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

[rexracer29]

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

His YouTube channel supposedly gets 1 million views per day.

 

[rexracer29]

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

In this case I don’t think it is snake oil because Honda themselves have issued service bulletins about thermo issues and blown head gaskets. My question is how widespread the problem is? And if it is isolated to certain VINs or batches of defective parts? Or maybe a batch of engines that were assembled improperly. I would hope Honda is working on running improvements with every new engine assembled. I don’t want to hear it is an inherent design flaw with the engine itself.

 

[rexracer29]

I think the models with reported head gasket failure so far are the CRV, Accord, Civic. None for the Prelude yet. What is different is where the engines for each model is manufactured.

There are reports of premature head gasket failures for Honda hybrid engines with the 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine. The same engine used in the Hybrid, Accord, CRV, Civic, Prelude. It seems like the engines for the Accord, CRV, and Civic are manufactured in plants in the United States. They are made in plants in Indiana and Ohio. Are these American made engines different than the same model hybrid engine made in a Japanese factory?

The 2026 Honda Prelude's hybrid powertrain is the same as the Civic Hybrid but it is produced at Honda's Sayama plant in Saitama, Japan. The Prelude engine is made in Japan not in America like the other models. I wonder if the Japanese built engines are immune to the head gasket problems? The Prelude is brand new and not many have higher miles on them yet. The Prelude is also produced very limited numbers. It might be a while before Prelude head gasket failure surfaces. Or if they will at all.

I also wonder if the head fasteners/bolts and head gaskets for the Japanese built Prelude engines are the exact same part numbers as the American built Accord, Civic, CRV, engines?

I am hoping the Japanese made hybrid engines for the Prelude is immune from the head gasket problems.

 

[faithboy22]

Of course, there is a surefire way to put your mind at ease regarding production in the USA or Japan: I believe the quality is the same everywhere, precisely because a huge number of Honda engineers are sent to the overseas plants specifically to oversee everything. For a long time, EU models were manufactured in Swindon (UK) and Turkey.
The engine of the Type R FK8 was actually built entirely in the USA and then shipped to Swindon, UK.

Of course, there is the enduring myth that "Made in Japan" is superior; here in Germany, too, there is a certain sense of pride that the current models all come from that oh-so-perfectly meticulous Japanese factory.

There were also cases in Germany (involving powertrains built in Japan)—admittedly very isolated ones, but they did occur. However, these vehicles were literally abused by field sales staff or were company cars.

The CR-V was reportedly singled out due to its 350 kg of extra weight; in other words, the water pump settings were simply not optimal between 2023 and 2026. Honda is aware of this and is having the settings adjusted. However, I do not know whether the new Prelude comes with "better" water pump settings straight from the factory—though I certainly hope so.

 

[PGH218]

In this case I don’t think it is snake oil because Honda themselves have issued service bulletins about thermo issues and blown head gaskets. My question is how widespread the problem is? And if it is isolated to certain VINs or batches of defective parts? Or maybe a batch of engines that were assembled improperly. I would hope Honda is working on running improvements with every new engine assembled. I don’t want to hear it is an inherent design flaw with the engine itself.

I guess my point is he creates drama when it's not the case. I'm not debating Honda has had some issues and has a software upgrade to fix or help the issue but it's not doom and gloom. Manufactures are always tweaking things. Until there is a major recall I would not sweat it

 

[rexracer29]

It is not uncommon for car companies to have more than one supplier for the same parts. I was wondering if there are different suppliers for the head bolts and gaskets in Japan since the engines are made in different countries.

 

[GoZoner44]

How many threads are you going to start on this ‘issue’? Just give us a number so we can estimate when you will be done.

 

[GoZoner44]

Another thread on the same issue?

 

[GoZoner44]

Yet another thread on this ‘issue’.

Moderator, can you do something about this?

 

[OldCoupeGRGuy1]

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.

I have watched Scotty Kilmer.
If in a few years it does become a problem what will Honda need to do to address this that makes us customers feel satisfied we will be looked after.
My cousin was a trained toyota mechanic all his life and I once asked him should I be concerned that I keep getting recalls for relatively minor things on my 10 year old RAV4. He said straight away that companies like Toyota rely and live by their reputation and won't do anything to harm it and many other manufacturers will say nothing.
In the past we saw serious engine problems on the Focus RS and many other models. Stelantis had and still has serious problems with their wet bet.
Problems do happen accross the whole car market. It's what the manufacturer does about it for you the customer.
Before teaching computing I was an engineer and saw even the best machines from Germany and Japan have problems but they were also the best at fixing them.
Lets hope Honda are equal to Toyota and fix this if infact it is a problem. How many broken engines does it take for it to become an official "problem" as even the best will get a few instances.

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

How many threads are you going to start on this ‘issue’? Just give us a number so we can estimate when you will be done.

I concur. This has run its course loooong ago. The horse is dead. Stop beating.

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

Wait! There is great news!

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

 

[Jusbs54922]

jeeze...let's don't let this forum morph into like some of the Corvette ones I was once a member of...

 

[Alfettaman84]

Yet another thread on this ‘issue’.

Moderator, can you do something about this?

It does feel a bit like this is becoming a place to complain about the failed engines in our Honda Preludes. Even though nobody has got a failed engine in their Honda Prelude....

Maybe it would be tidier for all of these posts to go in a single thread called "Mythical engine failures"?

 

[pillred44]

How many threads are you going to start on this ‘issue’? Just give us a number so we can estimate when you will be done.

I wrongly assumed he owned one with the number of posts he puts out. I was surprised to find he was only thinking of buying one and is now rethinking it due to the possible head gasket issues.

 

[pillred44]

It does feel a bit like this is becoming a place to complain about the failed engines in our Honda Preludes. Even though nobody has got a failed engine in their Honda Prelude....

Maybe it would be tidier for all of these posts to go in a single thread called "Mythical engine failures"?

I posted the original thread and am seriously wishing I hadn't bothered. I had the Civic before the Prelude, and that was supposed to have had a problem with the steering. They even did a recall; I later found out it affected a tiny percentage of cars. I imagine none of us will ever actually have a problem with our head gaskets.

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

I wrongly assumed he owned one with the number of posts he puts out. I was surprised to find he was only thinking of buying one and is now rethinking it due to the possible head gasket issues.

Please God, don't let him buy one.

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

@rexracer - God almighty. Let it go! Contemplate your navel... get a hobby... watch more porn... anything... but please stop this crap.

I gotta ignore this OCD fool for my own mental health.

 

[Alex_Waverley66]

I posted the original thread and am seriously wishing I hadn't bothered. I had the Civic before the Prelude, and that was supposed to have had a problem with the steering. They even did a recall; I later found out it affected a tiny percentage of cars. I imagine none of us will ever actually have a problem with our head gaskets.

Don't blame yourself. How could you have known? Maybe we can all pitch in a buck or two and offer to buy @rexracer a 20 year old Saab if he just shuts the F up.