Help with Honda Odessy

[Zippy]

My daughter-in-law just called about their car. It has been in limp mode for a week while 2 different mechanics have tinkered with it. The first said it just needed an oil change as that is common with this car. They have always done regular oil changes. A few days later it started doing the same thing. My son took it back and after looking at it they said they didn't know what was wrong. Last night my son took it to a different mechanic. Today they told him the oil has crystalized and all the oil passages are clogged with sludge. They told them they need to rebuild the engine. The crystalized oil has me stumped. I'm waiting to see it for myself.
Does anyone here have any ideas or suggestions?
2006 with 160k.
Thanks in advance,
Al

[SoFlaFiat]

I know it's cold up there already... But cold enough to freeze the oil?
Sorry, never heard or crystallized oil

[Zippy]

This started before our recent cold spell. I never heard of crystalized oil either.

[spider2081]

Back in the 80's Gm had a problem with over heating the oil. They were operating their engines with normal operating temps about 230 degrees F. When the engine was shut off the oil on the sides of the block would get hot enough to harden to the block. From hot and cold cycles it would then break off in small flakes. These flakes would eventually clog the oil pick up screen and the engine would seize from lack of oil. My 83 Regal's engine seized with 30,000 miles on it. At that time warranty was 1 year 10,000 miles. Gm blamed the oil.
Maybe something like this is what happened to the Honda and they are calling it crystallized.

[baltobernie]

Two dozen factory Technical Service Bulletins for this year and model; none are related to oil clogging or "crystallization".

If your kids bought the van new, and have been continuously following the oil change intervals, I doubt the first diagnosis. If they bought the van used ... well, who knows what maintenance schedule the PO followed.

You say the van is in "limp mode". That implies a Check Engine or other caution light. Have the mechanic tell your d-i-l what Diagnostic Trouble Code they scanned. Engine DTC's will be in "Pxxxx" format. Engine oil passages clogged sufficiently to cripple the car surely would have illuminated the oil pressure warning light long ago, and caused overheating as well.

If the most recent mechanic states that the oil passages are clogged, he should be able to show you evidence of this.

[Zippy]

Thanks for the replies.I am still waiting to hear more when they pick the car up today.

If there is sludge build up, what do you think of the Seafoam treatment or others?

These cars are so technical now it could be any number of problems really. Bad head gasket, carbon buildup on the valves, bad ecu, coils and sensors. Frustrating, especially since they don't have the money for a new motor.

Al

[AriK]

These cars are somewhat technical but their reliability is above average, however your kids have encountered a problem. These cars either work or don't. Most of the time they do work. A miracle in a bottle won't work, it's not a Dodge Caravan. Sounds like coolant in the crankcase from a bad head gasket or something related.

[Zippy]

As it turns out the previous owner was an Amsoil dealer and he told my son that Amsoil was great because you didn't have to change the oil nearly as often. My son said they weren't impressed with his pitch and have taken the car in for regular oil changes since they got it. The mechanic pulled some parts off and they are indeed coated with a thick film. I'm thinking that some of the sensors in the system may also be coated with this film and that may be what is putting the car in limp mode. They are going to do what they can to clean out the engine and see what happens from there.

Thanks for all the input.

Al