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Low oil level, engine is struggling to start.

R

roswell

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Location
Sofia - Bulgaria
Car
Honda Accord i-CDTi
Hi guys,

Yesterday, when I tried to start my car, it would not idle as it used to. It would hang around 500RPMSs not 800RPMs. It never did that before. I noticed ***excessive*** smoke, and a wet ground where the smoke goes out from exhaust. It should be water, shouldn't it? Since it was a very cold night. I used to start it in very cold weather at first try without touching the throttle. I changed the oil with correct one 0w30 (previously had 10w40 OMG) just 6 weeks ago. I had 1000kms or ~600miles since then and the oil level is just under the minimum level now. I specifically, checked if I'm checking the oil when the car is parked on a slight slope but that wasn't the case. I left my car parked and decided to not use it until I resolve this issue. What are your best bets on troubleshooting this? Should I buy 6 liters of oil and pour it myself or buy 1 lt first and drive to Honda dealer and let them examine. I hope, I won't get answers, this is damaged, that should be change etc.

Thank you for your inputs.
 
I would just top it up so the oil is about half way between min and max, then start it and run it for a few minutes to see if it clears - you may also get a fault code if it doesn't clear which will lead you to any issues it might have.
 
I found this and 1st symptom is exactly what I'm experiencing.

http://autorepair.about.com/od/enginetroubleshootin1/a/TS_idle-speed.htm

I drove my car after trying to start it a couple of tries and it seemed to pull good and all seemed normal but I just want to be sure that I won't break anything.
 
I'd bang half a litre in and then if it doesn't clear after a few minutes running take it in... carefully.
 
Zoran just below the minimum mark means there is already nearly 5 litres in there so just put half a litre in and see how it goes. How sure are you that when it was first changed it was filled to the max mark anyway? It may not be losing oil and what you describe is not symptomatic of low oil levels..
 
I suspect that fuel is coming to boundaries of freezing. I tried to start it using full throttle but no help, revs do not go up for a 1 minute or something. There was literally a cloud of smoke behind the car. Jet of exhaust gases did not seem to be in one way direction. It was around -6C temperature or 21Fahrenheit!? Same problem with Ford Focus of my gf. Under normal temperatures she has no issues starting it. Once started and driven a couple of meters with really light throttle and releasing the throttle caused rev needle to go crazy go below down 500 rpms then go near 1300 rpm then finding its way to ~800 rpms usual idling speed with no other weird symptoms. I was really gentle after I managed to start it. Interesting thing that it did that when temperatures reached around 7-8C during the day on my way back to home from work. I should also add that, I was advised to use premium diesel in order to clean the engine, then I kinda mixed it with lower quality diesel from the same company. Premium was almost gone though, a liter or something. Fuel gauge was near down when I refilled. I don't really want to put premium every time you know why.
 
That makes sense mate, it's probably freezing diesel..
 
roswell said:
Premium was almost gone though, a liter or something. Fuel gauge was near down when I refilled.
Click to expand...

Are we talking EMPTY, or just that the light had only just come on? How many miles showing to go on your computer? If it was really really low it may have picked up some crud from the tank.
 
HuskyMan said:
Are we talking EMPTY, or just that the light had only just come on? How many miles showing to go on your computer? If it was really really low it may have picked up some crud from the tank.
Click to expand...

Well, "refill your tank" indicator didn't come on when I mixed the premium with normal one. Ratio between normal diesel (previously I wrote that lower quality) to premium was heavily towards the normal one It usually comes on. I had to travel a long distance about 30kms (~20miles) I wanted to be sure, I'm not running low on fuel in the middle of nowhere. I just tried to start it now and it started perfectly. It's dark here so I used my phone's LED (Samsung Galaxy S2) to see the colour of the exhaust fumes, it seemed blueish but not excessive. Temperature is about 2C at the moment (35.6F) I ***ume, everything's normal now. I will check the oil tomorrow and perhaps have a short ride. I don't want to buy oil from non genuine oil from somewhere only to top it up. But I'm afraid to go to Honda. It's not that far actually (4miles from where I live) but still worried to not break the engine. Do you guys have paypal or if I should be more direct, how do I buy you a beer for your helps?
 
F6HAD said:
Zoran just below the minimum mark means there is already nearly 5 litres in there so just put half a litre in and see how it goes. How sure are you that when it was first changed it was filled to the max mark anyway? It may not be losing oil and what you describe is not symptomatic of low oil levels..
Click to expand...

There are two holes on the stick, and level of oil was even below those 2 holes. I poured some around 100mL and it's now just a bit above the lower hole :(
 
Stick another 300 or 400 and it will be jjjjuuuuuussstttt write. B)
 
Weather has been these days and there is no problem starting the car, all seems good. I topped the oil though.
 
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