MOBB

For about a year now I've been noticing I'm losing some oil in between oil changes. I top off at around 4k miles, where the oil is in between the MIN and MAX readings. My engine is at 130k miles and switched over to SYN 10k ago.

I had a chance to get my car on the lift while I got my tires changed today. I noticed oil stains all over my oil pan/under body. There was no dripping oil, but large patches of oil that stuck onto the pan and surrounding areas. I asked my trusted mechanic which specializes in Honda/Acura's where the leak was coming from. He followed the leak to where it seemed more blotchy and told me the leak is coming from the oil pressure switch, and that the switch WILL need to be replaced. He said the cause of the failure could be a destroyed rubber boot that's affixed to the switch.

Now here's the thing I have no CEL or OIL Lights on my dash, I lose just a bit in between oil changes but nothing major. Are these common to leak? Would this be the source of my problem??

Gfaze

They can leak although I don't know if you would call it a common problem. It's very likely that it is leaking despite the fact you aren't getting any oil/cel lights. Just replace it and go about your business.

fsttyms1

you arent going to get a CEL for a leaking sensor. Its possible that it is. You can see it yourself if you look. See if you can spot where its coming from.

01tl4tl

indeed-
the mechanic says its leaking, there is oil everywhere,,, then it is leaking bad and a cheap fix now
Will not give cel or oil light, it will stop working at all and suddenly let most of the oil out--under high pressure,,, being at the pressure sensing switch...

had one fail on my truck and have replaced them on other vehicles in my lifetime-

acurabum

I think my oil pressure switch is leaking too .Do you notice any louder noice in valves??
It sounds like my valves are louder some time .
Anyone has a picture where is the oil pressure switch and part # please .

fsttyms1

That is not the cause of your louder valves. It sounds like yours need to be adjusted

#16 (by 23) on the passenger side of the motor towards the rear



17 is the vtec solenoid

MOBB

yep, just ordered the part 17$

MOBB

No i don't notice any valve noise, although I had an engine tick thats pretty loud when I start up the car and then 3-4sec later it becomes pretty quite. It never happens on a cold start though only in hot weather. This car drives me crazzzy sometimes. It's too bad I care too much about my TL

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

quite a few cars weep through the oil pressure switch (not so much on ours though), more of a hassle with the leaks and dirtyness caused by it, and btw a quart of oil (should be what it takes to top the oil off from min to max iirc) is not really that much, especially with 130k on the clock, but with checking the oil level

and just an fyi some manufactures allow up to a quart per 1000 miles (ie. subaru, and quite a few other)


but if you are worried about it, just replace it, not that much $

01tl4tl

all engines burn/use at least a small amount of oil- it gets past the rings during compression (thats why PCV system exist = pressure relief in crankcase)

The TL is fine if it uses from full to low mark at 7500 miles
Many of us throw in 5 full qts at change to make up for expected loss- it wont hurt the engine

fsttyms1

when i do my 15k intervals i change the filter at 7500. Between the filter loss and the slight usage that it does have it takes about a half a quart to 3/4 or so to top the system back off

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

but you also do alot more highway mileage, and and warm start ups of the motor, so oil use for yours is going to alot less then people who start up alot more with the engine cold or city driving (for cold engines, rings and such won't be completely "seal" and such till fully warm, so part of that is more oil use)(then city driving you are changing the load very often, and at points just sitting there, so you can't really even rack those miles up at all)

01tl4tl

the point being a normal TL can be filled to the full mark and not touched thru the 7500 miles and be at low
still acceptable just not preferred,
keep it topped up for good measure

with heat the rings will compress slightly onto the piston- closing the ring end gap and opening the seal to cylinder slightly- thats why you do compression ck warm
make sure all is well when running temp

digitalextremes

These two oil pressure switches can be replaced with the oil in the car or the oil needs to be taken out? (I have never done it, need to replace mine but don't want the oil be be gushing out...)