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  • Report:  #772819

Complaint Review: HONDA

HONDA Burning Oil Internet

  • Reported By:
    Sj — walnut creek California United States of America
  • Submitted:
    Sun, September 04, 2011
  • Updated:
    Sun, September 04, 2011

 I purchased my honda brand new in 2008 from Burns Honda (Cherry Hill, NJ). In January of 2011, I was driving car and it was making a strange grinding sound. After pulling over, I checked the dip stick and saw that there was no oil in the engine. I waited for the engine to cool to confirm this. Then I took the car to Honda of Columbia (Columbia, SC), where they kept the car for 3 days to finally  let me know that the gasket between the engine oil pan and the engine was defective and needed to be replaced under the power train warrenty. In addition they did a PCM update.  They asked me if I notice if there were any oil spots in the drive way and I stated that there were not any. Speaking with a mechanic he stated that if they gasket was defective there would have been an oil stain on my drive way.
Approximately 2 months later (1100 miles), I checked the engine oil level again to find that the oil level was at the minimum dot on the dip stick. I took the car back to Honda of Columbia and stated that the engine was still burning oil, as well the oil level indicator did not signify that the oil level was low. Within an hour of dropping off the car I spoke with Honda of America letting them know of the issue, also stating that Honda of Columbia that the oil indicator only signifies when the oil levels are less than half a quart and the dip stick has no correlation. At this point they did a second PCM update to try to solve the problem. 
At this point it was the recommendation of Honda of Columbia as well as Honda of America to start an Oil Consumption study. After the first 1000 miles I took the car to Honda of Columbia and notified them that in 1 month I would be moving to NJ then moving to Califonia and would have to continue the study at Burns Honda. They stated that the study may have to be restarted. Upon arriving in New Jersey and running a few errands I checked the oil level to see that the dipstick showed half the oil has been consumed in 2200 miles. On August 4, 2011 I contacted Honda of America and notified them that this issue is still persisting. The recommended I contacted Burns Honda to see what could be done. Burns Honda stated that their was another PCM update that needs to be conducted on the car in order to resolve the issue. Also stating that the issue is a result of the oil seeping past the pistons on start up, thereby increasing the oil to gas ratio causing the engine to burn the oil. 
Prior to moving to California, I was planning to drive but due to the high oil consumption I decided it would be best to send the car. I notified Honda that there is a high risk that the engine will burn. In addition, when I started the engine oil consumption study they stated that if the engine is deemed that it is consuming too much oil the engine would be replaced. Presently, I have driven 911 miles since the PCM update and  have notice that the oil level on the dip stick is 1/4 less than when Burns Honda refilled the oil.
I have checked forums to see if their any solutions, instead I have found there are thousands of posts regarding this and Honda of America isn't remedying the problem. 

Honda does not care. I have had several claims managers and all they are telling me to do is get an update. I purchased this car brand new. I paid it off in the first 2 years. Pretty much Honda got their money and they are running. Somone needs to do something. There has to be some kind of law, which states if the oil or engine has a problem with the first couple years they have to give you a new car.


PLEASE HELP!!!

3 Updates & Rebuttals


Sj

walnut creek,
California,
United States of America

Honda oil consumption

#4Author of original report

Sun, September 04, 2011

I have followed all routine maintenance, but comparing the Toyota, Infinity, Mercedes and other Honda's I have owned or my family have owned I have found that the car usually indicates when the oil level is low. But this car gives no indication. Negligence would be if I was deliberately ignoring the signs, but if the car isn't giving any indication until grinding how is the owner to know if something is wrong? I think Honda should go back to the older cars and have indicators that let the user know the oil levels are low or if service is required. The user shouldn't be expected to check their dip stick every 1000 miles.  


Ken

Greeley,
Colorado,
USA

From your post....

#4Consumer Comment

Sun, September 04, 2011

" I was driving car and it was making a strange grinding sound. After pulling over, I checked the dip stick and saw that there was no oil in the engine. I waited for the engine to cool to confirm this. Then I took the car to Honda of Columbia (Columbia, SC)"

If you truly did this, you damaged your engine, likely scoring the cylinders and damaging the rings.

You DO NOT drive a car with no oil in the engine...it is ALWAYS very damaging.

Your oil light only comes on after you've lost oil pressure, it has really nothing to do with the oil level other than the oil pump can't pick it up when it's too low.

Very sorry for your experience, but I wouldn't think this is covered by Honda's warranty.
This would be considered abuse.


Ramjet

Somewhere,
Michigan,
U.S.A.

Question

#4Consumer Comment

Sun, September 04, 2011

Does the exhaust smell like  burning oil and is it blue?  It seems like it would be if it's burning that much oil.

I don't understand what the computer and updates would have to do with burning too much oil.  Isn't that a result of a purely mechanical problem?

I have a 2007 Honda that doesn't use a drop of oil between changes at around 5000 miles.  Burning that much is definitely not normal.  Keep pursuing it.

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