CRV consuming oil like crazy.

[fdcg27]

Some K24s do develop absurdly high oil consumption at well under 100K.
In this case, since the onset of high consumption was apparently abrupt, the PCV valve and associated tubing would be a cheap first resort to replace.
If that yields no results, then she's driving a Honda Saturn and she needs to be shown how to check the oil level and how to add oil. Something thicker might help as well.
Educate her in what the oil light really means. If she's seen it a number of times, she probably has accelerated wear to the mains, not that it will matter if the car needs a new short block.
There's really no point in her spending the big dollars that will be involved in repairing this thing before she really needs to.
She may as well just keep on adding oil for as long as it will run, which might well be a very long time.
Given her situation, if she were my neighbor, she'd be helping me to make my stash decline and I'd have replaced the PCV stuff for her, although I would have first carefully explained to her what was going on so that she would not have reason to blame me later when the inevitable happens.

 

[RF Overlord]

I agree that you should attempt to explain to her why she NEEDS to check the oil every time she gets gas, or at least once every couple of weeks, and what will happen if she runs it low on oil for too long. Do not get involved beyond that. In today's society, everything is always someone else's fault, and you don't want this one to become yours.

 

[bullwinkle]

Might want to have her watch the Products, Rebates, & Promotions here & watch for when HM oil like Maxlife or similar goes on sale or has coupons-and she needs to be prepared to put a cat on the CRV soon, it's not going to last long burning oil that fast.

 

[westwind999]

How do you know it didn't use oil before if the level was never checked? Nov was when it got low enough to turn the light on. Previously it may have been nearly that low when the oil was changed. That could have happened for several oil changes.

Just say'n

 

[JustinH]

Stay away, act like you don't know about cars and have her take it to a shop recommended on yelp or something.

You will get blamed if anything goes wrong.

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted By: montero1
This vehicle never had a problem with consumption until November. Aside from the PCV valve, what would be the next thing they check? I think there is something really wrong with the car. She's had two oil changes since this problem with the light began, and both times within weeks, her oil pressure light comes on, and she gets a neighbor to dump oil in. She told me once it took two quarts to bring it back to the full line. I think her consumption is worse than a quart per 500-800 miles.

On another note, not once did I say I was going to go near the car, I'm just trying to get her to take the car in, get looked at, and keep her from getting ripped off. Perhaps you could lay off all the rude comments.
I'm sure many of you have a wife, girlfriend, daughter that doesn't know diddly about cars, and have never been under the hood.

This is a single mother of two, who always had her cars maintained by her husband, who died three years ago, serving his country.

Happy Memorial Day.....enjoy your cookouts today, and maybe at some point, when you're mashing processed meat down your gullet, stop and think about what today is about.



AMEN!

 

[4wheeldog]

Uh, does Honda have an oil level light, rather than just an oil pressure light? Because just adding a quart would not bring an engine with low oil pressure back to the full line.

I had similar sudden onset high oil consumption with a Toyota van. It was the PCV. At 30k, it suddenly used a quart in 500 miles. I replaced the PCV with OEM, and it was fine........for another 30k. Replaced with a Napa metal one, still good 150k later, when I replaced the van.

 

[fdcg27]

Yeah, why would anybody want to lend a hand to a widow with a couple of kids?
I find the lack of charitable impulse among some of the posters dissapointing.
If she were my neighbor, I'd tell her what might be wrong, tell her that we'd first try the cheap fix and explain to her that the damage may already have been done.
Meanwhile, I'd spot her the occassional quart of FAR 5W-30 and maybe even change the beast's oil.
This is simply helping someone out who could probably use a little help and unless she's crazy, she won't be looking to blame anyone when the engine finally pukes.

 

[mjk]

+1. If the above recommendations don't work (PCV Valve, finding a reputable independent thru angieslist, yelp), educating her on checking her oil once a week and adding is going to assist her in the long run. Adding a quart of oil every 800 miles is still cheaper than getting into a new payment. Since you are on BITOG, help her out by showing her when the oil sales are coming up, so she can stock up between her 5k intervals.

And for god's sake, she is a widow. Show a modicum of compassion.



Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Yeah, why would anybody want to lend a hand to a widow with a couple of kids?
I find the lack of charitable impulse among some of the posters dissapointing.
If she were my neighbor, I'd tell her what might be wrong, tell her that we'd first try the cheap fix and explain to her that the damage may already have been done.
Meanwhile, I'd spot her the occassional quart of FAR 5W-30 and maybe even change the beast's oil.
This is simply helping someone out who could probably use a little help and unless she's crazy, she won't be looking to blame anyone when the engine finally pukes.

 

[Drew99GT]

I fail to see how a PCV valve would get gummed up or go "bad" all of a sudden on a vehicle that has had regular oil changes, enough to where it's suddenly consuming copious amounts of oil. the only thing she can do is take it to a trusted independent shop, one that specializes in Honda, to have it thoroughly diagnosed.

 

[fdcg27]

Like a lot of things, PCV valves work okay until they don't.
I've had cars go through 200K on their OEM PCV valves and I've also had to replace a few.
In the case in question, it only makes sense to rule out the cheap and easy before moving on to the thousands of dollars in work this car might otherwise need.
If replacing the PCV valve and its tubing fails to bring any result, then the only news the owner is going to get from any shop is going to run well into four figures.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: montero1

I'm sure many of you have a wife, girlfriend, daughter that doesn't know diddly about cars, and have never been under the hood.

This is a single mother of two, who always had her cars maintained by her husband, who died three years ago, serving his country.

Happy Memorial Day.....enjoy your cookouts today, and maybe at some point, when you're mashing processed meat down your gullet, stop and think about what today is about.



The unknowledgeable wife or girlfriend is not the topic at hand. It's your neighbor. Being a single mom and not wanting to get rid of her CRV or dump big money into repairs MEANS that she needs to take responsibility for it.

I know that situations change... It happens all the time and those that it happens to are not exempt from the responsibilities in their life. In her case, she needs to take on the additional responsibility of car maintenance. Which means starting by reading the manual and deciding if she is up to the task. It will be clearly stated to check the oil at regular intervals. If she cannot perform that task, then it is her responsibility to bring it to someone who can.

It has been said a car is the second largest purchase in a person's life. Why wouldn't an owner take even a few basic steps to protect it? As it pertains to your neighbor, it would be more than just prudent to maintain her CRV, as I'm sure she's on a limited budget.

As an aside, the fact that her husband died serving his country has no play in this discussion. Even the fact that she is a single mom really doesn't matter. What does is that she doesn't want to buy a new car or put big money into this one, but is unwilling or unable to do basic maintenance as outlined by the manual and also refuses to have someone else do it- until after signs of a major problem.

You can call me or others rude, but it is the truth. If you're really concerned about her, then help educate her on the importance of taking care of her CRV when she's on a single income budget. Take the time to go through the manual with her, show her how to check her own oil and give her some ideas on what could be wrong. And if you're unable or unwilling to help with the repairs, then give her some pointers on how not to get ripped off and/or a good garage to go to.

 

[Quest]

@op:

even my younger sister can change out her spare tire in mere 7 mins flat (granted, it was a Chevy sprint/Suzuki 3cyl with those 12" doughnut tires)!

Ma wife did an alternator + battery change on her 88 accord many moons ago.

Point is: not all female is like what you've described. Fact is, there are lots and lots of females out there that chose to be "conditionally ignorant"---they would rather spend 45mins and upwards every day putting on makeups then going outside once a week (presumably weekends) to pull their automobiles dipstick to check for oil level which can be done (not that intimidating at all, most dipsticks are colour coded/labeled) in mere 3 mins time.


I had encountered quite a few of these folks surrounding me, including some of my past clients.

The ones that are willing to learn/strive are the ones who succeed in their lives; those who don't (chose not to) are the ones who fall behind in the society. They also pay dearly for their chosen "ignorance".

I'm with The_Eric on this one: "...if you concerned about her, educate her...." why take on her baggage( and most probably a liability burden)?

Happy Memorial day to you also.

Q.

 

[Trav]

This thread seems to have less to do with the car than the womans personal situation and how posters react or not to it.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Trav
This thread seems to have less to do with the car than the womans personal situation and how posters react or not to it.





