CR-V Oil Change Causes Fires. Any Similarities To TSX?
07-09-2004, 10:15 AM
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CR-V Oil Change Causes Fires. Any Similarities To TSX?
I just read that a bunch of CR-V' s burst into flames shortly after an oil change.
They think it is due to some of the gasket sticking to the block and then leaking when the new filter is installed. That or the Tech is putting the new filter on dry and the gasket is rollling.
The oil then hits the exhaust manifold and the engine goes up in flames. Total loss.......
Arn't the TSX and CR-V engines similar. Would the same risk exist in the TSX?????
They think it is due to some of the gasket sticking to the block and then leaking when the new filter is installed. That or the Tech is putting the new filter on dry and the gasket is rollling.
The oil then hits the exhaust manifold and the engine goes up in flames. Total loss.......
Arn't the TSX and CR-V engines similar. Would the same risk exist in the TSX?????
07-09-2004, 10:20 AM
#2
Honda is investigating it, most likely it's technician error, as the CR-V is at least 2 years old already, if there was a problem with design, it should've reared its ugly head up sooner than now - as it was pointed out that some of the CR-Vs catching fire had less than 10K on the odometer. And the Element is essentially a re-styled CR-V, so you'd expect to see this problem in the Element as well.
07-09-2004, 04:00 PM
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Here is an article from MSNBC.
27 Fires Linked To Oil Changes In Honda CR-V
By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 9, 2004; Page A01
At least 27 Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years burst into flames shortly after getting their first oil changes, according to records provided to the federal government by the manufacturer.
While no injuries were reported, many of the vehicles were destroyed, usually with 10,000 miles or fewer on their odometers.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration investigated the situation and concluded July 1 that the cases were the fault of dealerships or others who improperly installed oil filters. The agency agreed with American Honda Motor Co. that oil from the filters most likely leaked onto the vehicles' hot exhaust systems, quickly igniting -- in some cases as the owners drove the small SUVs home from being serviced.
"We consulted with Honda. Honda concluded it was a technician's error, and they have taken steps to make sure service technicians who work on this vehicle understand that they need to be particularly diligent when they replace the oil filter," NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said.
But auto safety advocates say they're dismayed that the agency didn't take a stronger stand. "Relatively new cars catching on fire? Running the risk of injuring their occupants? It's a very unusual and a very dangerous situation," said Sally Greenberg of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. The fact that a routine oil change could have such catastrophic results suggests "a dire and a dangerous situation that both the automaker and the auto safety agency should have looked much more closely at," she said.
Honda, whose products are consistently rated among the safest vehicles, doesn't know why the fires are happening in only the two most recent CR-V models, spokesman Andy Boyd said. "That's the part we're still investigating. Honestly, that's something we're still trying to understand," he said, adding that there have been no major design changes.
While Boyd said the problem is "absolutely not a design defect," he said the CR-V's engine is configured "such that there is a higher likelihood of oil spraying onto the manifold than . . . on other vehicles." Honda has no plan to recall the vehicles and install a barrier to block the oil from hitting the hot exhaust manifold, he said.
"At this stage I don't believe we think a recall is warranted," Boyd said "We think with a little more communication and education with the dealers, the problem can be eliminated."
About 140,000 CR-Vs were sold in the United States in 2003. Honda said 22 of them caught fire from the apparent oil filter problem. So far this year, five owners of 2004 CR-Vs have reported such fires to NHTSA.
NHTSA's records relate the stories of drivers whose vehicles caught fire. Their names were blacked out. A woman driving on Braddock Road in Northern Virginia last January noticed smoke coming from under her 2003 CR-V. A passerby pulled up and told her it was on fire, so she swerved onto the shoulder, the electrical system shorted out and all the doors locked. She got out without injury.
A North Carolina family driving to church one Sunday in May noticed smoke and had to rush to get their two small children unbuckled from safety seats before their 2004 CR-V went up in flames.
A Georgia man coming home from a flea market stopped when he noticed smoke, tried to open his hood and "heard an explosion and the front end just burst into flames," according to records Honda supplied to NHTSA.
All had recently had their oil changed for the first time. Honda recently warned its technicians about the need to be careful replacing oil filters in a regular newsletter mailed out to all 1,008 U.S. dealer service shops, Boyd said.
Now the company is drafting a letter to the dealerships themselves, as well as preparing an article for a newsletter sent periodically to independent repair shops such as Jiffy Lube and Pep Boys. Honda also plans to change the language on the oil filter itself and its packaging, warning of the dangers of improper installation.
There are no plans to send warnings to customers who might change the oil themselves, Boyd said.
The problem is believed to happen one of two ways: The O-ring gasket on the old oil filter sometimes sticks to the crankcase, and if the new filter is installed over it, oil can leak around it. Or, if the gasket on the new filter isn't lubricated properly, it might set incorrectly and allow oil to leak around it. Then it can spray onto the hot manifold and burn.
Kay C. Brittain of Jacksonville, Fla., was driving to work from her first 5,000-mile oil change when she noticed black smoke in her rearview mirror. She pulled onto the median to turn and go back to the dealership, but a passing motorist shouted that her 2004 CR-V was on fire.
