Owners of some Hondas with the 1.5-liter turbo engine noticed something odd: the oil level on the dipstick went up between changes, and the oil smelled of gasoline. This is oil dilution. Unburned fuel slips past the piston rings into the oil, thinning it.
In our data, complaints that mention fuel in the oil, a rising oil level or a gas smell in the oil are concentrated in a few model years.
Which cars are affected
| Model year | Oil dilution complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Honda CR-V | 138 |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 125 |
| 2019 Honda CR-V | 23 |
| 2017 Honda Civic | 11 |
| 2018 Honda Accord | 10 |
| 2018 Honda Civic | 7 |
| 2020 Honda CR-V | 6 |
The 2017 and 2018 CR-V account for about seven in ten such complaints. The issue was worst in cold climates and on cars used mostly for short trips, where the engine rarely gets fully warm and the fuel never boils off.
Why it matters
Thinned oil protects the engine less well. Owners reported check engine lights, rough running and, in a few cases, worry about long-term wear. Honda’s view was that most engines were not damaged, but it treated the problem seriously enough to act.
What Honda did
Honda released a software update for affected CR-Vs and Civics that warms the engine faster and changes how it runs in the cold. The update also changed how the heater works so the engine reaches temperature sooner. Honda extended the powertrain warranty on affected cars sold in cold-weather states and included an oil change with the update. The extended coverage depends on the car’s age, so check with a dealer using the VIN.
How to check a car
- Pull the dipstick with the engine cold. If the oil is above the top mark, or smells of gas, fuel has got in.
- Ask for the software update record. A dealer can confirm from the VIN whether the update was done.
- Look at the oil change interval. Regular changes, every 5,000 miles or sooner in cold weather, keep diluted oil from sitting in the engine.
- Check for a check engine light and ask a shop to scan for stored codes.
Should you avoid these years?
The 2017 and 2018 CR-V are two of the most complained-about CR-V years, and we rate both as years to avoid on our CR-V page. That does not mean every car is bad. A car with the update done, regular oil changes and mostly highway driving is lower risk. If you live somewhere cold and drive short trips, a 2016 or 2020-2021 CR-V is the safer choice.
Questions
Does this affect the Honda 2.0 or V6? No. The complaints are about the 1.5-liter turbo.
Can the problem come back after the update? Some owners say they still see a small rise in very cold weather, but much less than before.
Is the 2019 safe? The 2019 drew far fewer oil dilution complaints because the fixes were built in, though it still has the false automatic braking complaints seen on 2017-2019 CR-Vs.