'07 Engine Oil Leak

[CRVed]

I have a new '07 CR-V EX-L AWD w/ NAVI and I found oil on the garage floor when the vehicle was only 2 months and 1,200 miles old. I suspect it's been leaking from day one.
The Honda dealer has had it for two weeks. They resealed the oil pan then replaced the oil pan and they now suspect it's the rear main oil seal.
This is my first Honda and the most expensive and nicest vehicle I've ever purchased but so far I've been very disappointed.
Any suggestions on how to proceed?

[2RedV's]

I have a new '07 CR-V EX-L AWD w/ NAVI and I found oil on the garage floor when the vehicle was only 2 months and 1,200 miles old. I suspect it's been leaking from day one.
The Honda dealer has had it for two weeks. They resealed the oil pan then replaced the oil pan and they now suspect it's the rear main oil seal.
This is my first Honda and the most expensive and nicest vehicle I've ever purchased but so far I've been very disappointed.
Any suggestions on how to proceed?

I have seen a few people post with rear main oil leaks on the 07. It is certainly a very un-Honda-like issue. Call Honda Corporate and open a case. Be nice on the phone and stress how you are concerned about long-term issues with having to basically yank the motor and your loyalty to Honda and that you bought a Honda for its' reliability.
You may be able to get them to replace the car or offer you a free 120k mile extended warranty. Others have received such things.

[crvowner3]

I have a new '07 CR-V EX-L AWD w/ NAVI and I found oil on the garage floor when the vehicle was only 2 months and 1,200 miles old. I suspect it's been leaking from day one.
The Honda dealer has had it for two weeks. They resealed the oil pan then replaced the oil pan and they now suspect it's the rear main oil seal.
This is my first Honda and the most expensive and nicest vehicle I've ever purchased but so far I've been very disappointed.
Any suggestions on how to proceed?


Contact your State Attorney General's office before you schedule a meeting with the General Manager of the dealership. There's a Federal Quality Assurance Act that allows for online complaint forms downloads that you can fill out and mail in. You can mention the National Highway Safety Institute websites online complaint form at your meeting with the GM. Possible engine fires- previous CRV model had a big problem with that. Don't alienate the GM but let them know how distraught you feel and how you've seen so many entries about this issue. It's a "product issue" not a service issue.

Has anyone started a class action lawsuit we could join ???????

[2RedV's]

That sounds a little rash for a first action to take. A class-action lawsuit for an oil leak that is repairable won't help anyone but the lawyers. Look at the odometer error fiasco and how much that helped the average owner.

Besides, the oil leak fires were caused by non-dealer techs (quickie oil change places) that did not follow industry standard procedures for changing an oil filter.

All that being said...
There has been some reports of a bad rear main oil seal that is causing leaks.
Simply get it to your dealer and have it fixed. Additionally, call Honda Corporate and open a case. Mention that you are concerned about long-term reliability of the repair. You just might get a free extended warranty (others have reported to getting one)

Here is the article from the March 2007, Honda Service News on the rear main oil seal leak:

Engine Leaks Oil at Very Low Mileage

Currently Applies To: ’07 Japan-built CR-Vs

Some vehicles may have a leaking rear main seal.
The seal starts leaking at very low mileage—usually
less than 100 miles.
Because of the shape of the engine oil pan and the
tilt of the engine in the chassis, it’s easy to think this
leak is coming from the end of the oil pan. But take
our word for it, that leak is coming from the rear main
seal. Replace that seal and you’ll take care of the
problem.

[CRVed]

Honda determined the problem was a leaking rear main oil seal.
The March issue of "Honda Service News" has a front-page article "Engine Oil Leaks at Very Low Mileage" (attachment exceeds limit).
Honda replaced rear main seal and replaced oil pan. I've only had the vehicle back for a week and have only driven about 50 miles but so far not more oil leak.
I am concerned however because Honda states that it's important to run the factory oil for a full 5,000 miles to aid break-in. My dealer told me they don't have the factor oil with some special additives so I only ran the special oil for 20% of the factory requirements.
I have been in contact with Honda Customer Relations.
I may have been expecting too much but so far my experience with Honda, in general, has been quite disappointing.
If anyone knows how to upload a 571K .pdf file reply with instructions and I'll upload the March 2007 Honda Service News.

