[bader660av]

So I have been going down the VTC rattle rabbit hole but having trouble finding exact answers.

My 2012 CRV has 160,000 miles and started going through a lot of oil with no noticeable smoke, which I now know this can be expected, 1 quart every 1,000 miles is acceptable for Honda, and I am in that, but I mentioned a noise on startup that only happened in the winter, and someone said it is the VTC, so down the rabbit hole, I went.

So I have a rattle on startup (Sometimes, not all the time, which is frustrating) but when it happens it goes away after 2 seconds. It only happens during the cold winter (even though the car is in the garage) and only the first startup of the day, when it happens.

So does this sound like VTC rattle or could be something else, any way to know for sure?

If this is the VTC rattle? do I need to address it or live with it, will it eventually break the car or cause worse damage? Answers seemed mixed on this?

If I fix it, though I have heard that on high mile engines, replacing the VTC does not always fix the rattle, is that true? Any idea on cost to fix? I heard $600 - $1,000 and that may not fix the noise. I have all the recommended services done by the dealer.


I also read it is related to oil? oil is cold and does not lubricate fast enough on engine turn over for a few seconds? Is that the exact cause?

Yesterday it rattle very loud, but today I went to film it, and it did not, and it is colder today....Any reason for that?

I am watching my oil level very intently now, BUT interesting, the manual says to keep it between the dots on the dipstick, BUT after a Honda dealer changed my oil last time, I checked it, and the oil level was above the top dot? Is that normal, does that help so I keep my oil above the top dot?

 

[Carbuff2]

Rabbit hole indeed.

Some say that different brands of oil or slightly heavier weights can mitigate the VTC noise (if its that, look on YouTube to see if your noise is the same).

Some say that a 2 sec rattle isn't an issue and will not cause harm...anyone else care to chime-in on that aspect?

Overfilling the oil will not help. Carelessness on the dealer's part.

Good luck, and post back with what you discover.

And, CONGRATS for obviously having done a SEARCH prior to posting!

 

[Traylaw]

While a rattle on cold startups is a symptom of the VTC actuator, it can also be a worn timing chain or broken chain tensioner. If you vehicle was low mileage I would suspect the VTC but you have 160k miles so it could be the chain. Luckily the dealer can easily inspect the slack on the chain / tensioner via an inspection plate on the cover. Honda claims a rattling VTC does no harm but a stretched chain or broken tensioner can cause damage should the chain jump position on the timing gear. So I would first have it checked out.
As for oil level, a little over the high mark is not an issue at all. I always fill my engines to the high mark.

 

[freeportalf]

Not sure if this is allowed or maybe it's been discussed before regarding this woman's odyssey with her Honda.

My 2008 Honda Accord VTC Actuator Problem | TSB 09-010

I took my 2008 Honda Accord to Fernandez Honda for an oil change yesterday and, as I have done since 2008, I mentioned to the new service advisor, Kevin Whitaker, that my car has always made a terr…

www.julieannacline.com

 

[bader660av]

Not sure if this is allowed or maybe it's been discussed before regarding this woman's odyssey with her Honda.

My 2008 Honda Accord VTC Actuator Problem | TSB 09-010

I took my 2008 Honda Accord to Fernandez Honda for an oil change yesterday and, as I have done since 2008, I mentioned to the new service advisor, Kevin Whitaker, that my car has always made a terr…

www.julieannacline.com

Interesting read, but not sure if you should top driving it immediately cause it will extremely damage the engine. The googling does not seem to support that???? but not sure, which is why I am in the rabbit hole.

 

[new-2-me-CR_V]

As Traylaw said, timing components may be worked out
Or engine oil maintenance is causing excess tear and wear or reducing lubrication by clogging up VTC return filter and or VTC solenoid filters screens.
Next part you need to inspect is VTEC spool valve screens.
There are a few threads on the forum dealing with this problem.

 

[JimPghPA]

Also put a high quality oil filter on it. Oil filters have an anti-drain-back valve in them. Some oil filters have this valve fail and allow the oil in the engine to drain back out of the engine when it sits for a while. Some of the higher quality oil filters are Fram Ultra, the best one Mobil One makes, and NAPA Gold.

 

[Stelcom66]

Some say that a 2 sec rattle isn't an issue and will not cause harm...anyone else care to chime-in on that aspect?

I'd like to hope that is the case and would like to hear from others as well.

 

[Coastie05]

116k miles on my 2013....rattles everyday in the cold Virginia winters. It's been doing it for a long time and I'm the original owner. No issues here and I don't plan to replace it.