Oil My Civic was drinking Oil

[Tarkers]

Hello,

I had a problem with My Civic 1.8 EX (Petrol), its an '08 and I bought it from new in May. After only the first week, the Oil information indicator light came on, I checked the dip, and the oil mark was just registering at the bottom. After only having the car for a week I was well less than happy. The garage apologised and checked for a leak, none was found, and said it must have been missed on the PDI. It seems the dip only registers to top litre of oil so no damage could come to the engine, but on a new car it should have been checked.

Over the next month I had to put in another litre and a half of oil . The garage phone me the other day and requested that my car go back in for additional checks. It seems mine is the 3rd car they've seen that was drinking oil. After speaking to Honda, the garage was told to check cylinder 3 for oil. They checked and found oil residue in there - the fix was to replace the cylinder head. I've had the car back for a few days now, the slight judder the car had has now gone too, and it seems fine, but I'll keep checking the oil.

Just thought I'd let others know of a possible problem.

[NoNumpty]

WOW that's really worrying - will be checking mine on a daily basis (got mine in May also - but it's a diesel)

[blader]

Picked mine up yesterday (new 2.2 EX) the salesman mentioned making sure I check the oil regularly over the next few weeks, as everything is bedding in and it may lose some.

I've done about 50 miles. Checked the oil this morning (out of interested) and the level is at the minimum level! Admitted, I'm on a little slope, where the boot is lower than the bonnet.

Because the dipstick is right at the front of the engine, I presume the level may be reading a little lower than it actually is. However, why isn't the oil level set nearer the maximum, rather than the minimum?

I shall be calling the salesman this morning to ask what levels are these set at during manufacture/assembly and why I'm at the minimum a day after buying it?

Oh and the reg plate is falling off! Why do they use sticky pads. I can understand it if they're sticking it to a flat bracket, but there's two round head screws sticking out of this bracket, meaning the reg plate can't sit flat!

Jeez!

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by blader

Picked mine up yesterday (new 2.2 EX) the salesman mentioned making sure I check the oil regularly over the next few weeks, as everything is bedding in and it may lose some.

I've done about 50 miles. Checked the oil this morning (out of interested) and the level is at the minimum level! Admitted, I'm on a little slope, where the boot is lower than the bonnet.

Because the dipstick is right at the front of the engine, I presume the level may be reading a little lower than it actually is. However, why isn't the oil level set nearer the maximum, rather than the minimum?

I shall be calling the salesman this morning to ask what levels are these set at during manufacture/assembly and why I'm at the minimum a day after buying it?

Oh and the reg plate is falling off! Why do they use sticky pads. I can understand it if they're sticking it to a flat bracket, but there's two round head screws sticking out of this bracket, meaning the reg plate can't sit flat!

Jeez!

I would check the engine oil on a flat surface asap. I would have thought with your mileage the indicator would show to the full or very close to it. If it is anywhere near low I would take the car back to the dealer right away and have them check it over.
As regards the number plate, I presume you are referring to the front. All it needs is a little care and pride by your dealer when fitting the registration plate. I modified the bracket on my front registration plate to accommodate the plate being fixed (securely) with double sided tape. It looks superb and very neat, but it took a little time. But well worth it
Yes, Jeez, I know how you must feel.

[blader]

I've just looked at the manual and it says that normal oil consumption can be upto 1 litre per 1000 km/625 miles!!! This maybe more when running in!!!!

[Doubtingthomas]

My 1.8 Es i-shift consumed one litre of engine oil in 4,700 miles from new. The consumption was heavier at first then settled down. I drove the new car as recommended in the Wiki section.
Blader, if the engine oil level is still very low after nominal mileage, I would still have the car checked over.

[morten]

My Civic needed a refill of about 1/2 a liter of oil the first 1000 miles or so. I was very careful when running the engine in. Since then, it has not used oil at all. Had the first oil change at 5500 miles, and then drove about 3700 miles during a three week holiday in europe with some fast motorway driving. I checked the oil almost every day, but it didn't use any oil at all.

So total consumption in about 9500 miles is 1/2 liter...

[REVIT]

My 07 1.8 ex was run in to the manual very gently used very little oil I think approx half a litre in the first 12k had a service used approx a quarter of a litre just before second service and none so far since then on about 27k. I regular hit the rev limiter as well at least 2/3 times a week through the gears so it not as if I don't kane the engine.

