High performance NA engine oil consumption

[jonnyash]

Hey,

I have heard that it is common place for high performance NA engines to burn through more oil than ur standard 1.6L run about corolla. Why do they use more? we all hear that honda vtecs are known for using oil, where is the oil leaking from the lube system into the combustion cycle? does the high compression of vtecs ( type r's even more so) put more pressure on the oil scrapper rings and eventually they give way?

Jonny

[Loudsoundz]

only common place that i have heard of is the VTEC solenoid seal. Otherwise they are pretty good. People often think it is from elsewhere because it runs down the head onto the headgasket area which sends some into a panic thinking blown headgasket. But otherwise... look after your engine and it will surely look after you. :wink:

[evilek]

all hondas burn oil - even honda has a high level of tolarance eg 500 ml to 10000 kms so dont be worried

[VTAKYO]

Worn valve stem seals are an extremely common problem.

[WingIt]

Also if you let of the throttle at high RPM the vacuum of the engine sucks oil through the valve guides.

[Coupe-R]

if the motor is fresh it shouldn't be too bad on burning oil.
Not all hondas burn oil, drive a honda around like a corolla and it will burn the same or maybe less if the motor is fresher than the corolla.

[WingIt]

Originally Posted by Coupe-R

if the motor is fresh it shouldn't be too bad on burning oil.
Not all hondas burn oil, drive a honda around like a corolla and it will burn the same or maybe less if the motor is fresher than the corolla.

Agreed, my ITR has done 109,000ks and used about 50-100ml of oil in 5000ks of driving, that includes the driving when I just got it(lots of VTEC)

[IntegraXSi]

Do you mean burn oil or use oil? The former would indicate to me that there's a problem - e.g. worn valve stem seals. Depending upon the amount, the latter is quite normal and is the result of reducing friction.

A new and unmodified car shouldn't use much oil at all; even high-performance NA beasts. However, a modified car will use more oil due to (in simple terms) the engine working harder.

[Horny_Devil]

Originally Posted by IntegraXSi

Do you mean burn oil or use oil?

whats the difference? one goes onto the ground or into the coolent cause theres a leak and the other gets burnt, either way ur loosing the lifeblood of the engine

[americ_ian]

the most common/only ways ive seen hondas use oil is:

oil control rings
leak, valve cover seal
leak, cam seals front/rear
leak, cam cover nut seals
leak, rear main seal
leak, crank seal
leak, vtec solenoid
leak, valve stem seals
leak, turbo oil seals (on turboed hondas )
leak, cracked k20a sump
leak, blown rod thru block (resulting in fire) (see luke)

[IntegraXSi]

Originally Posted by Horny_Devil

whats the difference? one goes onto the ground or into the coolent cause theres a leak and the other gets burnt, either way ur loosing the lifeblood of the engine

They're both quite different scenarios, and would represent (assuming the loss is relatively large) two different sets of possible causes.

The bottom line is though, that using a small amount of oil due to frictional loss is completely normal, and a healthy sign. The high-performance high-revving Honda engines don't really use any more than engines from other manufactures.

[Kurdi]

I've got a freshly rebuilt b18cr.

It only puffs out black smoke the 1st time i hit vtec after warming my engine..
doesn't smoke after that...

But i noticed it doesn't actually need oil top ups often... but what i get is at about 5000Ks my oil looses it's "viscosity" not sure if its the right word, but basically still have oil, but it's not very lubricating.

but am one of those guys that hit vtec often..

so i need a oil change at about the 6000ks mark.. cuz even vtec starts sounding bit different, not as high pitched etc..