Buying a 2010 mdx adv tech
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2020
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Buying a 2010 mdx adv tech
Hello, first time buying a acura. The truck has 187km (116miles). The owner stated that he never used premium gasoline on it. Only repair he had to do were brakes and disks. Now I know that most likely the timing belt and water pump has to be changed. But I wanted to know is how I would go by using premium gas. If the owner never used premium would it do any damage or need engine clean first? Sorry for the dumb question. Thanks.
mrgold35
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 1,660
From: ABQ, NM
Sounds like the previous owners did not do much other than drive the MDX and minimal maintenance? You might have to put some $$$ into the MDX to make sure it is good to go if the seller doesn't have a record of the services. Reg -vs- Premium is one of the great debates on every Acura forum. I always us 91 octane from Sam's or Costco. The previous owner wasn't getting the full 300 hp on reg gas; but, that probably wasn't an issue if the MDX was just a commuter/errand runner.
I have a 2011 Adv with +141,000 miles. The timing belt service cost me around $1500 at the dealership. I did the spark plugs at 75,000 miles and that cut the cost down for the timing belt fix a bit.
- oil change+filter
- valve adjustment
- left/right gasket
- timing belt kit with tensioner
- serpentine belt kit
- new coolant
- water pump
Other items that might also needs to be done are:
- replace 6AT/transfer case fluid
- replace rear diff fluid
- replace brake fluid if it has been +3 years
- replace power steering fluid and check for leaks around pump and rack
- replace engine and cabin air filter
- check alternator and battery cables for corrosion
- check alignment (see if the MDX track straight at hwy speeds on test drive)
- check ADS magnetic suspension to see if it works in "comfort" and "sport" modes. Check for leaks, knocks, bounce, and/or sag on any corner with the MDX sitting, driving, or going over bumps.
The biggest issues with the +10 MDXs is the oil consumption issue that can be as bad as 1 qt per 1000 miles. You might need to check with the local Acura dealership to see if this MDX would still qualify being a 2010 if you find out you have this issue down the road.
It will be hard to check now; but, I had to replace both of the front driver and passenger seat heaters on my 11 MDX Adv a few years apart (fixed under Acuracare warranty). It would just turn off at random intervals of 1-5 minutes when used. My driver 1 key fob was replaced because it only had about a 3 foot range from the MDX for it to work. I also had to replace all four magnetic struts/shocks for the ADS suspension since owning my Adv MDX. It would have been around $500-$700 per corner to replace. I was lucky to have them fail under the 4/50,000 or Acuracare warranty each time.
I still love my 11 MDX. It is a friggin' beast on the hwy and can run +12hrs at +80 mph, still looks good, lots of space/utility, love the Adv safety tech (ACC, BSI, CMBS, ADS), and very comfy and easy to drive.
I have a 2011 Adv with +141,000 miles. The timing belt service cost me around $1500 at the dealership. I did the spark plugs at 75,000 miles and that cut the cost down for the timing belt fix a bit.
- oil change+filter
- valve adjustment
- left/right gasket
- timing belt kit with tensioner
- serpentine belt kit
- new coolant
- water pump
Other items that might also needs to be done are:
- replace 6AT/transfer case fluid
- replace rear diff fluid
- replace brake fluid if it has been +3 years
- replace power steering fluid and check for leaks around pump and rack
- replace engine and cabin air filter
- check alternator and battery cables for corrosion
- check alignment (see if the MDX track straight at hwy speeds on test drive)
- check ADS magnetic suspension to see if it works in "comfort" and "sport" modes. Check for leaks, knocks, bounce, and/or sag on any corner with the MDX sitting, driving, or going over bumps.
The biggest issues with the +10 MDXs is the oil consumption issue that can be as bad as 1 qt per 1000 miles. You might need to check with the local Acura dealership to see if this MDX would still qualify being a 2010 if you find out you have this issue down the road.
It will be hard to check now; but, I had to replace both of the front driver and passenger seat heaters on my 11 MDX Adv a few years apart (fixed under Acuracare warranty). It would just turn off at random intervals of 1-5 minutes when used. My driver 1 key fob was replaced because it only had about a 3 foot range from the MDX for it to work. I also had to replace all four magnetic struts/shocks for the ADS suspension since owning my Adv MDX. It would have been around $500-$700 per corner to replace. I was lucky to have them fail under the 4/50,000 or Acuracare warranty each time.
