Engine oil half a quart low and smells like gas

SCOPESYS

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And so will the rest of the Civic population that knows how to read an owners manual.
Easy answer .. read it at 3 minutes, and then come back and read it again at 1 hour.

If the reading are the same -- end of story.
If readings are significantly different (ie 3 minute reading is significantly lower than the 1 hour reading, ) then some more thought may be needed,

I suspect Honda is thinking that the HOT 0W-20 is so thin, that most if it run back in 3 minutes, which may or may not be 100% accurate, but "Good Enough"
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latole

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1-What will happen if you wait 5 minutes? Will it be good or not? Or 10 minutes?
The manual does not specify anything.

2- The manual does not mention that the car should be parked on a flat, level surface.
So you could check the oil in a steep slope!
It does not make sense.

You see the manual is not perfect has Honda engineers with the problem of oil dillution.

You have to use your intelligence, which Faceboook has not used to.

I wish you give me some answer what to do for 1 and 2
 

latole

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I suspect Honda is thinking that the HOT 0W-20 is so thin, that most if it run back in 3 minutes, which may or may not be 100% accurate, but "Good Enough"
That's I'm thinking too.

When I do my oil change, I can wait more than 1 hour until i see no more oil drop. Is it mean there are lots of oil everywhere ( after 3 minutes ) in engine, not in the oil pan to accurate reading with dipstick ?
 
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marauderguy

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Easy answer .. read it at 3 minutes, and then come back and read it again at 1 hour.

If the reading are the same -- end of story.
If readings are significantly different (ie 3 minute reading is significantly lower than the 1 hour reading, ) then some more thought may be needed,

I suspect Honda is thinking that the HOT 0W-20 is so thin, that most if it run back in 3 minutes, which may or may not be 100% accurate, but "Good Enough"
Honda may also be thinking that to get an accurate reading lets say while filling up with fuel, you don't have to wait for a cold engine to get an accurate enough reading. And yes 0w20 is thin enough that it takes hardly any time to drain back.
 

SCOPESYS

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That's I'm thinking too.

When I do my oil change, I can wait more than 1 hour until i see no more oil drop. Is it mean there are lots of oil everywhere ( after 3 minutes ) in engine, not in the oil pan to accurate reading with dipstick ?
Exactly : When I did an oil change last month, I warmed up the car, and then drained the oil till it stopped dripping. I then put the plug back in and left the car for 1 hour.
When I came back, I removed the plug again, and at least 1/4 Quart of oil gushed out.

While a reasonably accurate oil level reading in needed, what is more important is consistency of measurement, especially if you are looking for oil level changes over time, due to leaks, or OD.

3 minutes might be enough for a "quick & dirty" glance of what the oil level is, but if you want to be able to measure small changes in levels, you need to leave the car longer, so that all the oil that is going to drain back into the oil pan.

If you are a Garage mechanic doing this, TIME IS MONEY, the 3 minute wait might be far more PROFITABLE than the 1 hour wait.

If you are going it yourself, you just let it stand overnight, and measure the oil level 1st thing in the morning, getting a more accurate reading.
 


SCOPESYS

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Honda may also be thinking that to get an accurate reading lets say while filling up with fuel, you don't have to wait for a cold engine to get an accurate enough reading. And yes 0w20 is thin enough that it takes hardly any time to drain back.

lol -- I have given up guessing what "Honda is THINKING" --- but I must assume that the "Opiate epidemic" has something to do with it ..
( it gets blamed for almost everything else )
 

latole

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Exactly : When I did an oil change last month, I warmed up the car, and then drained the oil till it stopped dripping. I then put the plug back in and left the car for 1 hour.
When I came back, I removed the plug again, and at least 1/4 Quart of oil gushed out.
Is this mean if you go to a dealer ( or auto lube ) for oil change they may overfill oil.
 

SCOPESYS

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Is this mean if you go to a dealer ( or auto lube ) for oil change they may overfill oil.
Most Likely ... and the when the owner checks the oil some time later, they get worried when the oil level is HIGH, and they think OD !!!

Who knows what really goes on behind the closed doors of the Dealer's service Dept !!

Here is a NOVEL idea.. How about Dealers putting CCTV in their service bays, so customers, sitting in the waiting lounge, drinking the FREE Coffee, can watch the mechanic working on their car on TV !!!
FULL OPEN TRANSPARENCY ;)
 

fjrman

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I rarely see a hood up at refueling stations. I check my oil when the engine is cold after sitting overnight.

Don't know the quantity of oil necessary to raise the level from the lower to the upper mark on the stick.

As long as it's between the two marks you're good to go so measuring precision is not critical.
 

latole

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Most Likely ... and the when the owner checks the oil some time later, they get worried when the oil level is HIGH, and they think OD !!! :thumbsup: Right

Who knows what really goes on behind the closed doors of the Dealer's service Dept !! Who know ? Us, member of the forum

Here is a NOVEL idea.. How about Dealers putting CCTV in their service bays, so customers, sitting in the waiting lounge, drinking the FREE Coffee, can watch the mechanic working on their car on TV !!!
FULL OPEN TRANSPARENCY ;)
They don't want to show how the jobs are done / are not done....:lol:
 

latole

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That's I'm thinking too.

When I do my oil change, I can wait more than 1 hour until i see no more oil drop. Is it mean there are lots of oil everywhere ( after 3 minutes ) in engine, not in the oil pan to accurate reading with dipstick ?

Update;
After 30 minutes driving to home, I wait 3 minutes and check dipstick; oil is more than 1/2 full .
After 2 hours look more 3/4 full.
Car was not at perfect ground level

Honda book look right, seem i'm wrong :bow:
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