I am looking at getting a new (or newer) Odyssey 2018+, most likely a Touring or Elite model. I have owned an Odyssey in the past and loved it. The one thing I'm learning that has me worried is the direct injection that is used in these engines. I'd love to hear from anyone that has put a decent amount of miles on one of these vans with direct injection to see if there have been any issues. I am buying another Honda to keep long term for their reliability. I don't want to have something that needs regular carbon cleanups. I know the Sienna used both direct and port injection, which I'm told is better long-term. Any information is appreciated.
Thanks!

i have a 2018 that I purchased almost exactly a year ago. It currently has over 75K miles on it. I am fanatical about maintenance. Other than the oil changes (about 1 a month) tire rotations at every oil change, and I just put new tires on her with (naturally, lol) a 4 wheel alignment.....it hasn’t needed a thing. I did change the transmission fluid at 40K. The only major item I’m expecting is the timing belt at 120K.

i never had the transmission problems others have mentioned, and I have the crappy 9 speed one. My ONLY complaint is the software that runs the infotainment system. It’s junk, and buggy as hell. It’s never worked correctly from day 1, despite NUMEROUS software updates. I’ve stopped hoping they’ll ever make it right. FWIW, I own a 2019 Subaru with the exact same software issues.

I‘m likely to trade this in next summer. When I do, I’ll be getting another.

G’luck!

 

... I did change the transmission fluid at 40K. ...

@Boston_Pilot - Sorry to hijack the thread, but would you please share any tips or instructions you followed for the ATF change? Also the fluid you used? Thanks!

 

I am looking at getting a new (or newer) Odyssey 2018+, most likely a Touring or Elite model. I have owned an Odyssey in the past and loved it. The one thing I'm learning that has me worried is the direct injection that is used in these engines. I'd love to hear from anyone that has put a decent amount of miles on one of these vans with direct injection to see if there have been any issues. I am buying another Honda to keep long term for their reliability. I don't want to have something that needs regular carbon cleanups. I know the Sienna used both direct and port injection, which I'm told is better long-term. Any information is appreciated.
Thanks!

Timely post. I've been researching carbon build up on intake valves for direct injection like the Ody has for about a week now. Apparently the build up is caused by the PCV system putting oil fumes into the intake manifold. One way to reduce it is to install a "catch can" to catch the oil in the PCV system and put clean air into the intake manifold.

Bought our 2019 EX at the end of April 2019 with just some local driving so the intake valves should still be clean. I'm going to install a "catch can" but am trying to find a good one. From what I've read, some catch cans catch 98% of the oil while some can only catch about 40% of the oil. Don't know which one to buy yet. Anyone know?

 

Timely post. I've been researching carbon build up on intake valves for direct injection like the Ody has for about a week now. Apparently the build up is caused by the EGR system putting oil fumes into the intake manifold. One way to reduce it is to install a "catch can" to catch the oil in the EGR system and put clean air into the intake manifold.

Bought our 2019 EX at the end of April 2019 with just some local driving so the intake valves should still be clean. I'm going to install a "catch can" but am trying to find a good one. From what I've read, some catch cans catch 98% of the oil while some can only catch about 40% of the oil. Don't know which one to buy yet. Anyone know?

See this video:

If you do install a catch can, it's vitally important you remember to empty it regularly. If you don't and it fills up, they you will dump raw oil into the intake which is even worse than leaving it as-is.

 

I own a 2018 Odyssey and 2018 CRV.

The consensus on the CRV 1.5 turbo is that Honds essentially built a catch can into the engine and there is no build up on the intake valves.

The same 1.5 T is used on the Civic, and these guys have been tuning the engine and haven't had any issues with carbon.

I would assume the 3.5 l also has the same technology

Go ahead and install a catch can, but it seems like you are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

 

I own a 2018 Odyssey and 2018 CRV.

The consensus on the CRV 1.5 turbo is that Honds essentially built a catch can into the engine and there is no build up on the intake valves. The same 1.5 T is used on the Civic, and these guys have been tuning the engine and haven't had any issues with carbon.
I would assume the 3.5 l also has the same technology. Go ahead and install a catch can, but it seems like you are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

"Assume" the 3.5 has the same technology? Anyone know for sure?

 

The only thing I would do is add a catch can to the PCV system. Below is my install of the can in my G5 and what I found with about 4300 miles with it. I did drive the van for about 23,000 miles without it. Seeing what I got in the can, I would say I am glad I have it and will dump it out every oil change.

Here is the install thread, should you be interested >> https://www.odyclub.com/threads/2018-odyssey-oil-catch-can.356601/#post-2350244

 

Thanks for the info and link. Very nice.

