Honda Odyssey Misfire Error

[Scarpozzi]

My wife's van started acting up at lunch today. I went by after work and found the engine symbol lit up on the dash and blinking. The anti skid light was on too, solid.

OBD2 only had one engine code listed P0302. Misfire on Cylinder 2. I looked up a diagram and of course it's in the middle rear of the engine, but it wasn't that tight of a fit. I was able to get a 10mm with the help of a swivel and remove the coil. I got the plug out with some scotch tape crammed inside a socket.

Here's the plug:



I sprayed it down with starter fluid and wiped it with a paper towel to clean, then hit the points with 1000 grit. I plugged the coil back in and used 3 small zip ties to hold the plug in place and saw it firing.

I threw it back in the engine and pulled the battery to reset the codes. Running much smoother now. I'm thinking all of that gunk on the end of the plug is a mix of carbon and fuel, but only time will tell. Van only has 54,000 miles on it...and this is the first time we've ever had an issue with it. I'm not used to these newer engines, but I'm just hoping it was something arbitrary that caused the misfire in the first place and not a stuck/broken valve.

 

[RLGL]

Use a piece of soft fuel line that fits snuggly over the end of the plug to assist in the removal and installation. Looks like that cyl is running rich. Other things also could be wrong. Start with the easy and cheap stuff first. Don' just throw parts at it. Pull another plug to see what it should look like.

 

[sdifox]

Don't know if this affect you. My 2012 needed an engine rebuild. Honda covered it.

Honda Engine Misfire Class Action Settlement Gets Final OK

Judge grants final approval to Honda engine misfire class action settlement, resolving claims that Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, and Crosstour vehicles excessively burn oil.

topclassactions.com

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[Scarpozzi]

Don't know if this affect you. My 2012 needed an engine rebuild. Honda cpvered it.

Honda Engine Misfire Class Action Settlement Gets Final OK

Judge grants final approval to Honda engine misfire class action settlement, resolving claims that Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, and Crosstour vehicles excessively burn oil.

topclassactions.com

.

Mine is a 2016, so I'm not sure it's covered. They may have just extended the warranty to cover the incidental chance that whatever percentage of vans have the issue would be covered enough to keep them from paying more out of pocket.

I'm trying to wrap my head around what's really causing the issue and whether or not the gunk on the plug was fouled by poor fuel management on the idle cylinder or poor lubrication/heat management that may have caused ring damage and oil in the cylinder. I think it's fuel management in my case.

I also have an estimation that shit dealerships across the country are taking advantage of people and telling them they need new rings when they're just dealing with fouled plugs. I changed my oil yesterday and smelled my exhaust because I did an engine flush prior to draining the oil. The exhaust smelled clean...no smoke.

 

[sdifox]

Mine is a 2016, so I'm not sure it's covered. They may have just extended the warranty to cover the incidental chance that whatever percentage of vans have the issue would be covered enough to keep them from paying more out of pocket.

I'm trying to wrap my head around what's really causing the issue and whether or not the gunk on the plug was fouled by poor fuel management on the idle cylinder or poor lubrication/heat management that may have caused ring damage and oil in the cylinder. I think it's fuel management in my case.

I also have an estimation that shit dealerships across the country are taking advantage of people and telling them they need new rings when they're just dealing with fouled plugs. I changed my oil yesterday and smelled my exhaust because I did an engine flush prior to draining the oil. The exhaust smelled clean...no smoke.

If your engine has the cylinders that disengage to save fuel, then you are affected. There are third party solutions that stops the mechanism and it seems to prevent the problem. According to the Honda tech I deal with, this was caused by Honda cheaping out on the rings.

PISTON RINGS/MISFIRES/FOULED SPARK PLUGS - The VCM mega...

This thread explains all the key details regarding VCM. Rather than re-explaining everything about VCM to every new forum member, they can simply be directed here. Self-service FTW! While there will be plenty of discussion in this thread, this first post contains the key information, so reading...

www.odyclub.com

 

[mindless1]

It is oil fouling. I'd also check the gap on that if you haven't. Some Odyssey engines benefit from a VCM fix...

Edit: sdifox beat me to it, posted same link I was gonna...

 

[Scarpozzi]

Ok....so the Megathread explained everything. It definitely had oil fouling on the #2 cylinder. I'm going to pull and clean the other 3 VCM plugs for inspection next and check the non VCM plugs after that.

Now the big question....should I trade the Odyssey in for something else? I could get $20-22k out of it. Would it be worth swapping to something with less wear at this point before VCM possibly does more damage or should we ride out having no car payment for another few years and just keep a watch on it?

 

[mindless1]

With only 54K on it, I'd want to keep it longer and do the VCM fix, though would do a compression test to make sure the #'s look good.

Also depending on your summer and winter temps (if enough margin to do so), a little more viscous oil should help like 5W-30.

 

[sdifox]

With only 54K on it, I'd want to keep it longer and do the VCM fix, though would do a compression test to make sure the #'s look good.

Also depending on your summer and winter temps (if enough margin to do so), a little more viscous oil should help like 5W-30.

Inwould get the hack, new plugs and keep uaing the minivan. Unless you don't need one anymore.

 

[Scarpozzi]

With only 54K on it, I'd want to keep it longer and do the VCM fix, though would do a compression test to make sure the #'s look good.

Also depending on your summer and winter temps (if enough margin to do so), a little more viscous oil should help like 5W-30.

Odysseys are supposed to run 0w20 synthetic. I would guess even with bypassing vcm, you'll want 0w20 for colder weather and when the engine hasn't warmed up yet.

I doubt the piston rings are worn yet and thanks to sdifox and the megathread have a better understanding of what's going on and why. I feel better about it.

Inwould get the hack, new plugs and keep uaing the minivan. Unless you don't need one anymore.

No need to get new plugs. Just clean the oil off the existing ones and clean the injectors regularly in case they're getting gummed up from dirty cylinders.

I'm definitely considering the hack, but may hold off until after I inspect the other plugs and get back from vacation in the van.

 

[mindless1]

^ Depends on how cold, there's not that much difference between 0W and 5W, but the -30 over -20, can definitely reduce consumption. Essentially you are picking the oil to combat the primary fault of the engine.

They do make 0W-30 now...

If I had plugs out at 50K+ mi, I'd just replace them. I'd try one heat range higher, iridiums, but you're still going to have excessive cylinder deposits and foul your exhaust valves and cats if you don't get the oil consumption under control one way or the other.

 

[sdifox]

^ Depends on how cold, there's not that much difference between 0W and 5W, but the -30 over -20, can definitely reduce consumption. Essentially you are picking the oil to combat the primary fault of the engine.

They do make 0W-30 now...

If I had plugs out at 50K+ mi, I'd just replace them. I'd try one heat range higher, iridiums, but you're still going to have excessive cylinder deposits and foul your exhaust valves and cats if you don't get the oil consumption under control one way or the other.

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used to run my E350 4Matic with that.