Deadhorse

I have been thinking about purchasing a new MDX. I was reading the Feb. issue of Consumer Reports and they had an article about direct-injection engines with problems with carbon buildup. They said that BMW, Honda and Kia had issued TSBs recommending that drivers use only name brand detergent gasoline-without ethanol additives- and that they periodically add a fuel-system cleaner. Has anybody had any carbon-buildup on their MDX?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the inherit design of Direct injection engines contribute to carbon build up.

top tier gasoline has detergents in them to help clean off this build up of carbon.

currently; there isnt a way around carbon build up with DI.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

I thought a member in some previous threads said Honda has cured this carbon buildup issue, and that was why Honda was so many years late in implementing DI on its engines.

But the member failed to provide any info to support the claim.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^could be the injector spray pattern.

i remember being in that conversation

Edward'TLS

So is it for real or not ? Are Honda DI engines immune from carbon buildup issues ?

csmeance

Some engines are immune due to differences in fuel systems. A car with some sort of injection by the port along with direct injection will minimize buildup.

BMW folks have been dealing with this issue for a while, esp since they have the 15K oil changes which have been causing even more carbon buildup. Every 100K miles they need to walnut blast parts of the engine to remove the carbon buildup.

Newer F01/F02 2009+ 750's are needing this service at 60K miles because the carbon buildup is so bad!

Stick with a good quality fuel and use a fuel cleaner like Redline SI-1 with every oil change and you should be good for 200K

hadokenuh

I hope Honda DI engines are immune to carbon build up. If not, they will have to fix/clean them somehow because they are supposed to last 200K miles

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Lasting 200K miles is never a problem, even for carbonized DI engines, because carbon buildup don't usually cause the engine to fail terminally, but simply poor fuel economy and poor response/driverability.

Tigmd99

For me same difference...if my MDX (or any other) develops that, then it is time to trade it in....

hondu

N54's build up carbon in 40-45,000 miles.

I believe Honda has help solved the issue by their EGR design, as opposed to Toyota using two injectors (this is from my memory of reading this somewhere on TOV awhile back).

hadokenuh

I hope that's all there is.

From what I read from a Lexus forum, the IS250 engine suffers from rough idle and engine stalled at red lights. I think I will just buy Acuracare before 50K miles for just the peace of mind.

Edward'TLS

Carbon buildup doesn't happen suddenly overnight.

The carbon residuals are deposited gradually, a little at a time but constantly growing.

As a result, engine performance and gas mileage will also degrade slowly but continuously, and because this is taking place gradually, we will hardly notice the change until we start comparing with a brand new vehicle.

jshaw

Just keep any eye on the Accord Forums. There must be nearly 1 million out there with DI + CVT, and the earliest have been out there since summer of 2012. If there are any issues, they should have come up, by now. Don't let faulty German designs fool you.