car burning oil
 

Hey guys,

My 2000 LX is burning oil. what is the best or most cost effective way to slow and or remedy this issue? Usually have to add oil about every 1000 miles. when I check the dip stick it is below the lower dot on the stick or barely showing. New to Hondas so all the help I can get is much appreciated!

I know Honda recommends 5w-30 but would a heavier weight oil help?

Re: car burning oil
 

First to check is oil consumption or leak? If you're sure you got oil consumption, replace PCV valve if you never replace it yet. What's your mileage?

Re: car burning oil
 

1k miles between needing to add is not to bad.

Oil is cheaper then replacing the rings and seals.

Re: car burning oil
 

Copied from another post of mine:

Nothing other than a ring job would give perfect, immediate results.

Another thing to do is to switch to a better quality oil and hope it can slowly clean carbon out of the ring lands of the pistons (carbon buildup is usually what causes the oil rings to stick in their grooves).




"Heavier" oil can help or hurt. You can't tell which. Some engines respond as you would expect, some don't.
Example: 10w30 is some of the lowest quality, and the cheapest to make. Therefore it generates the highest profit and is pushed the hardest on the consumers.
5w20 and 0w20 use better base stocks to start with.
I personally favor "thinner" oil of higher quality, for multiple reasons.

IMHO
Look for and use 5w20 oil with specs of:
ILSAC GF-5
ACEA A1/B1
API SN (or higher)

Much of the Mobil-1 5w20 meets these specs.
So do many/most of the oils bearing the DEXOS-1 logo. Read the labels though.

May take a looooong time to have any effect though.
If it is even caused by the rings in the first place.

I have been doing this with my GF's Saturn, it has taken 30k+ to slow down the oil use. It was using a quart in 500 miles, now it has gone as far as 1500 -2000 miles per quart. But it varies a lot, and I still have to check it very regularly.



Kinakoes here adds a small bit of a diesel rated oil in his engine crankcase for cleaning purposes.