Honda CRV 2021 EX-L AWD, 20,100 miles. I drive carefully. Original owner.
Oil change October, 2023. Checked oil a week ago, after 2000 miles (Michigan), short trips. Oil about 3/4 inch over the full line on the dipstick. Smelled like gas. Dirty yellow color.
Oil dilution? Any solutions?
Dealer said change oil every 3-5K miles, and, the engine warranty only kicks in if I get some warning lights. No symptoms when driving, runs fine.
I've been driving since 1977, and, never had a problem with an engine or engine oil until 2024.
That's because piston rings were way tighter than they are now to improve gas mileage. The thin oil in modern cars is a reflection on that. Most of the cars you drove back then had carburetors and oil was much thicker. They most likely didn't have fuel injection or Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). Less stiff piston rings + 300 PSI gas being sprayed directly into the engine at idle+ driving short distances, especially in winter= oil dilution. Any car that has GDI will eventually suffer problems from oil dilution if you don't change the oil more frequently according to the way you drive. High technology=more maintenance, unfortunately.
Oil Dilution
All engines have some sort of oil dilution, but not as bad as the Honda Turbo Engines. Honda Turbo Engines are prone to oil dilution in certain conditions. High pressure direct fuel injection and turbo and lower viscosity oils make for a terrible oil dilution combination.
These engines especially need to get to operating temperature. And if there are a bunch of short trips, the engine doesn’t have time to get to operating temperature, and can’t burn off the excess gas.
One way to mitigate this is to take a drive on the freeway for longer distances more frequently, but that is kinda a waste if you have no where to go.
The other way to mitigate is more frequent oil changes. Probably closer to 3000 miles rather 5000 miles or heaven forbid 10,000 miles.
Me personally, I’d probably do them every 3,333 miles, if I had that engine.
I appreciate the advice, but, I would not have bought the vehicle had I known this. Will monitor and trade it in for a Toyota if necessary. I've been driving since 1977, and, never had a problem with an engine or engine oil until 2024. Live and learn.
I totally hear ya. I would stick with naturally aspirated dual injection or port injection, if you can still find them. To lessen the likelihood of oil dilution.
Toyota is the last of the companies that may have a few, but it seems they are introducing turbos now too.
Hondas did have oil dilution problems, especially on short trips and they did have recalls for them. Check your particular make and model year https://www.recalls.gov/nhtsa.html , insert your VIN into the tool. I recommend not driving on short trips in the winter time. Gasoline is volatile, but with GDI and a cold engine, gas does get past the piston rings due to the tremendous amount of pressure.
So I should walk 5 miles to and from the grocery store in the winter because my almost new Honda has a defective engine? Or, I should buy a Toyota and just use the Honda in the summer? 🤔
Like I said, avoid short trips just to the store. Try to go when you're already out and about doing other things so the engine can actually heat up. Even driving "the long way" should help. When I was living with my folks, Kroger was a mile up the road. In the winter time, I went the long way and drove 10 miles so the engine could actually heat up.
you can take short trips. But you also need to take LONG trips to burn off the contaminants. That goes for any car.
I knew that, I was getting at not going on short trips all the time, lol.
that was for OP 😉