2001 Accord Excessive Oil Consumption
 

I have a 2001 Accord Sedan 2.3 litre, 4 cylinder with 100,000 km. The engine is burning oil at a rate of 1 litre every 1,200 kilometres. I am in a battle with my dealership to get this fixed under warranty, and I have some questions that I hope some of you can help with:

1. Is this a common complaint?
2. What is the likely cause? Defective oil control rings?
3. If the dealer and Honda Canada refuses to fix the problem, can anyone offer advice regarding the repair (i.e. what parts will be needed) etc.

Thanks in advance,

Tom
St. John’s Newfoundland

It's definetely not normal. I haven't seen a late model Honda use any oil, unless it's been seriously abused.
Have you owned it since new? What's the history on the car?
Has the PCV system been maintained?
What do the plugs look like? Has a cylinder leakdown been done?

At that rate of consumption you more than likely have frozen oil rings or clogged oil returns in the head.

As for parts, that's difficult, depending on where the oil is actually going.

If it's sludged up, (another rarity) the motor should be replaced, there is no way to get it completely clean without removal and a full overhaul.

I dont know what to tell you except I feel you pain, my 2000 goes through a lot of oil, probably almost a quart every 1500 miles. I just keep checking it until I can afford to overhaul the motor, or buy a new one.

Thanks,

Car has not been abused and the oil was changed every 12,000 km (~6,000 miles) km or so. PVC seems OK. I think the oil control rings are broken, stuck, or soft...

Dealer is saying the oil was not changed often enough and that they will likely refuse the warranty claim unless I can produce more oil change receipts. Do they have a right to do this? Oil change intervals are "recommended" not required...?

A good friend of mine was having the same problem with his 99 2.3 Accord... turned out to be a bad PCV valve. After researching the subject, turned out that it was a relatively common issue...and in most cases, the PCV valve was at fault. It's a $5-8 dollar part and easy to replace. I'd give that a try first.

If it helps the US Accord manual recommends oil changes every 7500 miles with the filter every other change.

Not sure if your reciepts can cover that time frame, but I'd assume come litegation or something if you have a fairly regular run of reciepts it wouldn't be your fault.

smoky,
if you followed a 6k oil change interval, you are still within Honda's 7500 mile interval.
As long as you have receipts for the oil changes, or at least for the oil and oil filters (if you did it yourself) they can't tell you what they did.

I agree, try a new PCV valve, see if it makes a difference.