Acura TSX burning oil

[RampantAndroid]

Hi all,

I've been dealing with my 2010 TSX with the I4 engine burning oil for the last year and a half now. I cannot make it to 5k miles without a low oil light (the light normally goes on at 3k-3.5k.) Honda/Acura is being super douchey and saying they won't deal with it until it's burning 1qt every 1k miles.

Now, there's a TSB out on the 2010 TSX manual trasmission that indicates the cylinder walls can get scratched and cause exactly my problem - oil burn. But I'm in an automatic, so Honda won't help me. I've considered going to a local japanese auto shop to have them crack the engine open to examine it at my cost (unless there are scratches, then I'd bill Acura for the work and demand they start giving me free oil changes for the next couple years...) but this seems like a step I shouldn't have to take....and if I'm wrong and the cylinder walls aren't scratched, it's at my expense.

Any thoughts? What should I do?

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Give a call to Acura corporate and tell them that your dealer is refusing to do anything about your problem. I have seen other owners give calls to corporate offices and the dealership was forced to comply.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Give a call to Acura corporate and tell them that your dealer is refusing to do anything about your problem. I have seen other owners give calls to corporate offices and the dealership was forced to comply.

Will that get me anywhere? The dealer is claiming it's Acura's rule to not service a car (investigate the issue) that is burning less than 1qt per 1k.

 

[HarryLui]

Low oil pressure light or low oil life light?

If the low oil pressure light comes on, you have serious engine problem.

From the TSX's owner manual, page 471
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/L11010/L11010OM.pdf

Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped.

 

[NutBucket]

I highly doubt there's a low oil level light. If your oil light is coming on I would agree you have a SERIOUS problem.

 

[LTC8K6]

Are you driving it until you see that light on the dash and then adding oil?

I hope not.

 

[RampantAndroid]

The light is going on when on the dipstick the oil level is nearing the lower line (and Acura assures me that the oil level light should only turn on when the oil level is so low it won't register on the dipstick.) The oil light only turns on when the car hits a steep enough incline within the first few minutes of running the car. Only once or twice did it come on after the car had been running for a while. In all cases, I took the car in to be looked at once I had verified the oil level.

Every time the low oil level/oil pressure light comes on, I check the car's oil levels and such. Acura keeps telling me nothing is wrong.

Now, why it's coming on DOES seem to be oil level related. I changed my oil at 43015. I poured in a little too much oil, but didn't drain any out. I was above the top line (whoops.) My car last night was at 44030 and I checked again after the car sat for 4-5 hours after driving it. The oil level had dropped to an eighth of an inch or so below the top line already. Give it another 1k and I'll be middle of the dipstick or so. By 3k miles after the oil change I'll be nearing the bottom line. Again, Acura claims that this is normal and acceptable and I should change my oil at least every 3.5k miles. I used Mobile 1 synthetic oil. Probably overkill over the basic synthetic oil I can find for cheaper, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Synthetic oil does seem to last longer in the car than dino oil (the dealer accidentally put in dino oil one time, hence why I know) but it does seem to burn off regardless. The tail pipe doesn't look blue though, and I see no smoke.

As for the type of driving I do, I don't red line. I rev high sometimes, but I don't red line. I don't often push the car much, and most of my driving the car is at 70mph or lower.

Also: the dealer has so far replaced the oil pressure sensor and has also checked the car numerous times for leaks. I did my first oil change on this car by myself this time around and while under the car I also verified that I saw no signs of leaking oil from the pan or the car. The splash guard was clean.

 

[LTC8K6]

It actually does sound normal after that post.

IIRC, most mfgs won't do anything until you burn a quart really fast, like in 1K miles.

 

[LTC8K6]

For example, Chrysler allows 1 quart in 2K miles for vehicles with less than 50K miles, and 1 quart in 750 miles for vehicles over 50K miles. Both are considered normal by Chrysler (and unacceptable by me).

Chrysler apparently considers it normal to add 2 or even 3 quarts of oil between oil changes.

Seems like there's no point to changing the oil at the rate you would be replacing it.

http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_0900112.pdf

Your Acura is great by comparison.

 

[fstime]

I highly doubt there's a low oil level light. If your oil light is coming on I would agree you have a SERIOUS problem.

Sure they do, Mercedes from 1999 have oil level monitors which tell you when adding oil is required, let alone a car from 2010.

 

[RampantAndroid]

For example, Chrysler allows 1 quart in 2K miles for vehicles with less than 50K miles, and 1 quart in 750 miles for vehicles over 50K miles. Both are considered normal by Chrysler (and unacceptable by me).

Chrysler apparently considers it normal to add 2 or even 3 quarts of oil between oil changes.

Seems like there's no point to changing the oil at the rate you would be replacing it.

http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_0900112.pdf

Your Acura is great by comparison.

But what about the TSB on the scratched cylinder - could that be what's happening here? The manager at Acura said to me that EVEN IF I got Mike's Japanese Auto here in Bellevue to crack the head off and find there were scratches, Acura would REFUSE to service the car until I was burning more than 1qt per 1k. Why? If I can PROVE TO THEM that the problem is due to a manufacturing defect, why would they refuse to fix? Or should I say why are they ALLOWED to refuse to fix it?

Maybe my Acura isn't as bad as some other cars out there, but to call this experience off putting is an understatement.

