2002 Accord V6, 4K OCI, 17K vehicle, M1-5W30
- Thread starter Jon
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4% fuel!
That don't sound good.
That don't sound good.
I am guessing lots of short trips, or letting your engine idle a great deal when cold starting. Fuel dilution is 4%, which is thinning the oil, and might be a contributing factor to the high iron.
Merely my uneducated guess.
What oil was previously used? And was that fuel dilution really 4%, or 0.4%? The latter would be considered perfectly acceptable. As it is, your posting indicates an order of magnitude more fuel dilution.
The car is, sadly, used mostly for short trips. I define a short trip of under 20 minutes. Most are on the 10-15 minutes scale, with perhaps a couple a week more than that. The car does not get driven very much right now, certainly not every day.
The car *did* get some idling now and then, but not very much as it heats up so quickly (like most of this breed do).
The car is not driven hard by any means. Several times a year the car will get some major miles in, perhaps 300+ miles/day. This last OCI the vehicle got approx. 1000 miles in 3 days.
It's had a steady diet of Mobil-1 5W-30 since the third oil change, every 3500-4000 miles.
Average mileage is in the 24+ range, with low 30's for long days on the road. Last tank mileage was an all-time low (I think) of 21.16 mpg, but it's winter here.
What could the 4% fuel be from?
We have the extended warranty on this vehicle, but I want (whatever it is) fixed ASAP, but I've *got* to go to the dealer with something persuasive, preferably something for them to check and/or look for.
The car *did* get some idling now and then, but not very much as it heats up so quickly (like most of this breed do).
The car is not driven hard by any means. Several times a year the car will get some major miles in, perhaps 300+ miles/day. This last OCI the vehicle got approx. 1000 miles in 3 days.
It's had a steady diet of Mobil-1 5W-30 since the third oil change, every 3500-4000 miles.
Average mileage is in the 24+ range, with low 30's for long days on the road. Last tank mileage was an all-time low (I think) of 21.16 mpg, but it's winter here.
What could the 4% fuel be from?
We have the extended warranty on this vehicle, but I want (whatever it is) fixed ASAP, but I've *got* to go to the dealer with something persuasive, preferably something for them to check and/or look for.
Patman
Staff member
It could be a leaky injector (or two) causing this.
Jon a little advice.
The Honda line is terrible at not throwing a CEL code for anything this side of catastrophic so if the dealer won't plug in to check it . Head to a Auto-Zone or equivalent and they will give you a free or very low cost scan to see whats shaking.
After that you'll have some more ammo to help the issue.
Think of it this way, while you are waiting for the ECU to fire a signal you are damaging the internals of YOUR engine needlessly.
For instance you probably could not pass a emissions test for your state or city and that would get Hondas attention too.
A properly running new Honda V6 does not run 4.0% fuel normally, I don't care how much idling or cold it is outside!!
At your service,Terry
The Honda line is terrible at not throwing a CEL code for anything this side of catastrophic so if the dealer won't plug in to check it . Head to a Auto-Zone or equivalent and they will give you a free or very low cost scan to see whats shaking.
After that you'll have some more ammo to help the issue.
Think of it this way, while you are waiting for the ECU to fire a signal you are damaging the internals of YOUR engine needlessly.
For instance you probably could not pass a emissions test for your state or city and that would get Hondas attention too.
A properly running new Honda V6 does not run 4.0% fuel normally, I don't care how much idling or cold it is outside!!
At your service,Terry
I'm a bit envious of how fast Jon's Accord V6 warms up. We also have an 02 Accord V6 sedan, seems to take ours at least 5 miles or 8-10 minutes to fully warm up. Put in a new thermostat last week. On the highway, I'm putting cardboard in front of the radiator, it's been so cold, single digit and low teens.
I get anywhere from 20-25 mpg in town or mixed town/short highway driving, anywhere from 28-33 on the highway. MPG has gone down some in the cold weather, maybe it's due to the winter blend gas plus engine doesn't run quite as hot as in warmer months. The Honda V6 seems to suck up a lot of gas starting in deep cold (ours is kept outside, not garaged). Much more than our old 87 Accord 2.0 liter 4 cyl. engin did.
