I currently own a 2004 Acura RSX Type-S with a 6-speed manual transmission and 152,000 miles. It has the 2.0L K20 I4. I changed the oil 2000 miles ago at 150,000 and when I recently checked it, I noticed I was about a quart low. I used AMSOIL 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil. Is this a sign of the engine going bad or something worse?
Is this the first time you are using AMSOIL? Just askin’…
Anyway, … what was your oil consumption prior? Less? Much less? Not a noticeable amount? It’s important. Cars tend to consume more oil as milage piles up, … but sudden changes mean something just gave. Let’s start with history.
F.S.
I have has it since September of 2020. All the fluids were fresh when I bought the car and the first oil change I did was the one mentioned (this was January). This is my first time using amsoil and honestly, during the time Ive had it, the oil consumption has stayed relatively the same. Let me know if there is any other info you need.
Well, that’s not much of history. So, we need to start somewhere, simple things first: … PCV. If PCV gets stucked open, it will suck oil right out of the sump. Check that. Keep pinching a rubber hose leading to it, as engine is running, and listen for a click. If it clearly clicks, it’s not it! If it doesn’t, change it or clean it and try it again. Still no clicks? Garbage, …
Next thing I suggest is compression test: dry and wet. If wet shows better results than dry: … piston rings. Not good. If the same: valve seals, … not as bad.
Anyway, I would start there, … and hope that previous owner did not pull,a fast one on you, … like used a "chemical method" to hide a condition that is, … well, a well worn out engine!
F.S.
Oh, one more thing: stop using AMSOIL, … it’s expensive, not much better than regular branded oil of the same grade, … and just perhaps, contains special additives - heavy detergents - that well used engine really, really didn’t needed help from.
F.S.
Well, different oils have different additives. And they don't always play nice, inside the engine. There's always the possibility of undesirable chemical reactions, in the engine, from changing oil brands.
The result: Increased oil consumption because of those reactions. Assuming that there's no leaks from the oil filter, the oil pan, drain plug or valve cover gasket, the increased consumption could be related to changing the oil brand.
If you change back to what you were using, over time (two or three oil changes), the consumption issue might lessen, if brand switching is the cause of increased oil consumption.
Personally, I'd drain the AMSOIL out, replace the oil and filter with what your engine usually gets, and watch and wait.
