Hello my Acura needs spools and a new alternator and soon may need catalytic converter. Should I drop a refurbished engine in and hope for another 250k miles? Or should I let it go? Thanks for your consideration I really love love love my car and would want to keep it. I am in Gilroy any suggestions on good mechanics?

 

It would be worth keeping if you have a kid that will be driving soon. I handed down our 06 TSX with +130,000 miles to our son for a H.S. car back in 2014. You could get another used vehicle if you want to keep the RDX as an extra "beater" vehicle for around town errands. You have to weigh the cost of gas, insurance, maintenance, and potential usage over time keeping a beater around.

I would check out prices for used 2nd Gen RDXs AND 3rd Gen 14-15 MDXs. I like the updated styling and LED headlights with the 16-18 RDX and 14-15 MDXs. The 14-15 MDX is really a 3 row version of the 2nd Gen RDX with an improved sh-awd system (similar 6AT, engine, little better handling with MDX, similar maint schedule, similar tech, similar mpgs). You might find an used 14-15 MDX with half or a third of the mileage of your current RDX in the ball park of dropping in a new engine and correcting the other maintenance issues.

 

My 2014 has 457K miles. original engine. I had replaced Alternator multiple times. I needed to replace catalytic converter. The shop couldn't remove the existing ones. So they added spacer for the oxygen sensor. Code gone about 100K miles ago. Mine still runs. But it needs new front shocks. It is getting old like I am.

 

Wow, the mileage on these cars! Here I am worried about my car with 171K on the clock. Guess there's no need to worry!

I did have a fluke trans issue though, that $6K wasn't fun.

 

It's a shame you were scammed out of 6k.
Low-mileage transmissions sell for $500, and the labor for the swap takes 13–16 hours. It definitely shouldn't cost $6k.

 

At that mileage, it is worth practically nothing. So you might as well keep it. As long as you do your own repairs, what do those parts cost in comaparison to a new car.

Have a long way to go on my 2017 RDX with a mere 30K miles on it.

 

'13 RDX with (only) 252k+ miles here. I think I could use new front struts, too, and am weighing whether to take that project on myself. Will have a pro look at the entire suspension first to see whether links, ball joints, etc. need replacement. Replaced the rear shocks over 100K ago, so might need to do them again, too.

Overall, my major repair has been a rear main seal with a minor drip, which my shop replaced but which I might approach differently, in hindsight:

About 20k miles after the rear main seal replacement, the oil pump gasket started leaking, but just enough to stain the pan, not dripping. Instead of having my tech go in there again at great expense to resolve a minor issue, I added AT-205 to the motor oil to chemically recondition the seals (with Scotty Kilmer's rec and blessing ), and it works! Product page: https://www.atpautomotive.com/product_details.php?id=30 . It's available on Amazon and many of the parts stores. If the oil pump leak returns, I'll consider having that seal (and oil pump) replaced at the next timing belt major service. Otherwise, AT-205 solved it. I've wondered whether AT-205 would have solved my very expensive rear main seal drip, too.

 

I have never seen the rear crankshaft seal leak on these engines, but I have seen the upper gasket—located right next to it—leak. I thought AT-205 worked on seals, but not on gaskets. That is why it didn't help me with the oil pump gasket.

 

475K miles, very impressive, a few questions on maintenance:
How often did you change the engine and transmission oils / fluid?
At what mileage did timing belt get changed?
Did you install a VCM Muzzler type device to defeat VCM on vehicle?
Was alternator a difficult DIY for you?
Thanks for any answers .

 

I am probably the least capable on this board when it comes to DIY. I do oil changes and spark plugs. I suck at the rest and don't even try.
Oil changes every 5K miles regardless of how much % the computer says I have left.
Don't know what VCM Muzzler is.
I didn't do Alternator replacements. One was due to spool valve leaking on to the alternator.
I got timing belt replaced every 100K miles approx.
Transmission, transfer case and differential fluids every 30K miles approx.

 

How long/many miles have you gone since AT-205 solved your leak?
After I bought my '15 last year, now with 111k miles, I took it to an Acura dealer to get software updated (related to transmission), and they did an inspection and said I had a leak by the oil pump. I had already noticed it from my own inspections, but it was and is very small, like yours, just enough to stain the pan. They wanted like $3000 or something crazy so of course I didn't go for that. The only thing I've done differently is use high mileage oil, which I'm not sure made any difference. The leak still appears to be present, and small.

 

Transmission lasting 475k miles sounds impressive! You said it probably needs new front struts. When is the last time they were replaced? Surely not original?? That would be even more impressive!

 

You really shouldn't speak if you don't know what you're talking about. I'll let it pass this time.

 

A VCM Muzzler device stops the engine from running on 3-4 cylinders during certain speeds when driving. Many on this forum swear by using such a device for better engine life and reliability but in your case if this type of device is not installed and you still achieved 475k miles.

 

Over the weekend, I swapped the engine on a 2018 Acura MDX SH-AWD. It took me 15 hours to complete the job—and that included doing the timing belt and drilling out a couple of broken studs. So, I know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

I last had front suspension replaced about 150K miles ago. Original rear struts lasted till 430K miles. It is possible I have more patience with squeaks and rattles. If I were DIY I would have replaced them earlier.

 

You did nothing I couldn't do myself, it's just that my time is more valuable than yours.

 

I’m sorry that I upset you to the point where you took offense and felt the need to start justifying your financial situation to me. I’m just an immigrant who grew up in the post-Soviet 90s—someone who not smart enough to invest 6k to invest in a car that costs 6k. Everything will be fine; please—the main thing is, don't cry! 😔

 

Thanks, as always for your informative and interesting reply.

My shop told me at the time of the rear main seal job that they were replacing the entire plate assy that included the rear main seal, so I think he was referring to this:

Rear Main Seal Retainer - Acura (11300-R70-A00)

2009-2020 Acura - 11300r70a00

https://www.curryacuraparts.com/oem-...er-11300r70a00 , which appears from the diagram to also include a built-in rubber gasket -- maybe the one you referred to?

As to the leaking oil pump gasket and AT-205, my understanding is that AT-205 is supposed to chemically recondition any rubber, which I suppose includes rubber gaskets that it comes into contact with. Scotty Kilmer even sprayed it on axle boots and other rubber suspension parts, IIRC from one of his videos.

When I added it to my oil to try it on the oil pump leak at 246,300mi., I was on a trip and immediately drove several hundred highway miles. It didn't act immediately, but apparently over the next several days/weeks enough of the AT-205 chemically treated oil oozed into the leaking rubber(?) oil pump gasket to cause it to stop leaking. That's my theory, anyway, and I'm sticking with it! :-)

6K miles later, RDX now has 252K+ miles and no visible oil drip or leak.

Thanks again for your input!

 

Around 6K mi. So far, so good. See my Post #19 above.

 

Perhaps that is where the solution lies: I used AT-205 strictly according to the instructions—I poured it in, ran the engine for five hours, then took it for a 30-minute test drive and changed the oil. The instructions state that if the leak has not stopped after five hours, you should consult a mechanic. Next time I encounter a similar problem, I will need to try driving with it for a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the idea!