Under Valve Cover 2017 Accord 2.4L 130k miles

[Sequoiasoon]

My 2017 Accord LX, 2.4L 6MT earth dreams is at Honda getting valve cover replaced and valves checked/adjusted. Cover has been seeping more making a mess I don't like. I bought this used with 49k in November 2020 it now has 130k miles, valves were never done. I don't recall any Carfax stuff or other prior history when I bought it from Mercedes dealer. It burns some oil, about 1.5-2qts in 5000 miles, I wasn't tracking that close originally just kept it full. I check it all the time. I realize I do a lot of engine braking high vacuum as that's how I drive the 6MT coming off highways, side roads to stop signs, fun drives. Drives are 50 miles round trip daily to work, 1/2 highway, 1/2 local and many longer highway trips. It sees high rpm because it is a 6MT .

Since I have it the oils have been a big range but all full synthetic (except a quart of Havoline I was using up). Mostly Mobil 1 and Pennzoil Platinum but also some RGT, now on Valvoline Restore and Protect, some HPL and I think 1-2 Delo. It had a BG EPR flush, HPL Engine Cleaner 30, HPL PCMO 5W-30 in place of Engine Cleaner 30 for some changes. Oil stays clean, hard to see on dipstick for a while. First couple years was at about 7500 miles by MM, recent years doing 5k changes like in my Pilot and others. I have not done a used oil analysis on this yet. Filters never really had anything in them when cut open.

Motor looks very clean on the valve train except the one little soft sludge spot on left front in what looks like a no flow area right by oil fill port. Fill port has a screen on it so you can't see there. I touched it with small screwdriver to see and it comes right off. I just find it odd. I was there as the mechanic was pulling the valve cover off to get pictures. Lobes all look great from what I can tell.

Thoughts on the sludge spot? It will be wiped off before reassembly. Unless something else happens I won't see that again for another 100k miles.

 

[JavierH19]

Looks great. Keep doing what you're doing. That little spot is nothing.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Looks good

 

[rszappa1]

That 2.4 is a great engine...I wish that Honda still used it...

 

[rijndael]

That 2.4 is a great engine...I wish that Honda still used it...

Same. I do a lot of oil changes on 1.5 engines, they all smell like gasoline when draining them.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Same. I do a lot of oil changes on 1.5 engines, they all smell like gasoline when draining them.

First I ever experienced that was daughter in laws '21 Tucson with 2.0 NU. I had to drop the OCI to 1/2 due to short trips.

 

[Danh]

Dunno about the sludge spot but my understanding is that oil consumption in K24s is many times caused by coked-up (not that kind…) rings. This could be an excellent candidate for Valvoline Restore and Protect, the current darling of this forum.

 

[D1dad]

Nothing wrong here. One of Hondas great engines! The best man in my wedding drives one of these on his sales route and has close to 300K. Uses oil but no more than yours and still runs like new, and never uses more.

 

[matrass]

Looking good thanks for the pics.

For the oil comsumption did you change the pcv valve to see if it comes down any ?

Also saw one post on here was for the CRV, somebody had good experience changing the pcv hose as they

tend to kink .

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Dunno about the sludge spot but my understanding is that oil consumption in K24s is many times caused by coked-up (not that kind…) rings. This could be an excellent candidate for Valvoline Restore and Protect, the current darling of this forum.

It's currently on it's 2nd run of Restore and Protect 0W-20 with Carquest Extended Performance filter. I have about 1000 miles to go until next change.

Looking good thanks for the pics.

For the oil comsumption did you change the pcv valve to see if it comes down any ?

Also saw one post on here was for the CRV, somebody had good experience changing the pcv hose as they

tend to kink .

Changed 2x since I have had it. Last change was January 2025 so max 20k miles. It mounts in the valve cover, no hoses. Consumption hasn't changed. I think only slight reduction recently is when it was doing highway trips to Virginia and back with a lot more steady rpm cruising.

 

[CleanSump]

Motor looks very clean on the valve train except the one little soft sludge spot on left front in what looks like a no flow area right by oil fill port.

I think you're correct. That spot doesn't appear to get oil flow so it's condensation out of the crankcase vapors sticking there. If you wipe it off and keep using Valvoline Restore and Protect it may not come back.

 

[gregk24]

Looks great. The K24 is one of Hondas best engines IMO.

 

[Exhaustgases]

So is this "Earth Dreams" engine really the same old K24 or something new and different?

I wouldn't be using 0W-20 and expecting it not to burn oil. I'd increase the sauce to 5W-30 at least.

 

[TomYoung]

Looks great. The K24 is one of Hondas best engines IMO.

It’s one of the world’s best engines, maybe the best.

 

[iCurious]

It’s one of the world’s best engines, maybe the best.

They also have oil consumption problem if one is not worried about that.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Motor looks very clean on the valve train except the one little soft sludge spot on left front in what looks like a no flow area right by oil fill port.

A single spot like that must simply be caused by something - low flow or something that keeps it hotter there. I would call that an anomoly and not worry about it.

Looks great!

 

[D1dad]

They also have oil consumption problem if one is not worried about that.

They do but, I think that has to do with running long oci from the get go. At least it was for my friends. He didn’t start using any oil until after warranty. Surprise surprise. But he also followed the OLM and used Honda service, then Quick lubes after. He’s a solid qt every 5k yet still changes according to the computer. @309k he’s never had a converter issues and the plugs looked pretty solid when he changed them at recommended intervals. The ride and engine perform as if the car has 50k so I guess a qt or two isn’t a huge deal. It would probably drive me insane.

 

[TomYoung]

They also have oil consumption problem if one is not worried about that.

I have a 2005 that does not use a drop. Even if they do consume a little, if the vehicle is well maintained, I would say it is a minimal concern, especially when comparing to the oil diluting DI, CVT, head gasket failure alternatives Honda and others are selling today. If my car lost a quart every 5 k (it doesn’t) I could easily live with that.

 

[Nukeman7]

So is this "Earth Dreams" engine really the same old K24 or something new and different?

I wouldn't be using 0W-20 and expecting it not to burn oil. I'd increase the sauce to 5W-30 at least.

"Earth Dreams" is the nomenclature developed by Honda marketing around 2020 to distinguish their fuel saving technology. Specifically, for the platforms using the K24 engine, it means Direct Injection and CVTs. However, the "Earth Dreams Technology" encompasses other Honda mileage enhancing strategies, including Hybrids, diesels and EVs.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

"Earth Dreams" is the nomenclature developed by Honda marketing around 2020 to distinguish their fuel saving technology. Specifically, for the platforms using the K24 engine, it means Direct Injection and CVTs. However, the "Earth Dreams Technology" encompasses other Honda mileage enhancing strategies, including Hybrids, diesels and EVs.

On a highway cruise I get high 30's to 40mpg depending speeds/wind/temperature. I have gotten almost 600 miles out of a tank on this and routinely over 500 miles on highway. My daily drives I'm in upper 400 mile range.