Originally Posted By: PimTac
It's an interesting subject. I have the CR-V on my list of crossovers for purchase this fall. The fuel dilution thing is worrisome but it has probably the best interior of all the choices out there imo. I could see colder weather aggravating the problem if the owner idles longer to warm up the car. In my experience I idle long enough to scrape the glass and that's it I take it easy for the first few miles if the temps are colder than usual. Seattle gets into the 20s on occasion but the outer region can see single digits or sometimes lower though that is rare. Still, it's not the upper Midwest for example.
Some have reported good results running a higher octane gasoline. The higher cost would be the big turnoff with that but it's something to try. Lastly, some here have speculated that since wear numbers did not increase, the issue is not as dangerous as we might think. Better oils? The answer is out there somewhere.
If I were buying I'd look elsewhere. That said, there are two positives for you to consider (in additive to the car itself):
1) The used oil analysis labs are likely to adopt a less-hysterical approach to fuel dilution, only calling it out as an issue is wear metals are high. This is simply accepting the realities of DI/TGDI engines but may allow some to sleep better at night.
2) If the Honda 1.5T fuel dilution issue is a real problem that impacts durability on a large portion of examples, Honda will have to do something to remedy the problem or risk the trashing of its reputation. Given the 1.5T will be the primary engine in the Civic, CRV and, in 2018, the Accord, with nearly a million or so examples pumped out each year in the U.S. alone, Honda really has to get it right.
It's an interesting subject. I have the CR-V on my list of crossovers for purchase this fall. The fuel dilution thing is worrisome but it has probably the best interior of all the choices out there imo. I could see colder weather aggravating the problem if the owner idles longer to warm up the car. In my experience I idle long enough to scrape the glass and that's it I take it easy for the first few miles if the temps are colder than usual. Seattle gets into the 20s on occasion but the outer region can see single digits or sometimes lower though that is rare. Still, it's not the upper Midwest for example.
Some have reported good results running a higher octane gasoline. The higher cost would be the big turnoff with that but it's something to try. Lastly, some here have speculated that since wear numbers did not increase, the issue is not as dangerous as we might think. Better oils? The answer is out there somewhere.
If I were buying I'd look elsewhere. That said, there are two positives for you to consider (in additive to the car itself):
1) The used oil analysis labs are likely to adopt a less-hysterical approach to fuel dilution, only calling it out as an issue is wear metals are high. This is simply accepting the realities of DI/TGDI engines but may allow some to sleep better at night.
2) If the Honda 1.5T fuel dilution issue is a real problem that impacts durability on a large portion of examples, Honda will have to do something to remedy the problem or risk the trashing of its reputation. Given the 1.5T will be the primary engine in the Civic, CRV and, in 2018, the Accord, with nearly a million or so examples pumped out each year in the U.S. alone, Honda really has to get it right.
