Hi Scotty,
I am looking to buy either a Honda CRV 2.4 (not risking oil dilution on 1.5T) or Mazda CX5 2.5 both Year 2018. I generally love Honda as a brand due to having an old civic which still runs like a clock with 200k on it. However i am sceptical of the CVT transmission in terms of the driving experience and possible problems which leads me to the Mazda. Could you tell me if you have known of many Honda CVT problems?
Also do you happen to know if the civic 1.5T also suffers with the same oil dilution issue?
The 1.5L is prone to more oil dilution in certain circumstances. If the driver does a lot of short trips, and the car doesn’t have enough time to get to operating temperature. If the driver does more freeway driving, it is less prone to oil dilution.
If one gets a 1.5L, it is probably a good idea to do oil changes more frequently than the maintenance minder or that one would traditionally do.
Thanks for that, appreciated.
It looks like the main issue with the 2018 CR-V is oil dilution. This most likely is applicable to models with the 1.5 turbo engine:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/CR-V/2018/
https://lemonlawexperts.com/honda-oil-dilution-lawsuit/
https://www.honda.ca/content/honda.ca/recallcampaigndocuments/N66_EN.pdf
Transmission problems reported are almost nil, though of course the vehicle is too new to know how the CVT will fare long-term. Regular fluid changes can help extend its life.
I believe the Mazda uses cylinder deactivation which cannot be shut off, which will likely cause engine problems down the road.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Mazda/CX-5/2018/
Would you lean towards one more than the other?
I would prefer neither but if I had to choose it would probably be a low-miles Honda with the 2.4 engine, and I'd give it regular CVT fluid changes.
Also do you happen to know if the civic 1.5T also suffers with the same oil dilution issue? i guess so as its the same engine
Yes, being the same engine I'd expect the same problems.
I drive a 2015 CRV regularly. It has a CVT. 100K+ miles. No problems on the CVT. I haven’t really heard much of Honda CVT problems.
The only issue we had was the rear hatch latch assembly needing replacing.
Hi Chuck,
Thanks very much for that information. Would you lean towards one more than the other? Also do you happen to know if the civic 1.5T also suffers with the same oil dilution issue? i guess so as its the same engine.