Hi there. First, let me say I am a female, with little car knowledge, just doing some research on this problem with my prelude my fiance and I are struggling with because Honda keeps giving us some scripted BS about what's wrong, and they tell us there is no problem.

So, I am here to find out if other Prelude owners have this problem, or it's normal.

Oil burn, not normal amount of oil burn, this has been happening since the 35K mark (not before then.) It started burning a couple of quarts in between changes, and this last time, I went barely 2500 miles and it's not even registering on the dipstick! No hard driving, no smoke, no external leakage found.

Any thoughts?

(1999 Prelude SH)

 

Are you the original owner? If so there is the question of how it was broken in. Also the type of oil has a relationship here (fossil or synthetic). If you have always used fossil-stay with it. If you recently switched-go back.
The amount of oil you are using is ABNORMAL, period. Less than a quart in 3000 miles is fairly typical for many of the owners. I use nearly none and have over 31k on the odometer, and that includes track time at Pocono.

Pester the dealer and Honda support-call the 800 number-they will work with you to resolve the problem.

 

This has been a hot topic for some time. I'll start with the fact that Prelude VTEC models burn oil. They do. When you hit VTEC, you will burn a little. I have seen that an average is about a quart to 1.5 every oil change. Every Prelude VTEC I know of does it. Honda will tell you that it is normal, and it really is. Just make sure you check it every fuel up, and you will be fine. No bad seals, gaskets, bearings, or rings. That's just the inherent properties of the engine design. Having said that, if you are burning more there may be a problem. I don't know for sure, and it may be tough to prove to a dealer considering these engines have a certain burnoff tollerance. My Prelude burns about 1 quart every change, and that is exactly what it did at 5,000 miles. Yes, I was carefull on break-in (first 1000 miles didn't hit VTEC, shifted under 3000 rpm), but that is also a miss-nomer...... Honda redline's every engine in every gear including reverse the second they are at the end of the assembly line when they are ice cold -- no warm up (quality control, eh?). If you are burning 2 or more quarts every change, I would say that is a problem. But you will need to be persistant on proving this to Honda. Remember, there is a tollerable amount of burnoff, so they may keep telling you no.

 

I think 1 quart to 1.5 every change is a bit of an exagguration, if I may say so. Even with VTEC, it's not even close to that much of a problem. What you're talking about is. It's either burning it or it's leaking, can't be neither, because the oil isn't some kind of phantom fluid. What kind of oil are you using (I'm sure that's been covered already, but might as well ask) But yes, definitely pester the service dept, it's only 4 years old and that's pretty peculiar for a car. Hell, my old '87 Prelude burned less than 1/2 a quart between changes, and that was at 140k miles. Speaking of which, how many miles do you have on it? Just keep reminding the service people that it isn't normal, and it's a NEWER car, and if they can't help you, you'd like to either speak with the DSM (district service manager) yourself, or have the service manager call the DSM while you wait. If you are able to speak with the DSM, just be polite and let him or her know the story and that it's HIGHLY UNUSUAL (emphasis there, just keep using it) and I'm sure you'll get some help, and hopefully a leg up.