Does the Prelude use the same problematic LF engine that has bad head gaskets?

[rexracer29]

Thanks Rex for the followup!
Really glad now that I did buy an 8 year 100,000 mile $0 deductible Honda Care Extended Warranty for only $1098, not from the dealership I bought my Prelude from, but afterwards from Saccucci Honda (they are known for selling HC warranties at a huge discounted price, then attaching the extended warranty to my VIN so it's good at any Honda dealership) https://www.saccuccihondacare.com/

Who knows if the Prelude will have issues. I am hoping Honda is making continuous improvements to parts and using them in production.

$1100 for a Honda backed warranty with 8-years, 100K miles, and $0/ deductible is a good deal. Having the warranty would let me sleep better knowing the Prelude shares the same engine as models with the head gasket issue.

You have done this Prelude community a great service by informing everyone of the warrantry and where to buy if they want it.

Maybe start a new thread just with the info on where to buy the Honda Warranty so anyone who is interested can find the info in one place.

Thanks!

 

[pillred44]

You are not getting 8 years of coverage. You are getting 3 years of additional coverage. So that is $1200 up front for 3 years of coverage that only kicks in after the five year 60000 mile coverage that was included in the purchase price expires. If you had invested that money at 5.25% you would have earned about $350 in that same 5 year period. So your actual cost at the end of the initial 5 year warranty is $1550 or $516 per year for 3 years of coverage that you will only use if you still have the car after 5 years and if there is a covered loss after that time or if you exceed the 60000 mile warranty limit before 5 years and there is a covered loss that loss occurs between 60K and 100K miles. This also assumes that there was no indication of a problem that could be detected prior to the expiration of the warranty (i.e. a catastrophic failure). The odds of that occurring are extremely slim and the extended warranty companies know that. Now you know it too.

You'd be better off putting the $1200 on red and letting them spin the wheel.

We only get a three-year warranty as standard here in the UK, but all the rest of your argument rings true. We are lucky in that getting your car serviced at a Honda dealer means the warranty is extended each time for up to 8 years now; would that include the head gasket? I would hope it would. I have to say, on a personal level, I'm feeling a little down about the whole purchase, even though nothing will probably ever happen to mine, especially with the very low mileage I do annually; it's the reputation of the car itself which is the killer blow for me down the line when I come to sell or part exchange, give a dog a bad name and all that.

 

[rexracer29]

I doubt that it has. This is a rare occurrence that is both overstated and covered under warranty.

I don’t know how rare it really is but Honda in Canada issued a “product update campaign” about it. It does NOT specifically mention the ’26 Prelude. Maybe the Prelude uses different parts that have been updated?

Quote from the article:

"On the plus side, Honda does seem to be aware of this issue in at least one market. A “product update campaign” was issued by Honda Canada on July 16 covering 2025 to 2026 Civic Hybrid, 2023 to 2025 Accord Hybrid, and 2023 to 2026 CR-V Hybrid models. The code on the bulletin is Q79, and it’s titled “Head Gasket May Develop an Internal Coolant Leak.” The initial move seems to be a software update covering cooling system calibration, and while this campaign’s only in Canada right now, it wouldn’t be surprising to see something similar make its way stateside soon."

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

We only get a three-year warranty as standard here in the UK, but all the rest of your argument rings true. We are lucky in that getting your car serviced at a Honda dealer means the warranty is extended each time for up to 8 years now; would that include the head gasket? I would hope it would. I have to say, on a personal level, I'm feeling a little down about the whole purchase, even though nothing will probably ever happen to mine, especially with the very low mileage I do annually; it's the reputation of the car itself which is the killer blow for me down the line when I come to sell or part exchange, give a dog a bad name and all that.

I think this is a non-issue. Honda no more wants to endure the kind of heat that a simple fix could prevent than customers want to experience the problem. If this were as big a problem (Ticking time bomb, really? Exaggerate much?) as some would suggest enough people would have kicked up a sh*t storm that there would have been a recall or a successful class action suit long before now.

