Oiling

   Well, my diagnosis of the PCV system being my cause of the oil ingestion and resulting smoke show and power loss is wrong.  The problem is the breather tube that connects between the valve cover and intake pipe. Previously the problem was only showing up mid-session at a ProSolo where the engine had time to cleanse itself before I could make a good diagnosis.  However, at the most recent CSCC autox the problem came back so I immediately removed the suspected intake hose when I got back to grid and found oil pooling.  Just for good measure I checked the PCV hose and catch can too but all was clean and dry.

  The problem hose and fittings require a 19mm ID hose so modifications to the hoses and/or catch can would be needed to fix this.  Instead, I bought another ebay special oil catch can with the proper sized fittings and hose.  More money spent- yes - but no need to screw around with reducer fittings or whatever.  Plus, I can keep the original catch can in the PCV circuit if I want.

The oem breather hose design with its integrated water bypass pipe loop needs to be retained and without lengthening the water hoses it is pretty much stuck near its original location at the valve cover.  Keeping it simple I add one straight coupler and complete the circuit with the provided silicone hose. I reuse the mounting bracket and hardware from the old pcv catch can.

Knowing now that the oil can do funny things within the block has me more concerned about oil pressure and baffling.  The RSX's only oil sensor is merely a pressure switch that tells the computer it is safe to activate VTEC (over 50 psi or so) or turn on the idiot light because the pressure is below 10 psi.  A simple aftermarket oil pressure gauge is an easy solution but it is not practical, easy, or safe to monitor a gauge while competitively driving.   Defi makes a gauge kit with a recall or memory feature, but the cost and complexity is not what I want just for one sensor.  The Hondata Kpro ecu is equipped with inputs that can monitor and datalog such critical items, but a new sending unit or transducer would be required to get the proper signal into the ecu.  Ebay wins again and I buy a 100psi pressure transducer and BSPT adapter.

The new oil sensor install and wiring is basic stuff and then with a few ecu setting changes I can monitor and datalog oil pressure.  Biggest drawback is that I lose the oem oil idiot light, but Kpro has some advanced settings with several different actions that can warn the driver and/or protect the engine under preset conditions.  

Wiring colors:  +5v Grey/Red,  Signal Purple/Red.  Ground Orange

Next is to datalog at autox and see how oil pressure is affected and the results will determine how soon a baffled oil pan is required.