I still love my 11 MDX. It is a friggin' beast on the hwy and can run +12hrs at +80 mph, still looks good, lots of space/utility, love the Adv safety tech (ACC, BSI, CMBS, ADS), and very comfy and easy to drive.
Last edited by mrgold35; May 25, 2020 at 07:49 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 69
Likes: 15
Hello, first time buying a acura. The truck has 187km (116miles). The owner stated that he never used premium gasoline on it. Only repair he had to do were brakes and disks. Now I know that most likely the timing belt and water pump has to be changed. But I wanted to know is how I would go by using premium gas. If the owner never used premium would it do any damage or need engine clean first?.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 170
From: SoCal
Welcome to the board, bini. I'm going to assume you already purchased the vehicle. If not, as others have mentioned, I would avoid this particular vehicle.
Burning regular 87 octane in an engine designed for premium 91 on a long-term basis can cause engine knock, and that in turn can damage the pistons, valves or spark plugs. Due to the presence of knock sensors, you might not hear knocking, but it is still occurring. The previous owner more than likely experienced decreased fuel economy and engine performance.
"Engine knock" doesn't sound like a huge issue, but remember that the vehicle's fuel system (driven by the engine chip programmer) is engineered for having the spark plug and gasoline ignite at a specific moment to produce energy. Octane is simply a measure of ignition; meaning the higher the octane, the higher resistance to ignition/explosion. When that explosion occurs, the resultant energy is higher. When it's only 87 octane, the explosion happens earlier than expected and creates an explosion known as pre-ignition, which causes a knocking sound. Over time, pre-ignition can cause the aforementioned damage to pistons, valves and spark plugs. Bottom-line, the engine's operation timing is off.
If you did indeed purchase the vehicle, I would get some honest advice from a trusted mechanic or a trusted Acura service advisor in first determining after 116K miles, should you start using 91 octane. I would do this when you take the vehicle in for timing belt replacement (which I would get done immediately @ 10 years and 116K miles of use). In my non-mechanic opinion, I would keep using 87 octane until I received the "okay" from a reputable, more educated opinion.
It's not the end of the world and the good news is that Acura engines are pretty much bullet-proof. Just be aware of the engine oil consumption (as previously mentioned in threads above) as I experienced 1 quart a month (about every 1000 miles) in my 2010 ZDX (same engine).
Get this stuff squared away quickly and enjoy your new MDX
Burning regular 87 octane in an engine designed for premium 91 on a long-term basis can cause engine knock, and that in turn can damage the pistons, valves or spark plugs. Due to the presence of knock sensors, you might not hear knocking, but it is still occurring. The previous owner more than likely experienced decreased fuel economy and engine performance.
"Engine knock" doesn't sound like a huge issue, but remember that the vehicle's fuel system (driven by the engine chip programmer) is engineered for having the spark plug and gasoline ignite at a specific moment to produce energy. Octane is simply a measure of ignition; meaning the higher the octane, the higher resistance to ignition/explosion. When that explosion occurs, the resultant energy is higher. When it's only 87 octane, the explosion happens earlier than expected and creates an explosion known as pre-ignition, which causes a knocking sound. Over time, pre-ignition can cause the aforementioned damage to pistons, valves and spark plugs. Bottom-line, the engine's operation timing is off.
If you did indeed purchase the vehicle, I would get some honest advice from a trusted mechanic or a trusted Acura service advisor in first determining after 116K miles, should you start using 91 octane. I would do this when you take the vehicle in for timing belt replacement (which I would get done immediately @ 10 years and 116K miles of use). In my non-mechanic opinion, I would keep using 87 octane until I received the "okay" from a reputable, more educated opinion.
It's not the end of the world and the good news is that Acura engines are pretty much bullet-proof. Just be aware of the engine oil consumption (as previously mentioned in threads above) as I experienced 1 quart a month (about every 1000 miles) in my 2010 ZDX (same engine).
Get this stuff squared away quickly and enjoy your new MDX
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