Head gasket leaks are not a Thor's Hammer kind of failure. If you open the hood once a month or so and have a look see and if you have a competent mechanic (or are one yourself) I seriously doubt that you will ever have a catastrophic failure. If you just do the bare minimum and rely on the dealership for routine service (which is typically done by the least experienced "mechanic" in the shop then yes, you may have issues (head gaskets or otherwise).

I maintain my vehicles myself to the extent that I am able. Every car in Pennsylvania is required to be inspected once a year. The shop that does this for me does a thorough inspection not just for safety but for potential problems. I get an email from them documenting every aspect of this process (with photos). And they are less costly than the the "bum's rush" service one receives at the dealership.

I would venture to guess that the majority of people who have experienced the alleged time bomb cannot find the hood (bonnet) release on their vehicle.

 

[faithboy22]

Here is a possible strategy:

After highway driving, a long uphill climb, or spirited driving:

Drive the last 5–10 minutes with reduced load.
Keep SPORT mode active if necessary so the combustion engine doesn't shut off immediately; turn ECON off.
Maintain a moderate speed and use light to moderate throttle input.
Do not stop and switch off the ignition immediately after a period of high load.
Only park the car once the load has been reduced and temperatures are visibly dropping.
Driving is better than letting the car idle, because the airflow, radiator, and the entire coolant circuit are actively working. Plus, the hybrid system can keep the combustion engine running efficiently during a low-load phase.

And definitely don't just let the car idle; for one thing, it might switch off—possibly into EV mode, as you mentioned, or...

While the combustion engine *can* keep running while stationary (e.g., if the battery is low), consider this:

there is no airflow from driving
the radiator fan has to handle heat dissipation
the engine runs according to the system's preset load strategy
the water pump doesn't necessarily operate at the maximum required flow rate when the engine is running hot
heat dissipation can be less efficient at low load than during moderate driving (I see this with my Type R, too). If your FK8 (perhaps the facelift model) has water and oil temperature gauges, you can watch it happen: water temp drops when you're cruising on a country road with light load, while oil temp stays high initially but eventually comes down... The important thing after high-load driving is to always drive the car gently for 5–10 minutes to let it cool down properly. (I just did this myself—took the Type R out for a quick evening drive.)

 

[PGH218]

Went to my dealer and asked about this. They did not know of any HG issues with the current hybrid engines. But there is a TSB out for 23-26 CRV Hybrids - Honda reference - A26-088. PGM-FI update to optimize electric water pump operation. My 26 CR-V Hybrid was purchased mid June and did not show(currently) it was part of the TSB. I assume the Civic/Prelude are also part of this.

 

[PGH218]

The update is out there in the states. Its a PGM-FI update to optimize the electric water pump operation. Who gets it. 23-26 CRV is listed

 

[rexracer29]

Went to my dealer and asked about this. They did not know of any HG issues with the current hybrid engines. But there is a TSB out for 23-26 CRV Hybrids - Honda reference - A26-088. PGM-FI update to optimize electric water pump operation. My 26 CR-V Hybrid was purchased mid June and did not show(currently) it was part of the TSB. I assume the Civic/Prelude are also part of this.

Makes sense if they can run the water pump longer to stabilize the engine temps better.

 

[Alfettaman84]

I have a really simple rule for insurance.... Never take out insurance in order to save money. Do so only to mitigate a risk that you cannot afford (or are unwilling) to take on yourself.

By paying an insurance company to 'take the risk away', your insurance premium inevitably has to cover the average annual claim, plus (your share of) the cost of running an insurance company, plus a margin of profit, plus a dividend for the investors who collectively own the insurance company.

Applying that reasoning, the only things I insure are...
• My house, but only against catastrophic losses like fire, flood, etc.
• My cars, because it is a legal requirement to do so.

All of the other financial risks in my life, I am prepared to take on myself. I have never purchased an extended warranty for a car, or for anything else come to that. All of those insurance premiums (that I haven't paid over the last 40 years) are currently invested at 6% PA.