True, though her personal situation should have weight in her decisions. If I were flat broke, I sure wouldn't go to the casino because I wouldn't be able to afford to lose the money. Along the same lines, the o.p. stated that his neighbor didn't want to pile money in this car and implied that her money was limited, so she should be more proactive with her car's care. In other words, take care of what you can't (or don't want to) afford to replace.

Not checking oil and waiting until the oil pressure light comes on to add some is not the prudent thing to do for her.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: montero1
This is a single mother of two, who always had her cars maintained by her husband, who died three years ago, serving his country.

As an aside, the fact that her husband died serving his country has no play in this discussion.

Yes, it does. We are safely sitting in the comfort of our homes typing this thanks to her husband and all who serve our country.

If she was my neighbor I would do whatever I can to help her, even if I will be blamed for anything else happens to the car that wasn't my fault.

Please don't be selfish.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: montero1
This is a single mother of two, who always had her cars maintained by her husband, who died three years ago, serving his country.

As an aside, the fact that her husband died serving his country has no play in this discussion.

Yes, it does. We are safely sitting in the comfort of our homes typing this thanks to her husband and all who serve our country.

If she was my neighbor I would do whatever I can to help her, even if I will be blamed for anything else happens to the car that wasn't my fault.

Please don't be selfish.


I thank the gentleman from Irvine for reintroducing some common sense respect into this thread.
I am appalled that some of the posters in this thread are so lacking in regard for others who have suffered a terrible loss and could probably use a little help, not blame and not indifference.
The alternative expressed by some here is to say too bad for her. She lost her husband in the service of our country, but that's her problem. Guess she should have taken better care of her car. Why should I spend my time and effort trying to help her? Not my problem.
I'm only paraphrasing a little bit and we do live in an age when selfishness and narcissism are widely portrayed as the smart and even ethical way in which to conduct one's life.
That'll be fine until all of those too self-absorbed to notice the plight of others learn through bitter experience that Karma is real and comes in two distinct forms.

 

[HTSS_TR]

fdcg27, please accept my appreciation for your effort in trying to help your neighbor.

If you need financial assistance in paying for part(s) to fix her car to stop/reduce the oil consumption please PM your Paypal account, I will contribute what I can to share the cost with you.

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
fdcg27, please accept my appreciation for your effort in trying to help your neighbor.

If you need financial assistance in paying for part(s) to fix her car to stop/reduce the oil consumption please PM your Paypal account, I will contribute what I can to share the cost with you.


+1

Liability? It's replacing a PCV valve not brain surgery.

 

[Market525]

a 2010 ... that's the 2.4L engine, correct? Your original post said that it never used oil until last November ... but if she's not been checking ... we can't be sure. I'm betting it's been using, but was unknown to the owner.

Sadly, I've seen this issue several times with this engine. The owner doesn't check the oil level, it runs low, and when finally discovered, takes 2 or more quarts to bring it to full.

I'm guessing the damage is already done. What usually happens next is a sudden loss of power, along with the "check engine light". Once these engines run low on oil for awhile, the top end starves for oil and the timing chain stretches, and jumps a tooth ...causing the low power and CEL. I've also seen sludge issues develop on them, clogging up the very fine mesh screens on the VTEC system on the valve train .... further restricting oil flow to the top end and adding to the timing chain stretch woes.

Don't get me wrong .. I hope the PCV valve helps, but on the few I've seen with very similar stories, it does not help. But you're right to change it, and yes, I too agree with OEM Honda PCV Valve only! You'll need a crush washer as well ... it uses the same crush washer as the oil pan drain plug.

See if I'm right ... I bet once the oil is changed, it won't use for the first 1,000 - 1,200 miles ... then it will start consuming.

The timing chain job is $1,200 to $1,500 at a Honda dealer ... hopefully she won't have to cross that bridge.

I'd suggest she move to 3,000 mile oil change intervals, if she's not already on them.

Also ... if you end up working on the car for her, the throttle body will be filthy with grime since it's consuming oil. A good TB cleaning is in order ...
Spark plugs are most likely original and are due at 100K ... not a bad idea to change early in this case. NGK or Denso only is my advice ... and they are iridium tipped. Don't give in to the urge to save a few buck and downgrade to Platinum.

Good luck with this ... and yes, I too agree that educating her as to what's going on is important.

Steve