Honda V6 3.5 concern @ 24K mi

[ProfPS]

I have an '04 Saturn Vue with the Honda V6 engine. I have been running MC 5w20 for the last year (12k - 24k, ran Valvoline from 3k to 12k) and noticed metal filings at the bottom of the oil drain pan when I changed the oil tonight[#1]. I had it in for service recently and the dealer check an intermittent vibration I felt through the steering wheel on hot days when stopped (park or drive)[#2]. They said they checked a same year Vue and found that it too had the same vibration (I question that the dealership actually did a comparision).

Are these two concerns related?

Is this common to all Honda 3.5's?

Is the vibration coming from the transmission?

Any comments will help. This oil change I switched to Havoline.

Thanks.

 

[2Fast4U]

I've got an 06 Vue with the 3.5. I've changed the oil only 2 times, each with mc 5w20. I also cut open the filters after each change but I haven't seen anything like what you mention. Personally if I saw metal filings after a few years of driving with vehicle I would be worried.

I've had another vehicle that had a magnetic drain plug. Too bad Saturn doesn't have one. I wonder if you can purchase an aftermarket one.

 

[AcuraTech]

3.5 engines that they use in the MDX's have been extremely solid as far as I have seen. No problems with excessive wear.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

04 Vue 3.5L, never saw any in the crankcase. When I changed the trans fluid, the magnetic plug had some debris on it.

 

[427Z06]

If I were you, I'd consider getting a Premium Dyson Analysis before your warranty runs out.

 

[JHZR2]

my mother's 97 plymouth breeze has a similar vibration, only its a mere 2.0L 4 cyl engine.

No metal filings, and good UOAs.

My 98 S10 ZR2 has a magnet on the drain plug. Even now, after 50k, there is still a slight bit of gink on the end. When brand new, there were very fine filings on the magnet. the AT magnet and diff magnt in the truck have had black thick gunk on them too.

Even if the engine self-destructs, everyone will blame GM and say that honda is spotless. Not saying that it will do this, and I certainly hope it is just a fluke thing.

IMO, the idle shake bit is inherent to some FWD, AT vehicles... that is my only guess, as my mother's breeze with AT and your vue with AT have it... My saab and my fiancee's integra do not, and theyre both MT.

Do you have the ability to fo a UOA that gives a PSD with the results? that could give *** indication if youre really seeingmetal filings. heck, can you run your used oil through some big coffee filters in a big funnel? If you geta lot of sparkle, you cna take yorue receipts and data to the dealer and hope for some additional checkups.

JMH

 

[Ray H]

ProfPS, am I reading your stated OCIs correctly - 9,000 miles on the previous Valvoline fill (conventional?) and 12,000 miles on the most recent Motorcraft fill (synthetic blend?)?

 

[bruce381]

to me vibration is usally drive line or tires.
bruce

 

[milwaukee]

quote:

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Originally posted by JHZR2:
Even if the engine self-destructs, everyone will blame GM and say that honda is spotless.

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So true.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by bruce381:
to me vibration is usally drive line or tires.

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quote:

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Originally posted by ProfPS:
I had it in for service recently and the dealer check an intermittent vibration I felt through the steering wheel on hot days when stopped (park or drive)

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How do you get driveline or tire vibration when you're not moving?

 

[BlueWorld]

quote:

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Originally posted by milwaukee:

quote:

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Originally posted by JHZR2:
Even if the engine self-destructs, everyone will blame GM and say that honda is spotless.

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So true.

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Wonder if that's due to all the flawless 200k+ V6s running around in Accords, Odysseys and MDXs?

[ July 15, 2006, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: BlueWorld ]

 

[ProfPS]

Thanks for everyone's responses so far. I religiously change the oil at 3k OCIs.

 

[ProfPS]

Oh, I have not payed attention to the wheel alignment when it happens. Do you think that the GM electronic power steering has anything to do with the vibration?

 

[desmonsm]

quote:

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Originally posted by ProfPS:
I had it in for service recently and the dealer check an intermittent vibration I felt through the steering wheel on hot days when stopped (park or drive)

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Check the motor mounts and torque all engine mounting bolts.

 

[milwaukee]

quote:

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Wonder if that's due to all the flawless 200k+ V6s running around in Accords, Odysseys and MDXs? [/QB]

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What?

 

[abimanyu]

Do you live in a cave? Have you read what's going on with GM? Oh no, here comes the part when somebody is going to say that GM is shipshape. Yeah right.

 

[milwaukee]

Double tap, sorry.

 

[milwaukee]

I don't live in a cave.

I live in the richest, most advanced, envied nation in the world.

Where do you live again?

Seems a bit odd you assume I am in a cave doesn't it?

GM's financial state has nothing to do with the current quality of their product which is quite high and GM engine technology has been very high for many years. You better read that stuff you are talking about again.

Too clear things up I was trying to understand a post that didn't make sense.

I was responding to blueworld's post where it seemed to me he was saying that the honda engine is somehow less reliable in a GM product rather than a Honda vehicle. Maybe that is not what he meant but that was the reason for my asking "what?".

 

[ProfPS]

I had the Vue out today and the temps were in the upper 90's (Charlotte, NC area). With Havoline in it, the cooling fan turned on more often than with MC but I did not feel the vibration. I will wait and see if it returns in about 1-2k mi after the oil shears out.

 

[ebaker]

It's probably some type of minor harmonic vibration that occurs with the A/C on. I doubt if it's related to the filings. I'd run an oil analysis and cut open the oil filter before the warranty runs out. However I doubt if there's anything wrong with the engine.