[Bimmer Pilot]

Can you post a link rather than upload the PDF?

[CRVed]

Good Idea!

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/a070300.PDF

[2RedV's]

Can you post a link rather than upload the PDF?

I had posted the actual text of that issue's article.

Here is the link though:

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/a070300.PDF

[ELP_JC]

Oh man. I just picked up my '07 CR-V yesterday, and now read this. Same issue my BMW bike is prone to. And I was happy to see my CR-V is 100% built in Japan. Geez.

So what's the deal? Is this going to be a time bomb just like on my bike, that the question is when rather than if the problem will surface?? Darn.

Is the problem been fixed? Build date on mine is 3/07. Hard to believe a freaking $3 seal is causing problems at this day and age. Guess will have to take a look now; it's just breaking the 100 mile mark. Take care gang.
JC

[CRVed]

Got my CR-V back April 3 and I've driven it several hundred miles without problem. My only concern at this point is the fact that they changed the oil two-times in the process of troubleshooting the problem. Honda says it's important to run the factory oil for the full 5,000 miles as it contains special additives that aid in the engine break-in.
Does anyone know how important this "Special Factory Oil" is on the longevity of the engine?

[2RedV's]

Got my CR-V back April 3 and I've driven it several hundred miles without problem. My only concern at this point is the fact that they changed the oil two-times in the process of troubleshooting the problem. Honda says it's important to run the factory oil for the full 5,000 miles as it contains special additives that aid in the engine break-in.
Does anyone know how important this "Special Factory Oil" is on the longevity of the engine?

It contains a high level of moly, which helps in engine break in. You will probably experience a longer than normal break in but won't hurt the engine long term.

[ELP_JC]

Does anyone know how important this "Special Factory Oil" is on the longevity of the engine?
There's no such thing as 'break-in' oil buddy, so don't even worry. In fact, it's a lot better to change your oil asap to remove any metal particles from our oil and filter. All this occurs on probably the first 100 miles of operation. It's not necessary, but piece of mind for many people still. You got it done for free.
That's an EPA mandated statement so people don't change their oils at 500 miles and pollute the environment. All oils have the needed additives (including molly) to protect your engine from metal to metal contact, being dino or synthetic. Another wive's tale is that you shouldn't put synthetic oil on a new engine. And please, don't start an oil war; the fact is it makes absolutely no difference to an engine if you change its oil right away when new. Nothing.

Finally, the deal with the seals was improper installation, hence the oil leaks right away. So if we don't have the problem, we should be home free (crossing fingers here), but I'll still check mine frequently until the first oil change at 3K miles. If I were you, I'd check my car underneath with a fine comb, including bolts, lines, etc. And make sure your front wheels were aligned again and that your steering wheel is straight. Overall, with so few failures on this new model, most dealers are probably doing this work for the first time on your vehicle, and that's what would scare me, but hope they did a good job on yours. Take care.
JC

[Greenzter]

So who does one listen to? Manufacturer's maintenance schedules which are, hopefully anyway, written with input from people who have something at stake, or one of our members who may or may not know the facts?

Not meaning to be disrespectful to ELP_JC, but how does one decide what to do :confused:

[2RedV's]

People over on bobistheoilguy.com have had the factory Honda oil fill analyzed and yes, it does contain a high level of moly, just like Honda says.
It IS a break-in oil.

[miko]

Assuming that the earlier poster is right and there is no such thing as 'break-in' oil, why on earth would a company like Honda, and maybe others as well, say so? What possible benefit would that be to them?

Makes no sense to me. Sorry.

[CRVed]

This gets even more confusing, why would Honda say it's important to run the factory oil for 5,000 miles then turn around and tell me not to worry about it.
Honda also told me they were not aware of any problems with the rear main oil seal yet there is an article about this problem in their service magazine.
I hope that Honda’s “convenient truths” will not leave owning an expensive piece of junk.
I certainly don’t know who to trust when it comes to Honda.

