hockey25

Hi everyone, I’ve been searching the forum and I’m trying to gather info on whether buying a high mileage 2009-2010 rl is a good purchase. Most of the 2009 2010s near me have near 120k to 150k for around $6000-$7000. Is this a good idea? Most have around 2-3 owners and clean Carfax. Should there be any issues long term? I plan on keeping it through college so i plan on putting around 60k miles in 4 years. My other option is purchasing a Toyota Avalon limited but i like the idea of a more sporty ride with the SHAWD. The ventilated seats are mainly what is drawing me in along with the well known reliability and quality. During my research I’ve found that the 3.7 v6 has oil consumption issues but I’m not sure if that’s just on the TL. Should i be able to put 250k on a 2009-2010 without any major issues as long as i do regular maintenance based on the manual? I would be putting maybe $1500 aside for miscellaneous repairs.

truonghthe

Welcome and you shall find the answers you looking for here.


Pros

* 2009-2010 engine is solid there is no burning oil issue here.
* Transmission is robust as well...
* Cheap in the used car market.
* Loaded with option, 3 options Base/Tech/CBMS
* SH-AWD is dope in snow and help the car handle really well.



Cons

* The RL share very minimal part with the other 3 platform (TL, MDX, ZDX)
* OEM part can be expensive do to the low production number.
* Service the SH-AWD is around $300 at the dealer.
* Oil pump assembly regardless of the mileage
* SH-AWD added mechanical complication if you living in the warm climate state (like me lol)



When the KB1 debuted back in 2005 its was loaded to the teeth and doesn't take long to see who Honda going after (yes Lexus LS430, BMW 7 series, Mercedes E class) however it only lasted 2 short years before the competition caught on. Honda Motor of America also to blame for since they see the sale number for the TL and the RL power plant got revised and put into TL-S this lead to people think the TL is Acura flagship sedan.


You will have to look for the 105k service on the RL that service cost around $1400 - $2400 depend on what you need to get done. Motor mounts are shot at this point and for 3 engine mounts they are around $800 (part only). I would you take it to a Acura/Honda dealer and do PPI (pre purchase inspection) that way you won't get hit with any surprise.


Despite all of things I mentioned above, I bought my RL with 113k miles (now sit at 137k miles) still run like a new car. I am the 4th owner, 3rd owner work at my local Acura dealer take great care of the car he trade in for a RLX (he now regret that decision lol), within 3 years of ownership I had replace the battery, alternator, upper control arm, sway bar link.

Cedge30

I am selling mine if you are interested. Located in NY. 2009 RL tech, sh awd. 137k. All maintenance done, great condition.

zingray

Thanks for your input @truonghthe

This is the first I'm reading that the oil burning issue does not affect the '09-'10 models. Why is this? What changed with the 3.7L in 2011 for our car? I just bought a 2010 and thought it would have the same oil burning issue as all the other 3.7L models.

Also, is the 5-spd a different unit that what was used in the 2004-2008 TL's? Or what was done to make it more robust?

For servicing the SH-AWD...do you mean just the fluids? Tomorrow I'm changing the transfer case and both rear chamber fluid, tranny fluid, and brake fluid (rotors re-cut and new pads last month, but the brake fluid is original and the pedal takes quite a lot of effort). Should coolant, power steering, or anything else be changed? Car has 72k miles and has been mostly garaged.

What is the oil pump assembly issue?

truonghthe

Acura decide to slightly revise the 3.7 internal in the mid cycle refresh, increase MPG by lowered engine internal friction and added 6spd to the AT. I have yet to heard a 09-10 RL, 07-09 MDX, 09-11 TL 3.7 complaint about oil consumption, however Honda TSB define the issue is at piston ring which I highly doubt that is the case.

The 5 spd AT is the most robust by having better design 3 shafts instead of 2 and redesign vavle body along with new ATF recommended from Honda transmission this was a BIG improvement over the previous Honda Autotragic transmission. 06-06 TL has different 5spd transmission meanwhile the 07-08 use a borrow design from the RL. The RL 5spd isn't inferior to the 6spd in term of reliability but the 6 spd help the car deliver the power better and improve fuel economy.

You got all the fluids covered for SH-AWD servicing, I would do brake and power steering fluid/ coolant as well. The brake pedal on these car never had a good bite into them, this could be fix by simply replace a pad with a sport oriented one. I have Autozone Duralast MAX and they work better than Advic stock pad, if you like more bite then get Akebono yellow series.

Oil pump always leaking oil on these car regardless of mileage lol, I would suggest don't touch it until you ready to 105k service as it sat behind the TB area, the J pipe along with oil pan has to come out as well.

zingray

Thank you so much for that feedback...helps me out tremendously!
What's your take on whether the Honda diff fluid is different/inferior to Acura's? i.e. Honda's 08200-9007 Dual Pump Fluid II vs Acura's 08200-9007A DPSF
I will use the DW1 for the tranny tomorrow. Is a 3x3 flush still required/ideal for a '10 RL?

truonghthe

The Differential fluid between the two is incompatible with each other. I would do 3x3 for the transmission.

zingray

Sounds good, thank you for confirming! This morning I changed the front transfer case, tranny, and both rear diff chambers with OEM fluid. I'll change the tranny fluid again soon.
Noticed only the front brake pads were replaced with re-cut rotors, so I'll look into the recommendations you made to get some better pedal bite. Plus changing the brake fluid.
Engine oil was replaced in December from the dealer, and ~1/4 qt extra was put in. Perhaps the techs were instructed to overfill all 3.7L's.

On another note, was there every an ECU flash available for our motor?

truonghthe

The RL aftermarket part is next to nothing, just a few exhaust (if you can find one and willing to bend over and J pipe) no other tunning/ aftermarket part available for the RL.

zingray

Cool, I'm all set then. I have the Mugen, J-pipe, HFPCs, and Tein Flex Z.
Almost seems like the manifold was changed too, but probably not. That was my main inquiry about the ECU.
This is what I picked up:
https://acurazine.com/forums/market/984679

truonghthe

ok so you are good to go then, the only down fall about that kb2 is it love burning gas (bad mpg) but I would rather have it burn gas than oil lmao.

zingray

Yes it is and yes I agree! I met with the Acura service manager of 25yrs yesterday who showed me the Acura recall document listing all models and years of the oil burning issue. It confirmed exactly what you said. I thought the RL I purchased would have been "the" perfect one if it had the 6-spd...but not anymore

Car also came with O.Z. forged wrapped in Pilot SS's (almost new tread, just like the Sport A/S 3+'s on the OEM rims). The RL is so much nicer than the '06 TL I just sold..a night & day difference. It's worth all the $$$ for extra fuel lol. Plus it's so rare to see one. I've seen quite a few KB1's but never another KB2.

I ordered rotors, pads, and spark plugs yesterday. Thanks again for your recommendations and wisdom with such a cool car. Nothing like quality of actually being built in Japan!

truonghthe

So I take it you are not missing the rear deck rattle when you playing music in the TL lol....

zingray