Honda Pilot VCM Sludge

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FranklinJL

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I have a 2011 Pilot (wifes car) 43k miles, always used syn oil at 10k oil changes....my very good looking neighbor:) asked me to change her oil on her pilot, and upon inspection, I noticed sludge in oil pan, and visible sludge inside oil cap...didn't remove valve covers....

I know the V6s that didn't use syn, and ran long ocis had sludge issues, so what was the fix, run some 0w20 and short ocis till it cleans up? She told me she took it to jiffy lube when the idiot meter said 10%

For a quick fix, I ran some Delo 400 5w40 laying around, filled it up, ran it hard on the freeway for about 30 minutes, drained, filled with 0w20
 
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Agree with edyvw. Also have them run gumout all in one. It will clean the fuel side of things and because it has PEA in it help as it will get down in the oil and help with the cleaning. A better oil filter can help too. I so far have liked the Fram Ultra XG7317. If you can get to the throttle plate,spraying some CRC IVD spray or Gumout GDI cleaner will help.Advise your neighbour to use toptier fuel too. Good man helping out.
thumbsup2.gif
 
Could be moisture and short trips. My ex had a Ford Escort that went half a mile each day to work. After we drove it long distance and used Redline SI 1 occassionally and used synblend and changed PVC is was way less milky looking.
 
Originally Posted By: Marco620
Could be moisture and short trips. My ex had a Ford Escort that went half a mile each day to work. After we drove it long distance and used Redline SI 1 occassionally and used synblend and changed PVC is was way less milky looking.


We have a winner.

But I'm sure flooring it with 40 weight oil did a lot of good lmao.
 
You stepped in way too deep. She asked you to change the oil and in your post you said you didn't even remove the valve covers? Thank God! She asked you to change the oil man. Sounds like she asked for trouble. Stop digging at her sludge.
 
Her cars in good hands, I'm a chemical engineer and work the semiconductor field. Was a diesel mechanic in the military before I went to school. None of that means anything because o break [censored] everyday like everyone else:)......At least her car sounds an seems to run better. I didn't think even modern conventional oils could gel like that.
 
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The Honda VCM V6 is very hard on oil. 10,000 mile OCI is WAY to long for this engine! Tell her that. 5,000 mile OCI using full synthetic is a safe practice and should not be extended any farther. If you go to a Honda forum this is talked about a lot and most agree that 5,000 miles with full synthetic is best for these engines.
 
As others have posted 5K synthetic oil max OCI on Honda VCM engines, pay no attention to the OLM its as accurate as a sundial at night.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris B.
The Honda VCM V6 is very hard on oil. 10,000 mile OCI is WAY to long for this engine! Tell her that. 5,000 mile OCI using full synthetic is a safe practice and should not be extended any farther. If you go to a Honda forum this is talked about a lot and most agree that 5,000 miles with full synthetic is best for these engines.


Not sure about the neighbor. Need pics. I mean, sorry, we are not sure about the neighbor's OCI, are we? OP does 10K, neighbor does? 10% on OLM could be 5-6K???

But yes, good synthetic, perhaps a shorter OCI.
 
Originally Posted By: FranklinJL
I know the V6s that didn't use syn, and ran long ocis had sludge issues, so what was the fix, run some 0w20 and short ocis till it cleans up? She told me she took it to jiffy lube when the idiot meter said 10%.


Like a new year's resolution diet, doing something different will produce results in the near term, but sustained improvement depends on a true lifestyle change. In her case, that lifestyle change is to no longer adhere to the light and to use a good synthetic oil. 0W-20 should be fine. If you're in a region of Arizona that doesn't see a lot of cold temperatures, then a 30 grade oil would be fine, too.

The issue, as others have noted, is running a VCM engine on conventional oil for long OCIs. Jiffy Lube probably used Pennzoil or Formula Shell 5W-20, which is fine oil, but I'm not sure anything holds up in the VCM environment at the OCIs Honda has programmed into the computer. Honda's biggest mistake, here, isn't necessarily in the equipment (though I think the system may be more complicated than it's worth), but in the oil change interval and oil spec recommendation. Now that Honda has everything on 0W-20, it should be getting better. No consolation to those with older engines that are sludged.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris B.
The Honda VCM V6 is very hard on oil. 10,000 mile OCI is WAY to long for this engine! Tell her that.


The OP runs 10k OCIs on his wife's Pilot. He doesn't know the looker neighbor's OCIs.

Funny stuff, 10k OCIs as SOP but the OLM is an idiot light.....
 
Originally Posted By: KingCake
You pull and inspect the oil pan when you change the oil?


He did mention his neighbor was good looking...
maybe he detailed the car, filled it up with Shell 93, and left a box of Godiva bonbons in the passenger seat for her, too.

;^)
 
Originally Posted By: Virtus_Probi
Originally Posted By: KingCake
You pull and inspect the oil pan when you change the oil?


He did mention his neighbor was good looking...
maybe he detailed the car, filled it up with Shell 93, and left a box of Godiva bonbons in the passenger seat for her, too.

;^)


I certain that the OP's wife would be fully supportive of the extra attention he gives the neighbor's Honda over her own Honda...
 
Can she afford PUP? Will an oversized filter fit? How long do you want to be a "good neighbor" ... How far are YOU willing to pursue this?

IF you are going to follow this out the end, I'd put oversized filter (to catch the crud) on it and run PUP and add 8 oz of Kreen every change. Change spring and fall for two years and see where you are ... Most of the sludge should be gone by then.

But it ain't your car, and if anything happens you may get blamed...

If you want to duck a bullet, have her start to go to Jiffy Lube with 5 bottles of PUP every spring and fall and explain that in your research, it seems these engines have issues with round town driving if not changed more frequently ...
 
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