 

[LTC8K6]

I actually wouldn't be that concerned with the rate of oil use you have described.

If it bothers you, you should try to get as much info as you can about the issue.

Might be able to put a borescope / inspection camera in through a spark plug hole, rather than remove the head.

 

[NutBucket]

It actually does sound normal after that post.

IIRC, most mfgs won't do anything until you burn a quart really fast, like in 1K miles.

Yeah, a quart between changes is certainly within "normal" range in my book.

 

[NutBucket]

Sure they do, Mercedes from 1999 have oil level monitors which tell you when adding oil is required, let alone a car from 2010.

I know it exists. I still don't consider it to be common.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I actually wouldn't be that concerned with the rate of oil use you have described.

If it bothers you, you should try to get as much info as you can about the issue.

Might be able to put a borescope / inspection camera in through a spark plug hole, rather than remove the head.

Good point, I'll look into that to see if they have a camera that'll do that and save labor costs.

Yeah, a quart between changes is certainly within "normal" range in my book.

And that might be OK to me too. However, what is your definition of between oil changes? Mine isn't every 3,000 miles. It's every 5,000 or even every 7,500 when using synthetic. My 04 Focus that was plagued with problems starting up reliably could go 7.5k miles with no oil level concerns. If I had bought an S2000 or a Mazda rotary engine I'd get the oil consumption...but I don't get it in a regular 4 cylinder inline 4. I bought this car in part because it was supposed to be super reliable and low hassle. What I've got instead is a car that I have to remember to look under the hood of every thousand miles. That's a step down from my focus.

 

[Kelvrick]

What oil do you use?

Have you tried different brands? I know a lot of turbo subarus love to burn Mobile 1.

 

[NutBucket]

My intervals depend on the car. My Honda was using over a quart on 5k intervals but that was on a used motor. Our WRX uses a little more than a quart between 5k changes (M1).

Again, not ideal but not outrageous.

 

[onza]

I would try changing to a different oil and see if the results are similar.

 

[HarryLui]

Sure they do, Mercedes from 1999 have oil level monitors which tell you when adding oil is required, let alone a car from 2010.

For Acura TSX, there is no oil level light.

From the TSX's owner manual, page 471
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/L11010/L11010OM.pdf

Every time the low oil level/oil pressure light comes on, I check the car's oil levels and such. Acura keeps telling me nothing is wrong.

Your car have no oil level light!

Your have a oil pressure light, the oil pressure light should not be coming on any time the engine is running. If it comes on, you either have a faulty oil pressure switch/wiring or major problem with your engine. In your case, I bet it is the switch/wiring.

Is it under warranty? If so, get them fix it.

 

[LTC8K6]

The light was brought up before and it wasn't really addressed clearly.

I think I posted earlier that it sounded like he was not adding oil until the oil pressure light was coming on.

He posted about that:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35552232&postcount=7

It's still odd, though.

I think you are actually losing oil pressure at times. Maybe on steep hills with a low oil level?

It is a "low oil pressure" light, and as such, it is a serious problem if it comes on, and it may be why you are burning oil now.

 

[pauldun170]

Oil consumption isn't the worst thing in the world and I would worry too much about a qt every 3K. Just check your oil every couple of fillups and enjoy the car. Have you done a proper consumption test yet?

That being said - Oil light coming on is bad.
I would investigate the oil pump. Have them hook up the oil pressure gauge and test it.

 

[RampantAndroid]

For Acura TSX, there is no oil level light.

Your car have no oil level light!

Your have a oil pressure light, the oil pressure light should not be coming on any time the engine is running. If it comes on, you either have a faulty oil pressure switch/wiring or major problem with your engine. In your case, I bet it is the switch/wiring.

Is it under warranty? If so, get them fix it.

I call it an oil level light. On the display, this is the text I see: "CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL" - it says level.

The light was brought up before and it wasn't really addressed clearly.

I think I posted earlier that it sounded like he was not adding oil until the oil pressure light was coming on.

He posted about that:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35552232&postcount=7

It's still odd, though.

I think you are actually losing oil pressure at times. Maybe on steep hills with a low oil level?

It is a "low oil pressure" light, and as such, it is a serious problem if it comes on, and it may be why you are burning oil now.

It turned on again last night as I left my parking garage, which while leaving points the car down at a 30 degree angle. Once the car leveled out, the light went off. Acura is saying nothing is wrong. *again*

 

[Jimzz]

What brand and weight of oil are you using?

Some oils run on the thin side and some thicker.

 

[HarryLui]

It turned on again last night as I left my parking garage, which while leaving points the car down at a 30 degree angle. Once the car leveled out, the light went off. Acura is saying nothing is wrong. *again*

The oil level warning only comes on when your car is at a 30 degree angle?

 

[Hugo Drax]

Oil consumption isn't the worst thing in the world and I would worry too much about a qt every 3K. Just check your oil every couple of fillups and enjoy the car. Have you done a proper consumption test yet?

That being said - Oil light coming on is bad.
I would investigate the oil pump. Have them hook up the oil pressure gauge and test it.

Maybe for American and German autos. But a 2010 4 cyl tsx should not be burning 1qt every 3k.

His problem is he does not have the balls to escalate and is letting the dealership take him for a ride.