OK, I'm dumb...

[midjd]

I have a wonderful 93 Honda del sol with 212,000 miles. It's been about 4,500 miles since my last oil change (have one scheduled for Saturday). As I was pulling into my driveway after work this evening, the oil light flickered for about 2 seconds, then went out.

DH checked my oil a couple of hours later. He reported that there was 0 oil on the dipstick. Went and bought a 5-gallon jug, poured about 3 gallons into the del sol. Googled oil capacity for the 1.6L engine... looks like I was driving around for who knows how long on <1 gallon of oil (capacity is 3.5-3.8L.)

So what now? DH says I should just keep driving it and sooner or later I'll find out if I've damaged the engine... but I would like to know sooner so that I can mentally prepare for the worst

[midjd]

Update - pulled out of the garage this am and saw a 6" or so puddle of oil under the driver's side. Driving the other car today...

I am somewhat relieved since it was a puzzle as to where the 3 missing gallons went...but I suspect the reason I wasn't leaking oil all over the garage floor before is because I've been running near empty for quite awhile, so not good... (Car still starts/runs fine for now).

[Wizard of Id]

The fact that the oil light just flickered for 2 seconds, as bad as no oil pressure is, it probably didn't hurt the engine. The oil level was still enough for the oil pump to pick it up, and when you turned the corner it "sloshed" away from the suction tube. It would be wise to check to see where the oil was leaking from. The puddle on the floor could just be spillage from putting the oil in, been there done that. Its a good habit to check the oil ever time you fill up or at least once a week. 4500 miles is enough time for an engine with that many miles to consume the oil. I've had low mileage vehicles that would use a quart + ever 3000 miles.

[midjd]

Thanks! I'm hoping DH can figure out the source of the leak this afternoon. Usually I get the oil changed every 3,000 miles on the dot and they've never mentioned it being low, so I'm hoping this is either a recent development or just the side effect of waiting an extra 1,500 miles...

Now I need to buy beer on the way home to bribe our mechanic neighbor to come over... ;D

[tskeeter]

poured about 3 gallons into the del sol.

JD, I'm hoping you meant quarts of oil, not gallons. If hubby really did put in three gallons, that could explain the pool of oil on the floor. According to information I looked up, the Del Sol holds 4 quarts of oil. That sounds about right to me, for a car with a small engine.

If hubby did over fill the oil, DO NOT START THE CAR!, drain the oil out and re-fill to the appropriate level. Engine damage may occur if the engine is run with way too much oil in the crank case.

If hubby really did put several gallons of oil in the car, enroll him in a basic auto mechanics class right now. The registration fee for the class will be much less expensive than the damage he will unknowingly cause to your cars.

[chiver78]

thank you for reminding me that I'm about 4k miles overdue for a change.

maybe I'll do that tonight.

[midjd]

JD, I'm hoping you meant quarts of oil, not gallons.

D'oh! Yes, quarts is correct. You can tell I'm not a chemist (or a cook) ;D

I talked to DH at lunch and mentioned the pool of oil on the floor. He said that he spilled a bit while filling it last night and that's probably what it was. So now I'm no further in figuring out how my car disposed of 3+ quarts (almost typed gallons again) of oil in 4,500 miles...

Honestly though, remembering back to my last oil change, the technician 1) killed my car 3x pulling it back into the bay (to be fair it does have a kind of touchy clutch, but still); 2) couldn't figure out how to open the hood (I had to go back there and do it for him); and 3) killed it AGAIN backing it out into the parking lot. I wouldn't be surprised if they shorted me a quart or so due to sheer incompetence and the rest is attributable to typical burnoff of an old engine. But maybe I'm just grasping at straws.

I guess I'll drive it until it dies... hopefully later rather than sooner

[Trongersoll]

any smoke in the exhaust? especially after sitting awhile? It is quite possible to burn that much over that many miles with out noticing it on a car with that many miles. You might want to consider a higher viscosity oil or an oil made for high mileage cars.

[wodehouse]

Probably not your 93 Honda, but many current cars (2000+) have turbochargers. These really tend to burn oil so if you hot rod a lot, or if the engine is 50K+ then check it regularly if you have a turbo. (spoken from experience)

[domic]

Usually, you would notice three quarts leaking or burning out in 4500 miles (puddles or black smoke/residue on the back of the car above the exhaust) but if that's not it, then the shop who changed the oil last may have very well shorted you. Easy fix is just to check your level after the oil change and then check it every time you fill up with gas and see if it is dropping. if it is, look for a leak or evidence that it's burning out and go with a good shop for repairs.

[Malarky]

Aug 29, 2011 17:18:27 GMT -5 @rj said:

Aug 29, 2011 16:40:46 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

Most likely bad seals are the culprit.

Thats why they club them ;D

I LOL'd at this. I am a bad person.

[midjd]

Me three ;D

Car is running fine <<knocks on wood>> and doesn't seem to be losing much oil this time around - I've been checking it weekly. I suspect they may have shorted me. Hopefully it continues to run well, with that many miles it worries me!

[domic]

years ago I had a honda civic that would only burn oil when I was on the highway pushing 80 or so mph, but in town it did not burn any, turned out the valve stem seals were bad but they didn't leak unless the oil pressure was up. not a real big deal as long as I kept oil in it. Might be something like that...

[TD2K]