Oil Level

[Kazaf]

I have serviced my car a few weeks ago.
And have noticed how strange my car ran, especially when engaging VTEC.

There are at times, it would roar as usual.
Then there are times it would just sound like a car hitting hi revs, not like VTEC.

At first I was suspecting the exhaust/headers setup. Got it checked and that was fine, only a minor leak near the b-pipe which would not have affected the car's performance that much.

Got a the gasket replaced and the problem still remains.
So now I'm suspecting it's the oil level.

I checked the dip stick and it is about 1CM over the 2nd dot.
Which is the maximum mark. I checked when engine wasn't warm, car has not been started.

Would this result in my performance decrease?

[Kiki]

If its 1 cm over the Maximum level...then thats too much oil and yes can effect performance

[aaronng]

It'll still run fine 1cm above the dot. That's what we put in when we go for trackday. Do you make sure that your coolant temperature needle is at the middle before you use full throttle?
Have you tested to see if your vtec solenoid is working?

[Kiki]

Hmmm ur all over me

Mayb u just dont get tought things right in apprenticeships these days

[yourfather]

Taught

[Kiki]

maib i shuld brush up on mi engwish aswel

[aaronng]

Hmmm ur all over me

Mayb u just dont get tought things right in apprenticeships these days

My old dealer used to overfill by 1cm (that's about 4.8-5.0L in an engine that is meant to take 4.2L). :) Anyway, you won't have problems with too much pressure and all that jazz because the sump is not at high pressure, so the additional pressure to the oil pickup point won't be much higher. And with modern cars, there is a splash shield so the oil doesn't splash onto the rotating crank. The only way you can do damage is by overfilling by at least 2 extra litre and getting the oil level past the lowest point of the crank. Then you could get crank damage and very foamy engine oil.

[Kazaf]

It'll still run fine 1cm above the dot. That's what we put in when we go for trackday. Do you make sure that your coolant temperature needle is at the middle before you use full throttle?
Have you tested to see if your vtec solenoid is working?

How do I check solenoid and what do I check for?
Well lately I've been testing my car for this fault.
Drove from Liverpool to Bankstown (20 minutes), then gave it a hit, and the bloodrushing feeling was there. OH how much I missed it.

Then as I tried again just outside ashfield, all I get is hi revs.

So I would say. sometimes you would get the bloodrush sex feeling, and sometimes just hi revs.

[aaronng]

To test the solenoid, run 12v to the solenoid and you should hear it click. You can run a 12v test light from the solenoid so you can see it light up if it is getting a signal from the ECU when you pass 6000rpm. (do both separately)

Also, do you have an oil cooler or just got your timing belt replaced?

Also, is your sump dented?

[Kazaf]

To test the solenoid, run 12v to the solenoid and you should hear it click. You can run a 12v test light from the solenoid so you can see it light up if it is getting a signal from the ECU when you pass 6000rpm. (do both separately)

Also, do you have an oil cooler or just got your timing belt replaced?

Also, is your sump dented?

Will run the test.

Timing belt has not been changed recently.

[aaronng]

There is also a filter screen after removing the solenoid. If that is clogged, vtec also has problems engaging.

[yourfather]

sounds kinda stupid, but you are doing it full throttle yeh?

[xtat1k]

sounds kinda stupid, but you are doing it full throttle yeh?

if thats the case, sounds like he just cant hear the difference. and basically full throttle will just produce more of a exhaust sound.

[IEVAQ8]

just go to a honda dealer and ask them to diagnose and check if the solonoid throws a code, the other thing may be not enough oil pressure, but that would occur if you havnt got enough oil........it used to happen tom me, if i was a little low on oil, the first squirt would be full on, the second would either cut in and out of vtec, or no vtec at all, it was my oil level.......

[aaronng]

^^ he has more than enough oil though. But yeah, check the oil pressure as well.

[IEVAQ8]

the only thing it can be is the vtec solenoid.......
like i said, go to a honda dealer and ask them to check the vtec solenoid for diagnostics, and if it throws a code, they can clear it........if it comes back, the solenoid is f*cked, if no coade comes back, you should be alright

[Kazaf]

How much is that going to cost me?