A week later, the elderly parents of one of Brittain's co-workers avoided injury when their 2003 CR-V burst into flames.
Brittain, 56, who learned from Web site chat groups of other such incidents around the country, said she had no problems with the 2002 CR-V she drove for two years before trading it in for the new model. Now that she has gotten her dealer to replace the one that burned with another 2004 CR-V, she has lost her peace of mind.
"It just scares me. Here I'm sitting with a brand new car, and come 5,000 miles I'm going to have to go through it again," she said. "I don't want this to happen to somebody else. If there is a problem, I think Honda should acknowledge it and at least check this out and not write it off.
"I'm just afraid something bad's going to happen. I just want them to take it seriously."
27 Fires Linked To Oil Changes In Honda CR-V
By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 9, 2004; Page A01
At least 27 Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years burst into flames shortly after getting their first oil changes, according to records provided to the federal government by the manufacturer.
While no injuries were reported, many of the vehicles were destroyed, usually with 10,000 miles or fewer on their odometers.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration investigated the situation and concluded July 1 that the cases were the fault of dealerships or others who improperly installed oil filters. The agency agreed with American Honda Motor Co. that oil from the filters most likely leaked onto the vehicles' hot exhaust systems, quickly igniting -- in some cases as the owners drove the small SUVs home from being serviced.
"We consulted with Honda. Honda concluded it was a technician's error, and they have taken steps to make sure service technicians who work on this vehicle understand that they need to be particularly diligent when they replace the oil filter," NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said.
But auto safety advocates say they're dismayed that the agency didn't take a stronger stand. "Relatively new cars catching on fire? Running the risk of injuring their occupants? It's a very unusual and a very dangerous situation," said Sally Greenberg of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. The fact that a routine oil change could have such catastrophic results suggests "a dire and a dangerous situation that both the automaker and the auto safety agency should have looked much more closely at," she said.
Honda, whose products are consistently rated among the safest vehicles, doesn't know why the fires are happening in only the two most recent CR-V models, spokesman Andy Boyd said. "That's the part we're still investigating. Honestly, that's something we're still trying to understand," he said, adding that there have been no major design changes.
While Boyd said the problem is "absolutely not a design defect," he said the CR-V's engine is configured "such that there is a higher likelihood of oil spraying onto the manifold than . . . on other vehicles." Honda has no plan to recall the vehicles and install a barrier to block the oil from hitting the hot exhaust manifold, he said.
"At this stage I don't believe we think a recall is warranted," Boyd said "We think with a little more communication and education with the dealers, the problem can be eliminated."
About 140,000 CR-Vs were sold in the United States in 2003. Honda said 22 of them caught fire from the apparent oil filter problem. So far this year, five owners of 2004 CR-Vs have reported such fires to NHTSA.
NHTSA's records relate the stories of drivers whose vehicles caught fire. Their names were blacked out. A woman driving on Braddock Road in Northern Virginia last January noticed smoke coming from under her 2003 CR-V. A passerby pulled up and told her it was on fire, so she swerved onto the shoulder, the electrical system shorted out and all the doors locked. She got out without injury.
A North Carolina family driving to church one Sunday in May noticed smoke and had to rush to get their two small children unbuckled from safety seats before their 2004 CR-V went up in flames.
A Georgia man coming home from a flea market stopped when he noticed smoke, tried to open his hood and "heard an explosion and the front end just burst into flames," according to records Honda supplied to NHTSA.
All had recently had their oil changed for the first time. Honda recently warned its technicians about the need to be careful replacing oil filters in a regular newsletter mailed out to all 1,008 U.S. dealer service shops, Boyd said.
Now the company is drafting a letter to the dealerships themselves, as well as preparing an article for a newsletter sent periodically to independent repair shops such as Jiffy Lube and Pep Boys. Honda also plans to change the language on the oil filter itself and its packaging, warning of the dangers of improper installation.
There are no plans to send warnings to customers who might change the oil themselves, Boyd said.
The problem is believed to happen one of two ways: The O-ring gasket on the old oil filter sometimes sticks to the crankcase, and if the new filter is installed over it, oil can leak around it. Or, if the gasket on the new filter isn't lubricated properly, it might set incorrectly and allow oil to leak around it. Then it can spray onto the hot manifold and burn.
Kay C. Brittain of Jacksonville, Fla., was driving to work from her first 5,000-mile oil change when she noticed black smoke in her rearview mirror. She pulled onto the median to turn and go back to the dealership, but a passing motorist shouted that her 2004 CR-V was on fire.
A week later, the elderly parents of one of Brittain's co-workers avoided injury when their 2003 CR-V burst into flames.
Brittain, 56, who learned from Web site chat groups of other such incidents around the country, said she had no problems with the 2002 CR-V she drove for two years before trading it in for the new model. Now that she has gotten her dealer to replace the one that burned with another 2004 CR-V, she has lost her peace of mind.
