Had the short block and intake valve guide seals replaced approximately 2K miles ago due to excessive oil consumption.
Still have no idea why the original block failed. I was able to look at the removed block. Dark black carbon on the piston crowns and coked rings. Acura mechanic stated all oil burners look like this. I followed the owner's manual faithfully with the original engine and after break in used 5W-20 synthetic oil religiously with 15% on the MM.
Took a different tack with this one. Following a bit of research I came upon what I would name the "high cylinder pressure" break in technique. Some have called it the "hard" break in technique, but I think it is a misnomer.
Supposedly the majority of ring seating takes place within the first 20 miles!
Picked up the car after engine replacement. Drove very conservatively until the engine was completely warmed up. On an empty, long road, place the engine in S mode and slowly accelerated until the RPMs were at approximately 4500 and held it there for several minutes before backing off the accelerator and allowing for engine braking. Did this for multiple repetitions. Rest of the time until 100 miles, drove only in S mode after the car was thoroughly warmed up which held the RPMs between 5 and 6K most of the time. Good alternation between high cylinder pressures with acceleration and deceleration.
Changed the initial oil at 100 miles using Valvoline conventional oil 5W-30 for 500 miles. Drove mostly in S mode after warm up with this oil change. Change oil again with Mobil 1 0W-40 and Mobil 1 oil filter. Will change at 4K intervals to try to reduce the likelyhood of oil coking the rings (again)
So far, 2K on the Mobil 1 0w-40 and not down a drop!
Still have no idea why the original block failed. I was able to look at the removed block. Dark black carbon on the piston crowns and coked rings. Acura mechanic stated all oil burners look like this. I followed the owner's manual faithfully with the original engine and after break in used 5W-20 synthetic oil religiously with 15% on the MM.
Took a different tack with this one. Following a bit of research I came upon what I would name the "high cylinder pressure" break in technique. Some have called it the "hard" break in technique, but I think it is a misnomer.
Supposedly the majority of ring seating takes place within the first 20 miles!
Picked up the car after engine replacement. Drove very conservatively until the engine was completely warmed up. On an empty, long road, place the engine in S mode and slowly accelerated until the RPMs were at approximately 4500 and held it there for several minutes before backing off the accelerator and allowing for engine braking. Did this for multiple repetitions. Rest of the time until 100 miles, drove only in S mode after the car was thoroughly warmed up which held the RPMs between 5 and 6K most of the time. Good alternation between high cylinder pressures with acceleration and deceleration.
Changed the initial oil at 100 miles using Valvoline conventional oil 5W-30 for 500 miles. Drove mostly in S mode after warm up with this oil change. Change oil again with Mobil 1 0W-40 and Mobil 1 oil filter. Will change at 4K intervals to try to reduce the likelyhood of oil coking the rings (again)
So far, 2K on the Mobil 1 0w-40 and not down a drop!
