Type R ep3 low oil

[Raisin12345]

Just been to look an ep3 and the whole car looked in good condition for a car of that age. Noticed that it had low oil and vtec didnt engage for this reason on one of its services. Went and checked the oil and was on the last bit of the dipstick, this was on a cold engine and on a virtually invisible uphill gradient, how bad is this. Want the car badly but realise the simplest thing is to keep oil topped up. Previous owner had car for about 7 years i believe and low oil is only mentioned on one service then when i looked as well. Opinions and advice?

[trickywoo]

Means it’s either using or losing oil at quite a rate or the owner doesn’t bother checking it.

Neither are great.

I walked away from a 20v fiat coupe turbo which was showing no oil at all on the dipstick. Didn’t regret it for a second.

[leef44]

trickywoo said:

Means it’s either using or losing oil at quite a rate or the owner doesn’t bother checking it.

Neither are great.

I walked away from a 20v fiat coupe turbo which was showing no oil at all on the dipstick. Didn’t regret it for a second.

Yes I would go with that.

I would walk away because the ep3 is built to such tight tolerances to get that specific output that you would need to ensure oil is always topped up and engine is regularly serviced.

[Another_James]

Low oil or an over rev are pretty much all that will kill a K20. Whilst you never know for certain if any car has been run low on oil, why buy one you know for certain has?

Walk away, there are plenty about.

[leef44]

Another_James said:

Low oil or an over rev are pretty much all that will kill a K20. Whilst you never know for certain if any car has been run low on oil, why buy one you know for certain has?

Walk away, there are plenty about.

The above is as I understand it.

These engines are bullet proof and cannot be over-revved when warmed up because it has a limiter.

However, they do need to be treated correctly. Warmed up before revving and always checking oil is topped up. Either of these factor can kill these engines in the longer term. Honda were proud of how many engines had been produced with no breakdown but that is based on them being properly treated.

[Another_James]

leef44 said:

These engines are bullet proof and cannot be over-revved when warmed up because it has a limiter.

They can’t be over-revved with the throttle alone like most modern engines but they very much can be by miss shifting i.e. going for 4th and getting 2nd.

[leef44]

Another_James said:

leef44 said:

These engines are bullet proof and cannot be over-revved when warmed up because it has a limiter.

They can’t be over-revved with the throttle alone like most modern engines but they very much can be by miss shifting i.e. going for 4th and getting 2nd.

That's a good point. Especially with the short sharp gear shift.

[LimSlip]

I know someone that had an EP3 that used oil and he uses the lack of VTEC as a reminder to top it up. Needles to say the engine suffered a spun bearing not too long into his ownership.

[thatdude]

leef44 said:

These engines are bullet proof and cannot be over-revved when warmed up because it has a limiter.

But they can be over-revved with "enthusiastic" (see: impatient) downshifting.