sure I don't fry it til I go for service on Tuesday. Acura replace my battery once, already, so I can't imagine it is bad again.. who knows

 

Did it register after you put oil in it?

Unfortunately a new battery can be bad.

 

New battery would explain the CEL but not a bone dry dipstick. Frankly, I'm amazed your car is still running.

 

They use a 50% synthetic. I was 2k past my recommened oil change. Car is in shop today, but they told me at the dealer that the car could have "used" that oil? is that possible? Is it possible for a car with 61K miles on it to use all of the oil so it no longer registers on the dipstick? I put 1 quart in before taking it to the dealer, just to be safe, but 1 qt never registered on the dipstick.

My question: Has anyone seen your car "use" oil to the point that it disappears. I thought the car reused the oil and it became viscous, not used it and it disappears???

 

this is why you have to constantly monitor your oil levels.
cars do burn oil.

 

yes, and 2k over your oil change with out checking the fluids is blasphemy.

 

well.. I drove to LA from SF and back 2 times in 1 week, so I put on like 1k in a week, at least..

 

Whether or not you checked it, no 61k car should be burning 4 quarts of oil...

 

understandable.
Get in a habit of checking your oil.
Take notice of how many miles it takes to consumes one quart.
it might take a couple of months and oil changes but you'll start to notice a pattern, then when you reach a certain amount of miles pour in that quart.
yes, it does require work, but a car is a machine. Make sure your machine is always running right.

 

I think the point of buying a Honda is that you don't have to check your oil and still get places...

 

^^ agree, that is a lot of oil consumption without showing some signs of it

 

The car does have an indicator for low oil. That always should be more accurate than the stick...otherwise what's the point.

 

usually the indicator lights are based on low oil pressure. I would certainly think it would light up with that low of oil level
That said, you should always "double dip" the dip stick. I've seen a dry stick and then put it back in and the level is normal (without starting engine)

 

its still a machine. respect the machine.



I guess i skipped over the 4quarts that its missing...that is a lot of oil.

 

actually...that sounds like there was no oil.

I wonder if the Acura techs can confirm that thing was running on dry or if the oil was just hiding...

last time I heard an engine running with no oil...well, it wasn't running, it was dead.

 

Holly shiiiit! Keep us updated as I am curious.

 

so they drained the oil and there were 2 quarts, the one I added, plus another. They see no reason why it is consuming oil, so they want to do an oil consumption test. I will take the car back and drive it 1k miles then bring it back for them to see if it is consuming. Luckily it is under the powertrain warranty still.. so they can fix it.

 

glad the car is ok, let us know how the 1k test turns out. I would keep an eye on oil level...at like every fill up of gas.

I suggest getting the 1k part in writing so if anything happens to the car they don't point the finger at you.

 

Thank God for warranties.
Good points!

 

But really no car I have ever had actually burned oil unless it had a leak and there was evidence either under the car on the driveway, or from smoke coming out your hood or tail pipe and a smell. Otherwise maybe some oil usage is fine, but 4 quarts is beyond my ability to agree with.. I don't think oil disappears, sorry. It becomes gritty, dirty, viscous, but it doesn't just go away.. My 2 cents.. I don't agree with the people that say the oil could have just been gone due to it being 2k past oil change.

I think that is why the dealer wants to do the testing, becuase it is not normal.

 

it could be that the oil was never there to begin with. Maybe it wasn't full 4qt from last oil change...never knows.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

interesting.
always check the work performed.

 

took the car in for a 2nd 1000 mile check and it was down 2 quarts in 1k miles. So they have kept the car and are diagnosing it. There is no evidence externally that it is burning oil... no drips in my garage or smoke from the engine or exhaust. Anyway thank god there is a powertrain warranty. When I checked the dipstick this time, it was completely dry again. Apparently 2 quarts low makes your dipstick register NO oil. Amazing.. anyone else have this issue? only 60k miles on it..

 

On some cars, from the dipstick tip to the low oil indicator is usually 1/2 a quart. From the Low to the high or max end is usually 1 quart. If your car is lower than 1.5 quarts of oil it will most likely not register on the dipstick.

 

After the latest 1k check at 61k approx. They are replacing the bottom block, the heads are at Acura machine shop and basically replacing the engine. They said not the whole thing but the bottom block, gaskets, pistons and heads machined. Some crazy shit for a $50k car w low miles, 2007. It is covered under powertrain but this is really bad. Car was running fine, but apparently damage was there. Thank god the powertrain warranty still covers it. Will have more precise details when I can write it down while speaking to service. The last time I talked to them I didn't write it down so specific details are a little sketchy.

 

Be sure to ask them about warranty on repairs so you will know.

 

Someone probably used synthetic Oil !

 

I would ask for an entire new engine including heads. Low oil causes many problems that cannot be repaired without replacing things. My basis is I worked in racing and as an automotive machinist when younger. Get in the habit of checking oil at least every 1000 miles whether your car burns oil or not.

 

What does this have to do with anything? Synthetic just has fewer impurities and keeps its viscosity at higher temperatures.

 

Well that is great news for you!

 

Hi glen


Here is the needed repairs for your acura rl

We need to replace the short block and replace the cylinder gaskets

-------/
Found this about short block

Engine, Short block Short block, rl - 3.7l

Note: Includes: Block, Pistons, Rings, Rods, Bearings & Crankshaft.

 

agreed. i HIGHLY doubt syn oil itself is the culprit, more like engine was a bad build to begin with.

 

I use 50/50 I think. Whatever Acura gives me and I have done all service at the same dealer as scheduled. They tell me it is 50/50 traditional/synthetic.

 

50/50?? where does it say that in the manual? or any where in fact. Not sure why people insist on using sysn oil's !! no body says to use it, and honda doesn't use it so why would you use it?? Sys oil does not have the same property's as normal oil that the car requires for daily driving. And there is nobody that races their RL! So no need and it costs way more to dont be fooled by them rating it for higher miles. We pay enough in gas prices the last thing you need to do is waste you money on oil.

 

Synthetic does the exact same thing convetional oil does under normal operating conditions. However it does more at extreme operating conditions. Conventional oil contains impurities, including wax, that give it the properties it needs to maintain a fluid viscosity at cold temperatures and a relatively thick viscosity at hot temperatures. Synthetic has been structurally altered to produce these same properties without the need for wax or other impurities. As a consequence, it can with stand more extreme conditions like those you would see in a car going 190 for 500 miles in 100 degree heat.

 

Oh, and it lasts 50% longer, so your 50% increase in price IS justified.