Honda Pilot/Acura MDX 3.5 V6 direct injection?
- Thread starter GW.
- Start date
I owned a 2021 Honda Pilot for 3 years, traded in last August. The oil never had any scent of fuel even with a few very short winter trips done. The last oil change interval was ~8,400 miles with 20% on the oil life meter, no scent of fuel, oil looked dark amber, not pushed too far.
My MDX was the first time they went DI on the J35. I would consider my wife's use of it darn near severe service with short trips of under 3 miles in temps below zero. No noticeable dilution, although I run 0w30 for some overhead just in case.
Buy it!
Get it. I’m still liking my 2022 type s
Definitely love the color and the look. It's the fuel dilution, carbon buildup and how the VCM system causes expensive motor mounts to go bad is what holding me back..
Our 2025 Pilot Elite has Honda's J35Y8 engine, which is the J35's latest iteration since 2023. As seen in these used oil analysis, fuel dilution is not a problem.
No doubt you've heard me whine about carbon deposits in the last oil filter and the oil was much darker than expected using AMSOIL Signature Series 0w20 with 5.6k miles on the oil and 10k on the engine. I changed the oil today at 3k miles' interval and the oil was very clean. The difference... I've been running Shell premium almost exclusively this OCI. A sample has been sent to Wearcheck and should have the results next week. Wearcheck only shows oil dilution as <1% vs SD showing actual values, as SD uses gas chromatography for fuel dilution testing.
The other thing I've only recently learned about the J35Y8 engine is using Sport or Tow drive modes prevents the VCM system from activating (and also disables auto start/stop). Prior to this generation, the J35's VCM system could be defeated by adding an aftermarket "muzzler" device. Using a scan tool and monitoring/graphing live data, my VCM system was switching on and off almost continuously, even at speeds under 30mph and the engine hadn't reached full operating temperature. My wife and I have been using Sport or Tow drive modes for about the last 500 miles and will never again use Normal drive mode.
I have so much more to say about Honda's VCM system
, but you're asking about fuel dilution. Here are the results since new. Miles are oil miles, not odometer miles. The 494 miles' sample was the factory fill oil. FYI, based on the Manganese level called out by Lake in the Comments, I've been chasing my tale trying to figure out why the levels were so high, relatively speaking. I've since learned it appears Honda has switched to using Manganese/bronze valve guides in the J35Y8. I have the VCM and auto start stop disabled with the muzzler and the IDS controller to save the motor mounts. I haven’t noticed any fuel in the oil and my drive is 4 miles to work so unless I get out on the open highway on the weekends the MDX is a short tripper.