I have owned and driven iMMD hybrid Hondas ever since they were launched in 2019 and, so far, none of them has ever missed a single beat.

 

[Alfettaman84]

We only get a three-year warranty as standard here in the UK, but all the rest of your argument rings true. We are lucky in that getting your car serviced at a Honda dealer means the warranty is extended each time for up to 8 years now; would that include the head gasket? I would hope it would. I have to say, on a personal level, I'm feeling a little down about the whole purchase, even though nothing will probably ever happen to mine, especially with the very low mileage I do annually; it's the reputation of the car itself which is the killer blow for me down the line when I come to sell or part exchange, give a dog a bad name and all that.

Don't get too excited about Honda's Service Activated Warranty in the UK - it's not a continuation of the standard 3-year warranty but is much more restricted. The first page of the exclusions is here...

Post in thread 'Prelude oil and filter change'

Jun 3, 2026

Here are just some of the exclusions in the new 8 year Service Activated Warranty. Personally, I Don't think I'll be bothering with it...

• Alfettaman

In the small print Honda also reserve the right to "... apply additional exclusions during the extension period." so there is no guarantee that any specific item will be covered.

Personally, I think the Service Activated Warranty for years 4 to 8 is just a clever way of spooking owners into having their car dealer-serviced after the standard warranty expires...

 

[pillred44]

Don't get too excited about Honda's Service Activated Warranty in the UK - it's not a continuation of the standard 3-year warranty but is much more restricted. The first page of the exclusions is here...

Post in thread 'Prelude oil and filter change'

Jun 3, 2026

Here are just some of the exclusions in the new 8 year Service Activated Warranty. Personally, I Don't think I'll be bothering with it...

• Alfettaman

In the small print Honda also reserve the right to "... apply additional exclusions during the extension period." so there is no guarantee that any specific item will be covered.

Personally, I think the Service Activated Warranty for years 4 to 8 is just a clever way of spooking owners into having their car dealer-serviced after the standard warranty expires...

I tend to get my car serviced at the main dealer because, in my experience a full main dealer service history makes the car easier to sell when it's time to part company, and it would have been quicker to list the things that were actually covered, lol.

 

[OldCoupeGRGuy1]

There does seem to be a difference here between countries regarding warranty.
Here in the UK I have driven Toyotas for 25 years and now have a GR Yaris with my Prelude. When I bought that I imediately put it onto a 9 year service paln with Toyota costing £32 per month which means it is under full warranty for 10 years. For that I get the documented service + MOTs + pick up from home. That price of £32 is fixed for 9 years so a big saving now it is 5 years old with another 4 services to go. I personally wouldn't buy aftermarket warranties and agree with above comments about putting that money asside. When it had its 4th service last year it included everything as stated in the service book - all fluids + the correct engine oil Toyota state - not the standard from the workshop drum. That 4th year service is £550+ and about £400 for intermediates so for me it was reasonable. That year I paid £370 for the big service + 1 extra years warranty. Yes I did pay towards that extra year but but not that much!
The Honda runs a similar "service activated" warranty. 8 years so I need to let them service it 7 times. A twist on this is to then get it serviced again at 7 years and 11 months so possibly getting an extra year?
When I was looking at non Honda or Toyota cars with 3 years only the cost of adding extra years on was frightening.
BMW was pushing £1000+ for one year.
Other makes were about £500 -£600 for 2 years to take them to 5 years.
My conclusion is to use them to service it and get that 8 years warranty. Just be carefull about modding as that is a get out clause for them - which I won't be doing.
As far as trusting them to do it right as a non mechanic that is all I can do. These cars are now so complicated I believe that 8 year warranty is absolutely vital for me. And it will hold up it's resale value as the next owner will want whats left on that warranty.
I assume in America you don't get that 8 years with the way you are talking about buying warranty.

Regarding the head gasket I have experienced this talk regarding the GR Yaris - blown engines and GR86 - gasket errodes and blocks oil filter.
When someone asks who has had these problems there are non. Those that did hapen were being driven hard and modded for track use. So I say be carefull as Honda has a very good reputation and if it was a big problem we would know.