I get anywhere from 20-25 mpg in town or mixed town/short highway driving, anywhere from 28-33 on the highway. MPG has gone down some in the cold weather, maybe it's due to the winter blend gas plus engine doesn't run quite as hot as in warmer months. The Honda V6 seems to suck up a lot of gas starting in deep cold (ours is kept outside, not garaged). Much more than our old 87 Accord 2.0 liter 4 cyl. engin did.
What sort of fuel are you running?
This engine is supposed to run 87 octane only.
Car and Driver dyno tested it and found that it actually makes LESS power on 93 octane!
Also isn't this supposed to be using 0W-20/5W-20?
This engine is supposed to run 87 octane only.
Car and Driver dyno tested it and found that it actually makes LESS power on 93 octane!
Also isn't this supposed to be using 0W-20/5W-20?
Terry -- great suggestion, and I'm in total agreement WRT the fuel dilution.
Regarding warmup, the highway is, oh, 1.5 miles away and I'm /getting/ heat long before that, and it's up-to-temp not long after (another mile or two, tops), and this is in singles and teens (Farenheight).
We run 87 only.
The closest AutoZone is a haul (more than an hour), but Checker Auto is less then 3 miles away. Think they've got anything?
Regarding warmup, the highway is, oh, 1.5 miles away and I'm /getting/ heat long before that, and it's up-to-temp not long after (another mile or two, tops), and this is in singles and teens (Farenheight).
We run 87 only.
The closest AutoZone is a haul (more than an hour), but Checker Auto is less then 3 miles away. Think they've got anything?
Do you have one of your oil history > ???
In PPM for all metals/ ???
Could the fuel problem cause the iron and copper to be so high? Those two numbers would scare the beejeezus out of me. What about the relatively low mileage on the motor? Could the copper be a result of the motor still breaking in?
Also wondering if you plan to try the Honda 5w-20 or Motorcraft 5w-20. Last I looked the Honda oil was nearly a 30w with good dose of moly and the Motorcraft is a syn blend that produces very good results in vehicles calling for that weight oil. Your only getting 4K miles on the M1?
Mikep
Also wondering if you plan to try the Honda 5w-20 or Motorcraft 5w-20. Last I looked the Honda oil was nearly a 30w with good dose of moly and the Motorcraft is a syn blend that produces very good results in vehicles calling for that weight oil. Your only getting 4K miles on the M1?
Mikep
Robbie: I have no oil history. This is the first analysis on this vehicle.
mikep: regarding iron and copper - I'm guessing the iron remains high due to break-in, and the iron?? see below for my thoughts on this. I only did 4k to get an idea -- gotta start somewhere!
Schmoe: It only takes a few minutes. It's been very cold lately, -7F today and -26F with windchill. Still, the vehicle is typically warm in just a few miles (less than 2 typically), although it takes longer if we warm it up on "just" idle (versus driving). *Rarely* does the vehicle get more than a few minutes of idle before we are off.
Regarding the high iron - I'm guessing that it all boils down to the 4% (at least) fuel! That scares me.
If the Check Engine light hasn't gone off, what information might a scanner be able to provide that would give me (and the dealer!) a clue?
If anybody cares, I've got Amsoil 5W-30 ASL in the vehicle right now, the first non Mobil-1 5W-30 since since the factory fill.
mikep: regarding iron and copper - I'm guessing the iron remains high due to break-in, and the iron?? see below for my thoughts on this. I only did 4k to get an idea -- gotta start somewhere!
Schmoe: It only takes a few minutes. It's been very cold lately, -7F today and -26F with windchill. Still, the vehicle is typically warm in just a few miles (less than 2 typically), although it takes longer if we warm it up on "just" idle (versus driving). *Rarely* does the vehicle get more than a few minutes of idle before we are off.
Regarding the high iron - I'm guessing that it all boils down to the 4% (at least) fuel! That scares me.
If the Check Engine light hasn't gone off, what information might a scanner be able to provide that would give me (and the dealer!) a clue?
If anybody cares, I've got Amsoil 5W-30 ASL in the vehicle right now, the first non Mobil-1 5W-30 since since the factory fill.
Terry NOT all the code readers
can pull that info up, and the
ones at AutoZone can not.
Some readers will be able to
look into the codes pending....
and no, a bottle of RL or other additive may be just the ticket... worth a shot!
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