Engine and oil additives question
- Thread starter rcs
- Start date
Thanks for your reply...I am going to tell the dealership not to do it, even if it is for free!
Can you tell me what "ticky lifters" are?
The quality synthetic oil has all the additives needed. Best case is the additional oil additives do nothing and worst case they intefere with the additives the oil was blended with at the factory or thin the oil and it is not as good a lubricant.
I doubt you will find any automotive manufacturer that recommends oil additives in the owners manual. Maybe a rogue dealer.
If you really want to baby the oil then go for a bypass oil filter in addition to your full flow oil filter. But overkill in my mind unless you have a huge oil sump (several gallons) and go 20K OCI.
VCM Tuner II or S-VCM they plug in right between your one temperature sensor and the plug to it. The power wire goes to battery or other 12V power source. It "tricks" the computer to see a colder temperature (under 168F) so it does not engage the VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) which shuts down 3 cylinders in the name of fuel economy. It also has been known to cause Piston ring and oil burning issues as well as transmission an motor mount issues.
Independent shop would probably hook it up. Dealer will NOT hook it up. It's very easy to do with basic skills.
Head over to Piloteers.org and introduce yourself. In your profile there and here at BITOG you can update your profile. There might be members close willing to help (if you trust them). Piloteers link to VCM mega thread as one person labelled it. MANY, MANY discussions on it. Some with higher mileage and problems were told need full motor rebuild. Disabling VCM and frequent oil changes saved some of them.
I have the S-VCM on my '19 Pilot. With my plug in scanner, the OBD Fusion App on my phone I can monitor. Below is screen shot, ECT 2 on middle right was my temperature of coolant/radiator right before fans turned on. ECT 1 on top right is where the S-VCM is plugged between and shows 165.2F.
I doubt anything he's adding is actually harmful. Unnecessary, but likely harmless.
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
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I think maybe you're a little bit too eager and maybe an easy mark so to speak. They are probably happy to see you every 3k milesThank you! I do ask a lot of questions from the techs and my previous home mechanic. I am so thankful for all the great folks on this forum as well! I have learned so much from all of your expertise!
They don't have to upsell you, you are upselling yourself. You are over thinking the maintenance schedule, try 5k mile intervals at least.
I agree with your statement. And they do tell me to do it every 5k, even my hometown mechanic stated I am wasting my money because newer engines do not need it every 3K. But here's what changed my mind...since I also rotate my tires at the 3k interval, when I went to a 5k, my tires started to wear on the outside. I had to replace 2 tires. Never again. I do not think they were out of balance because they were new about 1 year prior to that and the balance machine report was spot on. Since then I have add 4 replaced, so everything is even. Even the Honda maintenance book I have distinguishes severe driving conditions. Not to be argumentative, but I would rather pay the money and have everything checked out every spring and winter than have something happen and wished I would have.
But your point is well taken and I appreciate your response.
Thank you for the info. I have read about these on Piloteers. The issue I have is when I go to a dealership, supposedly you have to unplug it so they don't see it. Then plug it back in! I would not feel confident in doing that. But thanks for the info!
Thanks SO much Chris for that video!!! I even watched the 2nd video where he took the engine apart. I love learning. I don't know if I have ever heard that noise, but honestly I would have thought it was normal! Yikes!
....only because I hear my engine and it sounds like a sewing machine, nice even pace. I am going to listen more carefully! I am pretty in tuned to my engine sounds ever since I purchased this vehicle new. Anything from the "new car" deviation and my hearing radar goes up with attention!What is MMO?
Just listen to a Hemi....
Thanks SO much Chris for that video!!! I even watched the 2nd video where he took the engine apart. I love learning. I don't know if I have ever heard that noise, but honestly I would have thought it was normal! Yikes!
Hi rcs, just for clarification, modern Honda engines like your 2015 Pilot's J35 are Overhead Cam (OHC) design motors which do not use hydraulic lifters. Any similar "tapping" sound you hear from the valvetrain is not due to sticky lifters but valve lash. I seem to recall that you previously indicated that you had valve clearances adjusted during a past maintenance service, so all should be well.
Hi Nukeman, thank you for the clarification! Hmmm...I don't recall having valve clearance adjustments...because I don't know what that is. But again, good to know about the tapping noise from the valve train also! I just love learning new things, this way when or if I hear something I can tell the tech at the dealership and not sound stupid.
