Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an alarming rate. A
couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately shut the vehicle off
and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again the other day and
had to add half a quart.

This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue smoke; there are no
oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can possibly be normal
consumption??? Where could this oil be going?

Thanks,
Be

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?


"BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
> alarming rate. A
> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
> shut the vehicle off
> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
> the other day and
> had to add half a quart.
>
> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
> smoke; there are no
> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
> possibly be normal
> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?


"BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
> alarming rate. A
> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
> shut the vehicle off
> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
> the other day and
> had to add half a quart.
>
> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
> smoke; there are no
> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
> possibly be normal
> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?


"BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
> alarming rate. A
> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
> shut the vehicle off
> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
> the other day and
> had to add half a quart.
>
> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
> smoke; there are no
> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
> possibly be normal
> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Oops--Is the 2001 Odyssey distributor-less? If so, of course
strike that second part below.

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote
> Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
> Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?
>
>
> "BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
>> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
>> alarming rate. A
>> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
>> shut the vehicle off
>> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
>> the other day and
>> had to add half a quart.
>>
>> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
>> smoke; there are no
>> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
>> possibly be normal
>> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?
>
>

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Oops--Is the 2001 Odyssey distributor-less? If so, of course
strike that second part below.

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote
> Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
> Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?
>
>
> "BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
>> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
>> alarming rate. A
>> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
>> shut the vehicle off
>> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
>> the other day and
>> had to add half a quart.
>>
>> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
>> smoke; there are no
>> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
>> possibly be normal
>> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?
>
>

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Oops--Is the 2001 Odyssey distributor-less? If so, of course
strike that second part below.

"Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote
> Have you thoroughly inspected the exterior of the engine?
> Especially right beneath the valve cover and distributor?
>
>
> "BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote
>> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an
>> alarming rate. A
>> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately
>> shut the vehicle off
>> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again
>> the other day and
>> had to add half a quart.
>>
>> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue
>> smoke; there are no
>> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can
>> possibly be normal
>> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?
>
>

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

I would suggest a visit to the dealer, get an estimate, and then call Honda
Customer Service. Honda has a tremendous reputation for quality and I
would see what they would consider doing on your behalf. Be polite, but
firm about this issue. Has the van ever overheated and are you the
original owner? Good luck.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

I would suggest a visit to the dealer, get an estimate, and then call Honda
Customer Service. Honda has a tremendous reputation for quality and I
would see what they would consider doing on your behalf. Be polite, but
firm about this issue. Has the van ever overheated and are you the
original owner? Good luck.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

I would suggest a visit to the dealer, get an estimate, and then call Honda
Customer Service. Honda has a tremendous reputation for quality and I
would see what they would consider doing on your behalf. Be polite, but
firm about this issue. Has the van ever overheated and are you the
original owner? Good luck.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Another thought.....are you sure the right amount of oil was put in at your
last oil change? Also, sometimes a shop or person could accidently leave
the old oil filter gasket on the engine and get a massive leak there. I
know of shops/people that have done all of these things. I would be
getting a new oil filter to be in the safe side. How often were you
checking your oil prior to the oil light? There are souls out there that
only check oil when the light lights.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Another thought.....are you sure the right amount of oil was put in at your
last oil change? Also, sometimes a shop or person could accidently leave
the old oil filter gasket on the engine and get a massive leak there. I
know of shops/people that have done all of these things. I would be
getting a new oil filter to be in the safe side. How often were you
checking your oil prior to the oil light? There are souls out there that
only check oil when the light lights.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

Another thought.....are you sure the right amount of oil was put in at your
last oil change? Also, sometimes a shop or person could accidently leave
the old oil filter gasket on the engine and get a massive leak there. I
know of shops/people that have done all of these things. I would be
getting a new oil filter to be in the safe side. How often were you
checking your oil prior to the oil light? There are souls out there that
only check oil when the light lights.

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

"BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:C070EA45.4B250%n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net.. .
> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an alarming rate. A
> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately shut the vehicle
> off
> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again the other day and
> had to add half a quart.
>
> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue smoke; there are
> no
> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can possibly be normal
> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?
>
> Thanks,
> Be
>
I hate to suggest this, but it could be a bad ring. A few years ago we were
seeing several posts of low-mileage Hondas suddenly consuming quarts of oil
a month. Most remained a mystery, but one sufferer under warranty persisted
and the dealer tore down the engine to find a broken ring in one cylinder. I
don't know if it showed up on a compression check, or if it was a
compression ring or oil control ring. I don't think I've ever heard of
broken oil control rings, though.

I believe the catalytic converters prevent the exhaust from smoking even
with significant oil burning.

Mike

Re: Where is my oil disappearing to?
 

"BE" <n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:C070EA45.4B250%n3wsr3ad3r_|@|_sbcglobal.net.. .
> My 2001 Odyssey is consuming oil at what I think is an alarming rate. A
> couple months ago the oil light came on - I immediately shut the vehicle
> off
> and ended up adding 3 quarts of oil. I checked it again the other day and
> had to add half a quart.
>
> This engine only has 41K miles. It does not put out blue smoke; there are
> no
> oil spots in our garage. Don't tell me that this can possibly be normal
> consumption??? Where could this oil be going?
>
> Thanks,
> Be
>
I hate to suggest this, but it could be a bad ring. A few years ago we were
seeing several posts of low-mileage Hondas suddenly consuming quarts of oil
a month. Most remained a mystery, but one sufferer under warranty persisted
and the dealer tore down the engine to find a broken ring in one cylinder. I
don't know if it showed up on a compression check, or if it was a
compression ring or oil control ring. I don't think I've ever heard of
broken oil control rings, though.

I believe the catalytic converters prevent the exhaust from smoking even
with significant oil burning.

Mike