[blader]

Has anyone noticed what is written in the manual (page 370) for diesel engines?

Says service interval 12,500 miles. Then says underneath replace oil and filter every 6,250 miles!

So............. the service interval is 6,250 miles as far as I can see, not 12,500 miles!!!

Unless of course I'm reading this wrong.

Also, why does the page heading say: Maintenance schedule for diesel models (except EU)?

Basically, why would it be any different anywhere else? A Honda diesel engine is a Honda diesel engine, whether in the EU or non EU, surely? How does that affect frequency of service?

I'm confused!

[Pottsy]

That's for severe conditions.

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/52184-post7.html

Maintenance Schedule - Civinfo Wiki

[blader]

Thanks for that pottsy!

It's like a minefield out there

I'll take that as the standard 12,500 mile service then, which I think I think is what the salesman said to me.

[lewist123]

mine used about 1 ltr of oil in the first 4k, and has now settled down to a litre or so between service intervals (12.5k miles)

[Unknownsoldier]

Mine has so far used around 350ml, of oil in 9500 miles. And mine was run in hard....Dakar Style.

Tom

[12watch]

Originally Posted by Tarkers

Hello,

I had a problem with My Civic 1.8 EX (Petrol), its an '08 and I bought it from new in May. After only the first week, the Oil information indicator light came on, I checked the dip, and the oil mark was just registering at the bottom. After only having the car for a week I was well less than happy. The garage apologised and checked for a leak, none was found, and said it must have been missed on the PDI. It seems the dip only registers to top litre of oil so no damage could come to the engine, but on a new car it should have been checked.

Over the next month I had to put in another litre and a half of oil . The garage phone me the other day and requested that my car go back in for additional checks. It seems mine is the 3rd car they've seen that was drinking oil. After speaking to Honda, the garage was told to check cylinder 3 for oil. They checked and found oil residue in there - the fix was to replace the cylinder head. I've had the car back for a few days now, the slight judder the car had has now gone too, and it seems fine, but I'll keep checking the oil.

Just thought I'd let others know of a possible problem.

It seem like we have a similar issue with our 5 week old EX, the mileage is mounting and so is the oil consumption. We are adding a litre for every 700-1000 miles, at this rate we will be checking the oil at least twice a week , current mileage is 3700 and 3.5 litres have been added already (+ the original litre of factory oil). We spoke to the garage when the oil light came on after 600 miles, they said it was a "feature" of the newer engines! Not sure if I'd be too impressed if I need a a new cylinder head.

[electric]

I checked my 1.8EX today. It's done 2,600 miles and the level on the dip stick was about 2mm from the bottom and just visible. This is the first time I have checked the oil so it hopefully I used it during running in. I will top it up next week and keep a more regular check on it. I presume I will need to add about a litre.

I was told by the salesman that as my annual mileage is only 6,000 I would not need to put any oil in it before its first service.

[Doubtingthomas]

12watch
Can appreciate your concern. Good luck with it and don't be fobbed off by your dealer. I'm sure you won't be in view of the previous posts.

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by electric

I was told by the salesman that as my annual mileage is only 6,000 I would not need to put any oil in it before its first service.

Mmmmm. It is apparent from other member's posts that there is a wide variance in the amount of oil used by different Civics. I won't go in to the reasons but I am on target to reach a similar annual milage as you and I have used a litre of oil with two months to go, but I have kept the oil up to the full mark.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by electric

I was told by the salesman that as my annual mileage is only 6,000 I would not need to put any oil in it before its first service.

Checking oil regularly is a good habit irregardless of mileage.

Don´t listen to salesmen.

[Doubtingthomas]

So I am going to pose this question. The oil consumption on my new 1.8 ES i-shift appears to have settled after almost 5000 miles from new. Is it better for me to keep topping up the oil to the full mark on the dipstick as I go along or is it permissible to wait until the next service and have an oil change up to the full mark again? I anticipate I will use no more than one litre of oil between services.

[Soichiro]

In my experience my cars have tended to use oil quicker at the top of the dipstick, so I only top up if the oil goes below half way.
But always check EVERY week