[IEVAQ8]

my mate works at honda, so it cost me nothing, but its a 10 min job, so maybe $20

[aaronng]

Are DC2Rs OBD2a? If they are, grab an OBD2 reader and just pull the code out and post it up there. It will also clear the code. Most mechs should have an OBD2 reader.

[Kazaf]

Is it possible to check the ECU, similar to the ABS diagnostic test?
Would show something right?

[IEVAQ8]

^^^^^^thats right

[Kazaf]

There is also a filter screen after removing the solenoid. If that is clogged, vtec also has problems engaging.

I'm going to remove the VTEC solenoid today and check the screen.

As far as I know, and heard. I unbolt the 3 bolts and it should be visible?

[aaronng]

Yup, don't get any of the cleaner on the rubber o-ring. The cleaner will eat through rubber very quickly. Or buy a new filter and o-ring from the dealer.

[Kazaf]

Are there any pictures of the filter/ring that may help?

[aaronng]

Take off the vtec solenoid and you will see it.

[Kazaf]

failure.

Manage to take all the bolts out but one and it was on so tight I've managed to round the edges of the bolt.
OMFG!

[aaronng]

What tool did you use? Get a 6-point socket and go at it. Might also help to spray a little WD-40 on the bolt, put the socket on and give it a little tap with a rubber mallet to loosen it. Then try again. But yeah, you should be using a 6-point socket from now on since the bolt is slightly rounded. But don't worry, you can always get a replacement bolt from Repco.

[Kazaf]

Ok managed to take it out, clean the filter.

Was a mess though, oil was coming out.

Dripped down the engine.
Would the oil that has dripped down be a concern?
I have tried to wipe as much as possible.

[aaronng]

Just wipe the oil up. Don't worry about it. Remember to wash your hands well after you are done, used engine oil can cause cancer.

Was the filter clogged? Get a new bolt to replace the rounded one if you feel that it can't be tightened/loosened reliably. Also, don't overtighten it when you put it back on. On my car, the torque spec is only 10Nm.

[Kazaf]

Dont think the filter was clogged, looked pretty ordinary to me.
Clean.

I did give it a wipe though.
I'll give my car a drive and see how it goes.

[aaronng]

Remember to try the light thing to see if the solenoid is getting the engagement signal when you pass the crossover point.

[yourfather]

Are DC2Rs OBD2a? If they are, grab an OBD2 reader and just pull the code out and post it up there. It will also clear the code. Most mechs should have an OBD2 reader.
yes they are OBDII
I dunno where the port is, I cant locate it on mine

[fatboyz39]

Drain the excessive oil out. Not good for the motor with extra oil. Fill up to the top dot, not over.

We overfilled our oil twice now and hit the tracks and its would just blow smoke under hard cornering. Engine felt really lazy. Im putting this down to overfilling over and oil pushing thru the rings. Once we drained it to the right levels, no smoke what-so-ever.

[fatboyz39]

As for testing vtec solenoid, Just send a 12v signal to the vtec solenoid and see if listen for a click, if it does then its working. Do this when the engine is turned off.

What grade oil did you use?

[Kazaf]

Ok emptied oil.
When it's cold it will be exactly on the max dot, when warm it will be inbetween low and max.

[aaronng]

We overfilled our oil twice now and hit the tracks and its would just blow smoke under hard cornering. Engine felt really lazy. Im putting this down to overfilling over and oil pushing thru the rings. Once we drained it to the right levels, no smoke what-so-ever.
That's probably because your oil level reached the PCV valve under hard cornering. It's not pushing past the rings since it doesn't happen when you remove some oil.

[Kiki]

To test the solenoid, run 12v to the solenoid and you should hear it click. You can run a 12v test light from the solenoid so you can see it light up if it is getting a signal from the ECU when you pass 6000rpm. (do both separately)

Also, do you have an oil cooler or just got your timing belt replaced?

Also, is your sump dented?

Could you please explain what a dented sump could do to performance on your car??

When i bought my dc2r 2 years ago the sump was dented already....and still is now and have noticed sluggishness in my car, ive also a stereo that may b a bit heavy (but i don't see why that would make it sluggish)....

should i also get my codes checked??