 

[rexracer29]

Scotty Kilmer is a very popular mechanic that has over 6.5 million subscribers. He talks about Honda’s quality and head gasket failures with the hybrid engine used in the Civic, Prelude, Accord, CRV.

 

[rexracer29]

There does seem to be a difference here between countries regarding warranty.
Here in the UK I have driven Toyotas for 25 years and now have a GR Yaris with my Prelude. When I bought that I imediately put it onto a 9 year service paln with Toyota costing £32 per month which means it is under full warranty for 10 years. For that I get the documented service + MOTs + pick up from home. That price of £32 is fixed for 9 years so a big saving now it is 5 years old with another 4 services to go. I personally wouldn't buy aftermarket warranties and agree with above comments about putting that money asside. When it had its 4th service last year it included everything as stated in the service book - all fluids + the correct engine oil Toyota state - not the standard from the workshop drum. That 4th year service is £550+ and about £400 for intermediates so for me it was reasonable. That year I paid £370 for the big service + 1 extra years warranty. Yes I did pay towards that extra year but but not that much!
The Honda runs a similar "service activated" warranty. 8 years so I need to let them service it 7 times. A twist on this is to then get it serviced again at 7 years and 11 months so possibly getting an extra year?
When I was looking at non Honda or Toyota cars with 3 years only the cost of adding extra years on was frightening.
BMW was pushing £1000+ for one year.
Other makes were about £500 -£600 for 2 years to take them to 5 years.
My conclusion is to use them to service it and get that 8 years warranty. Just be carefull about modding as that is a get out clause for them - which I won't be doing.
As far as trusting them to do it right as a non mechanic that is all I can do. These cars are now so complicated I believe that 8 year warranty is absolutely vital for me. And it will hold up it's resale value as the next owner will want whats left on that warranty.
I assume in America you don't get that 8 years with the way you are talking about buying warranty.

Regarding the head gasket I have experienced this talk regarding the GR Yaris - blown engines and GR86 - gasket errodes and blocks oil filter.
When someone asks who has had these problems there are non. Those that did hapen were being driven hard and modded for track use. So I say be carefull as Honda has a very good reputation and if it was a big problem we would know.

Ideally you want to buy service plans and warranties for a discount off of retail. One other advantage of paying for a maintenance plan or warranty is inflation. You pay in today's dollars. Parts and labor will cost more years from now.

Honda along with Toyota have reputations as the “gold standards” of the automotive world for quality and reliability. Why is the problem not known about more? I think the problems might be just surfacing because there has not been enough time for the problem to show up until now. The engine design is only a few years old and engines simply did not have time to rack up milage where the problem shows it self yet. A few years later today and engines with 60K-100K miles on them are starting to show up along with some head gasket failures. The news of the head gasket failures is gaining momentum. Scotty Kilmer is a very popular auto mechanic who has over 6.5 million subscribers and he just reported on Honda’s head gasket problem. Sooner or later Honda will have to address the negative press.

 

[PGH218]

He may be popular but I don't buy the snake oil

 

[PR76UDE79]

YouTube's most annoying crackpot. Would rather stick forks in my ears that listen to his crackly damn intro.

 

[rexracer29]

It is crazy how popular he is.

 

[PR76UDE79]

It is crazy how popular he is.

Because he had some basic solid advice 15 years ago, and then figured out how to pander to YouTube's algorithm with outrage slop.

 

[rexracer29]

The update is out there in the states. Its a PGM-FI update to optimize the electric water pump operation. Who gets it. 23-26 CRV is listed

Does the electric water pump continue to circulate coolant after the engine is turned off?

 

[rexracer29]

I wonder if the coolant/heating head gasket issue is from an inherently flawed design or if there is a batch of defective parts. Parts like defective head bolts or head gaskets? It will be interesting to see if Honda has different part numbers for different models. Or different part numbers for replacement parts.