Oil change, now no VTEC and Engine-Check light on...

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:06 pm

Oh right, I've been running it for about 3 weeks now ..and apart from a new leak (which I hope is just rocker cover gasket), I haven't noticed any other issues.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:23 pm

Plenty of people on here do run 5W-40 fully synth and 5W-40 is one of the specified oil viscocities to be used in H22's I think (just not the one exactly most closely suited to our climatic temp range).

braziers · Post by **braziers** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:26 pm

wurlycorner wrote:Plenty of people on here do run 5W-40 fully synth and 5W-40 is one of the specified oil viscocities to be used in H22's I think (just not the one exactly most closely suited to our climatic temp range).

Exactly. I have always ran 5w40 in my Hondas without a hitch.
Just downloaded a service guide and it says to use 5w30 on our engines, or 10w30 in hot climates.
I could change the oil again and see if the problem goes away, but seems stupid to waste 4.8 litres of bloody oil!

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:38 pm

This is the oil selector chart from the last update to the UK 4th gen manual (62ss023.pdf).

So 5W-40 is NOT a recommended viscocity, sorry my bad in previous post remembering incorrectly.

10W-30 or 10W-40 (safest for our extreme summers) are the recommended grade most suited to the average UK climate. Fact.
Only the scots are likely to get temps below -20, so only they might look to run a 5W-something during the winter, based on that.

Interestingly, it says not to run 5W-30 in an H22A1/2/3 unless the temp never goes above 0^C.

NB: That manual does NOT specifically cover the H22A

bristol_bb4 · Post by **bristol_bb4** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:40 pm

braziers · Post by **braziers** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:41 pm

wurlycorner wrote:Just checked the last update to the 4th gen manual and this is the oil selector chart:

So 5W-40 is NOT a recommended viscocity, sorry my bad in previous post remembering incorrectly.

10W-30 or 10W-40 (safest for our extreme summers) are the recommended grade most suited to the average UK climate. Fact.
Only the scots are likely to get temps below -20, so only they might look to run a 5W-something during the winter, looking at that.

Interestingly, it says not to run 5W-30 in an H22A1/2/3 unless the temp never goes above 0^C.

Going by that then, it seems 10W30 is the correct oil.
May have to go get some later and try it. Luckily I have a spare stubby HAMP filter kicking about somewhere too, may fit that rather than the regular HAMP to see if it's the pressure causing the issue aswell.

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:42 pm

Oh, I'm running 5w30, not 40 ..but according to your diagram, I shouldn't be?!

braziers · Post by **braziers** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:44 pm

Just looked up 10w30 and it's not a regularly available grade anymore.
This is weird. I may try 5w30, as that's what the 5th Gen Service Manual for H22 engines says.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:49 pm

The 5th gen manual is the US issue though, right? That manual only specificaly covers the H22A4.

It's the same as the US 4th gen manual in that it only gives 2 recommended viscocities.
4th Gen US manual;
10W-30 between -20^C and 40^C
5W-30 between 0^C and below -30^C
That's exactly the same as the UK manual (except it says to run 10W-30 at slightly higher ambient temps)

Note that US 4th gen manual isn't as up to date ('93 issue, not updated) and it only covers the H22A1.

Again, neither the UK 4th gen or US 4th gen manuals specifically cover the H22A...

bennyboy · Post by **bennyboy** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:53 pm

I ran on 10w40 semi synth for 100k miles, it's pretty much the recommendation for 'our' climate.
I now run 0w40 fully syth, but thats on a fresh engine build. No leaks, issues etc.
I doubt changing the oil is your issue alone, but it does seem to be too much of a coincidence - are you sure you haven't knocked plugs etc when doing so?