"It just scares me. Here I'm sitting with a brand new car, and come 5,000 miles I'm going to have to go through it again," she said. "I don't want this to happen to somebody else. If there is a problem, I think Honda should acknowledge it and at least check this out and not write it off.
"I'm just afraid something bad's going to happen. I just want them to take it seriously."
07-09-2004, 04:08 PM
#4
Sounds to me like they're blaming the filter. Did the filter for the CRV recently change to a different one? My Civic filter changed to a skinnier one. Any correlation to Honda's recent filter change?
07-09-2004, 04:52 PM
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"We consulted with Honda. Honda concluded it was a technician's error, and they have taken steps to make sure service technicians who work on this vehicle understand that they need to be particularly diligent when they replace the oil filter," NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said.
Haha..22 Honda Techs f**ked up on a simple oil change? Must be easy to get a mechanic license down at the states!!
Haha..22 Honda Techs f**ked up on a simple oil change? Must be easy to get a mechanic license down at the states!!
07-09-2004, 10:31 PM
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CR-V and TSX
Both cars use the same engine, though the TSX has some mods - I think we have variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, whereas CR-V has it on intake only (?). We also have higher comprression (super unleaded) and 5-30 oil rather than 5-20. Perhaps the lighter oil burns easier (joke). Both are pains in the ass to do home oil changes on.
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07-10-2004, 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by zircon
Both cars use the same engine, though the TSX has some mods - I think we have variable valve timing on intake and exhaust, whereas CR-V has it on intake only (?). We also have higher comprression (super unleaded) and 5-30 oil rather than 5-20. Perhaps the lighter oil burns easier (joke). Both are pains in the ass to do home oil changes on.
07-10-2004, 12:19 PM
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[QUOTE=Agent_Chen]Here is an article from MSNBC.
27 Fires Linked To Oil Changes In Honda CR-V
By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 9, 2004; Page A01
At least 27 Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years burst into flames shortly after getting their first oil changes, according to records provided to the federal government by the manufacturer.
While no injuries were reported, many of the vehicles were destroyed, usually with 10,000 miles or fewer on their odometers.
While Boyd said the problem is "absolutely not a design defect," he said the CR-V's engine is configured "such that there is a higher likelihood of oil spraying onto the manifold than . . . on other vehicles." Honda has no plan to recall the vehicles and install a barrier to block the oil from hitting the hot exhaust manifold, he said.
"At this stage I don't believe we think a recall is warranted," Boyd said "We think with a little more communication and education with the dealers, the problem can be eliminated."
All had recently had their oil changed for the first time. Honda recently warned its technicians about the need to be careful replacing oil filters in a regular newsletter mailed out to all 1,008 U.S. dealer service shops, Boyd said.
The problem is believed to happen one of two ways: The O-ring gasket on the old oil filter sometimes sticks to the crankcase, and if the new filter is installed over it, oil can leak around it. Or, if the gasket on the new filter isn't lubricated properly, it might set incorrectly and allow oil to leak around it. Then it can spray onto the hot manifold and burn.
QUOTE]
Its' been discussed on many other threads that Hondas come from the fabtory with 'special oil' to help with breakin of the vehicles. Do they also come with a special oil filter?? Seems odd that the fires all occured after the 1st oil change ONLY. Perhaps a defective oil filter is being installed in the factory???
27 Fires Linked To Oil Changes In Honda CR-V
By Greg Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 9, 2004; Page A01
At least 27 Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years burst into flames shortly after getting their first oil changes, according to records provided to the federal government by the manufacturer.
While no injuries were reported, many of the vehicles were destroyed, usually with 10,000 miles or fewer on their odometers.
While Boyd said the problem is "absolutely not a design defect," he said the CR-V's engine is configured "such that there is a higher likelihood of oil spraying onto the manifold than . . . on other vehicles." Honda has no plan to recall the vehicles and install a barrier to block the oil from hitting the hot exhaust manifold, he said.
"At this stage I don't believe we think a recall is warranted," Boyd said "We think with a little more communication and education with the dealers, the problem can be eliminated."
All had recently had their oil changed for the first time. Honda recently warned its technicians about the need to be careful replacing oil filters in a regular newsletter mailed out to all 1,008 U.S. dealer service shops, Boyd said.
The problem is believed to happen one of two ways: The O-ring gasket on the old oil filter sometimes sticks to the crankcase, and if the new filter is installed over it, oil can leak around it. Or, if the gasket on the new filter isn't lubricated properly, it might set incorrectly and allow oil to leak around it. Then it can spray onto the hot manifold and burn.
QUOTE]
Its' been discussed on many other threads that Hondas come from the fabtory with 'special oil' to help with breakin of the vehicles. Do they also come with a special oil filter?? Seems odd that the fires all occured after the 1st oil change ONLY. Perhaps a defective oil filter is being installed in the factory???
07-10-2004, 11:23 PM
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I agree, if I were Honda, which I am not, I would focuson the factory install of the first filter.
Maybe they were installed dry and the gaskets are sticking? Maybe they had crappy gaskets.
Maybe they were installed dry and the gaskets are sticking? Maybe they had crappy gaskets.
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