[ELP_JC]

Just use common sense people. Have you ever heard an engine grenading because 'break-in' oil wasn't used? Do you hear any other manufacturer talk about 'break-in' oil? Are Honda engines different from all other engines? No. If there was a magic 'break-in' oil, it'd be sold everywhere at a premium, and a ton of people would dump their 'inferior' oils on their new cars for the magic stuff, no? Just think about it. And most experts never leave oil on a new car for 5K miles, like Honda says.

There are oils with higher content of molly than others, but that alone doesn't make it better. A higher concentration of an additive protects LONGER, not better. If you change your oil frequently enough it just DOES NOT matter. People run motors to 100K+ miles on $1 oil all the time, changed frequently... and without Honda's magic 'break-in' oil :eek: . And yes, www.bobistheoilguy.com is a good resource for learning about oils; just read enough to educate yourself properly. I'm signing off this discussion. Just wanted to put the OP mind at ease, but apparently didn't succeed. You can always make a tempest out of a glass of water, I guess. Later gang.
JC

[2RedV's]

Moly is actually in most oils already. The point I am trying to make is that the Honda factory fill contains a higher level of moly than most other oils. Moly promotes better and quicker ring sealing, pressure protection of the engine bearings, valve train, and pistons and piston rings.

So, yes, it can be called a break-in oil and no, it won't HURT the engine if you take it out sooner, but why do so unless you simply like spending extra money?

As to experts changing the oil sooner, I guess you have not ever noticed that every car magazine that does long-term testing follows the manufacturer's oil change intervals - they don't do it more often and they don't experience problems. They also do not baby those cars. Those people run them hard, again, with no issues.

[Black Pearl]

I read the break in instructions on page 214 of the manual and noted "Do not change the oil until the scheduled maintenance time." I wondered why in the world would they care if you changed your oil ahead of time. Break in oil! That was a term the old timers used when I was a kid--a long, long time ago. I haven't heard that term in 45 years. Amazing.

Has there been any more troubles with the rear main seal? The last post was 7 weeks ago.

[ds1392]

Break in oil was just non detergent 30 wt oil. Wait a minute, that was only 1971 when I put a new engine in my 1959 VW bus. Not that long ago.

[tsmithvt]

When I first started to work on cars in the early 60s, I remember people saying that "break-in" oil was actually a thinner/lighter oil to promote the wearing in or polishing of interfaces such as mains, rods and cylinder walls. I can't swear that this is fact. I didn't buy my first new car until 1969 and by then no one said much about break-in oil at all.

Now days, just about every machined surface is a 32 (micro inch) or better. Precision surfaces are 4 or better. There isn't a lot of "break-in" to be done.

If, however, Honda says leave the factory fill in until the first normally scheduled change, I'm going to do it (and I did). Honda's design and manufacturing types know just a whole lot more about their engines than I do.:)

[Black Pearl]

Honda Tech explained in another thread that the factory fill oil is just normal oil. Honda uses some moly compound when building the engines. The moly gets suspended in the factory fill oil. It is the oil saturated with the moly that Honda want to leave in the engine, not break in oil.

See post #3:

http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1863

[bernithebiker]

My Gen3 07 has now done nearly 18 000km (11 250 miles) and Honda insist it does not the oil changing until 20 000km (12 500 miles).

(Mine is diesel).

Clearly Honda have done tests on their engines with their original oil, and decided they want a long break in period with oil known to them.

I was initially suprised at this long period, but I guess Honda want to make sure the engine is properly bedded in.

[Badgerland]

What is the oil capacity of the diesel compared to the petrol? I remember when I had a diesel work truck it took 8 quarts! :eek:

[bernithebiker]

Although I have often seen diesel engines holding more oil than petrol ones, the manual says that the petrol (2.0l in Europe) and the diesel (2.2l) have exactly the same oil volume, 3.9 quarts without filter, 5.9 quarts with.

However, the transmission DOES take more oil in the diesel, 3.3 quarts as opposed to 2.6

Incidentally, for Europe, Honda recommends 10W-30 or 10W-40, down to -20'C, (very cold!). I'm suprised you guys in the States are using such low viscosity oils, like 0W-20. Why?