Rep Power: 0

Hey guys!

I have a 2005 EX Special Edition Coupe. It now has 91000 miles.
I have been consistent about doing oil changes every 5k miles.

Problem:
I have noticed lately that the oil level seems a little low. It was sitting just at the lower hole on the dipstick. (Normally it sits halfway between the 2 holes.)

Troubleshooting:
1. The coolant level is between min and max. I have not had any overheating problems and I live in AZ
2. I do not have any warning lights coming on either.
3. There are no external oil leaks that I can see. Nothing dripping on the driveway.
4. It's been 3k miles since the last oil change.
5. Last weekend, I did some mountain driving. Nothing extreme.
6. When the car is running and in idle, I don't see any smoke coming out the exhaust. (I haven't checked it when driving.)
7. I am still getting about 33 mpg city driving. (I write the mileage down every time I fill up with gas.)

Plan:
My plan is to more closely monitor the oil level.
I filled it up to halfway between the 2 holes.
I made a note of the day and mileage.
And I am going to check it at least weekly to see if it changes.

Possible Causes:

1. Now I have to admit, I let the dealer do the oil changes. It costs less than if I bought a Honda brand filter and oil and also takes less time than when I do it, plus they wash my car. And it is also a 2nd set of eyes to check for problems. (I do other work on my car... I am changing the front brake pads tomorrow.) So it is possible that the service technician didn't properly fill it.

Are there any other possible causes? If it is an internal leak, where should I look? Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

 
Rep Power: 367

monitor for now - is the best answer

 
Rep Power: 217

^Yeah. Pretty much. Just don't overfill it if you need to add some. I doubt you're burning oil. Might just be some worn seals or a gasket. If you can, clean up your oil pan with some degreaser. I know my Corolla now has an oil pan gasket leak. I couldn't tell before because it was covered in crud. Same for the valve cover. If you're comfortable with doing an oil change next time, do that and watch the level when you drain it the next time around. I really don't have much else I can say. Just keep an eye on it and keep us posted.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you both for the quick replies! I will check near the oil pan gasket tomorrow while working on the brakes. I think it is still really clean down there.

 
Rep Power: 812

more than likely it was the oil change. i check my oil at least 4 times after changing it. there is no possible way to properly fill to the max line accurately without driving the car. oil gets into the filter, moves around, and then finally settles overnight. so you would at least have to drive the car back home after oil change and then check the level in the morning. very good possibility it was 1/2 way down when you drove it back the first day.

 
Rep Power: 0

Good news! I have been monitoring it. It seems like it was just a quart short from the last oil change. It's staying at the same level since I added oil.
Thanks for the help!

 
Rep Power: 234

^^ Sweet! Easy fix. Thank god it wasn't low enough to cause damage.

@ Gearbox: I swear I just put 4 quarts in and go. Never had a problem.

 
Rep Power: 812

could that explain your problems in the other thread? lol thats one thing i wouldnt guess on. why even have a dipstick then. i only used around 3.2 qts last time and im right at the max line. my fourth bottle is nearly full. and this is after driving around and letting the car sit so its the correct reading.

 
Rep Power: 234

Naw. Solved that problem- had a half a case of no-name filters that I was finishing up. I'm using good filters now and it's fine. Had the valve cover off last week and no sludge in there. What I could see of the cylinders thru the plug holes looked fine. Also when I change the oil I usually let it drain for awhile, like 30 minutes or more. I hardly ever put the plug in or filter on when it's still dripping.

3.7Q w/filter is the capacity. I wouldn't think over-filling by 3/10Q would be that bad.

For the record, this is how it sits at 1000 miles after the last change:


And, no it's not losing any oil. It's in tip-top shape.

 
Rep Power: 812

oh okay looks good on the stick.

 
Rep Power: 234

sig worthy. lol