Q: Adding a lot of oil between changes, no signs of a leak

asked by on October 30, 2015

I drive a 2008 Honda CR-V with an automatic transmission. The vehicle has less than 60,000 miles on it. Despite that, I have to add multiple quarts of oil to the engine in between oil changes. I have not seen any leaks or drip marks on the driveway. Where is the oil going? Is this a big problem?

You have not provided specific amounts of oil you have added per 1000 miles you drove. To do a proper diagnosis of your oil consumption claim, you would have to do an oil consumption test. This test is done by your Honda dealer. They will first do a thorough inspection for any external engine oil leaks. If there are no leaks, the oil consumption test would start with a complete oil and filter change. All the fill and drain ports will be sealed after oil is topped off. Your current mileage is noted and you will be directed to drive approximately 1000 miles after which, your oil level will be checked again. The amount of oil used will help them determine if your vehicle has excessive oil consumption. If your car is experiencing excessive oil consumption, the dealer will determine a course of action but the manufacture may or may not have coverage for the repairs. If you are using excessive oil then the engine rings may have carbon deposits allowing excessive oil to get by them into the combustion chambers and going out the exhaust. You can contact YourMechanic to check your vehicles for any oil leaks and maintenance that may cause you to use excessive oil amounts before you commit to an oil consumption test.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Code P1260
Hi. The Ford security system has multiple modules that all need to have the same key code saved in order to start the engine. If the unit was flashed at the factory without being inside the car, there is a...
Ignition starts car, but engine won't catch
Hello! I believe the problem will be within your ignition key lock cylinder (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ignition-lock-cylinder). There is a passlock sensor in the ignition key lock cylinder. This sensor is known to become bad overtime. Replacing the ignition key lock cylinder will...
Car shuts off when put in to gear after turning on
Your car seems to be showing symptoms similar to a vehicle with a dirty or failing idle air control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement). This valve regulates airflow when the throttle plate is closed, and if clogged, you will have to usually keep...
When I try to take my lug nuts off my aftermarket rims, i end up scraping the rims,what size lug do i need so i wont do this again
There are many possible sizes of sockets depending on the rim design and types of lug nuts used. Most aftermarket rims will use the same size lug nuts as original but require a thin wall type socket. Take the vehicle...
Can you drive on 3 lug nuts
Hey there, thanks for writing in. All of the lug nuts are necessary (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-a-missing-lug-nut). Leaving even one off could result in warping of the brake rotors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-rotor-disc-replacement) or drums (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-drum-replacement), necessitating their replacement. If two are left off that puts...
Timing belt issue - 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT
Hi there - you don't mention if you replaced the timing belt as preventative maintenance (a good thing!) or if the timing belt failed, requiring replacement (a bad thing). If it is the latter, you may have valve damage that...
P0300, P0303, P1313, and P1314 codes are read on the scanner.
Hi there. The codes p0300 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0300-obd-ii-trouble-code-random-multiple-cylinder-misfire-detected-by-jamahl-walker) and p0303 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0303-obd-ii-trouble-code-cylinder-3-misfire-detected-by-spencer-clayton_2) are for the engine having a misfire. P0300 is for a random misfire where p0303 says that cylinder 3 had a misfire all the time. The code p1314 (http://obdii.pro/en/code/P1313) means that...
Uphill power
As you may have noticed, when the vehicle is in "ECO" mode, there is a significant reduction in power that is intentionally done to reduce emissions into the environment. You can try turning this off and you should notice a...
Transmission not shifting properly
What you are describing is often a sign of low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car's...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Dog Trainer
If If you are a dog trainer, you expect a lot from your vehicle. You want a ride that is safe, roomy, and of course, dog friendly, since your training operation will often mean that you need to transport the...
Is it Safe to Drive With the Oil Light On?
The Engine Oil Light indicates low engine oil levels or low engine oil pressure. Pull over and check your engine oil to avoid major engine damage.
How to Replace the Oil Temperature Sensor on Most Cars
Oil, as well as the oil temperature sensor, is crucial to the engine lubrication system. A bad sensor can lead to leaks and poor vehicle performance.