 

One of biggest factors with respect to carbon buildup on direct injected engines is the heat that a turbo charged engine generates. This is not a factor with our normally aspirated V-6. I suspect carbon build up won't be something to worry about as long as you use high quality gasoline and change your oil regularly.

 

All good information. I'll continue to research the catch can angle, especially to see if one is, in fact, built into the Odyssey engine. Seems as though Honda would have taken the Toyota approach with both direct and port injection, eliminating the carbon buildup issue all together. I may be making too much of this but it has me considering a Sienna over the Odyssey, even though I dont like the looks as much. I'm looking for something I know will last 8-10 years with little to no repair cost above normal maintenance. The carbon issue has me worried.

 

I don't think there is any factory catch can. However Honda does some valve opening magic during start up that allows carbon to be burnt off.

There is a PDF explaining this found link on this forum however saved PDF not the link.

 

Here is what the Honda 1.5 turbo has built into the valve cover:
oil catch can built into engine

I don't know if the 3.5L has the same system.
I do know that Honda has spent considerable time engineering the angle of the injectors to create "tumble" when the intake valve is open. This causes the air/fuel mixture to go across the intake valves, even though the engine is direct injected.

In general, the direct injection engines that suffer from carbon build-up are turbo-charged and/or high performance engines.

Honda (and Toyota!) were very late releasing direct-injection engines. It appears that they took their time and learned from their competitor's mistakes.

 

J35s do not have a built in oil vapor capture; not on the valve cover or as a separate system. Clear indication of why I pulled almost 1.5oz in 4300mi of driving.

Injector spray pattern do not create the tumble in the chamber, it is the charge air velocity, the cylinder head design (ports & dome) and the piston head's shape that dictate the tumbling. Tumbling is used to atomize the fuel more evenly in the chamber and with the DI injectors operating at extremely high pressure combined with the higher compression ratio, the need for tumbling is not as crucial. Our V6 has the fuel injectors on positioned as

Assuming that the NA engines that are DI do not experience carbon buildup is premature as well. Though everyone from a basic V6 Camaro to a a pickup truck can demonstrate there is a decent amount of blowby captured in the catch can, no one in their right mind will be willing to see the adverse effects of not having a catch can.
GDI engines run leaner than traditional port fuel injected counterparts and our J35 family of engines are a great comparison as the basic J-series architecture has been unchanged for more than two decades. With port fuel injection, the A/F ratio is typically around 14.7:1 and Honda runs at 60:1 on the DI engines; 60 being air and 1 being fuel. Leaner engines run hot, which means the valve-train experiences the additional heat as well. This additional heat, combined with the blowby and the lack of a secondary fuel injectors on the ports to clean the valves, accelerate the deposits of hydrocarbons on the rear of the valve. There is a reason why the DI engines run composite intake manifolds and valve covers; heat management (cost savings is the secondary benefit). Also with DI engines, you eliminate the secondaries in the intake plenum, as fuel metering is more effectively managed by the PCM with the fuel injectors and higher cylinder compression.

That said, the sheer amount of blow by that I saw, has had me convinced and necessitated the use of an oil catch can in the Ody.

 

Injector spray pattern do not create the tumble in the chamber, it is the charge air velocity, the cylinder head design (ports & dome) and the piston head's shape that dictate the tumbling

You are correct, I meant to say the angle of the intake valves...

Honda has made done many things to mitigate carbon build-up.
Even though the engine is GDI, the injectors are designed to spray fuel on the intake valves.
Also notice how Honda has designed the engine to create strong tumble which wraps the air-fuel mixture back across the valves.
This video show this. I can't find one for the 3.5, but this is for the 1.5L

The catch-can debate is the same as an oil change interval argument.
Someone will claim that 3000 mile oil changes are necessary to prolong engine life.
Of course, no one can argue against this or convince the person that their vehicle doesn't require frequent oil changes.

Sure, installing a catch-can isn't going to hurt anything, but is it necessary?
You can also install fuel optimizing pellets in the gas tank, a magnetic fuel saver on the fuel line, a vortex generator and water vapor generator in the intake, and deer whistles on the bumper.

 

I see your point on the design of the head with the injector position and its spray pattern. Since I am unaware of the lift on the valves (though the actual intake valves are the same ones on my '10 Ridgeline) as the rocker arm and camshaft are of unknown specs. I am still very skeptical on the spray being enough and the intake valves dropping low enough to capture the spray and be cleaned. I would let the folks ride this out for about 100K+ and do an inspection.

Below are images of the J35Y6 and the cutaway shows the actual placement of the injector, but the valve angle is unclear.

Below is the lower intake runners of my 2010 Honda Ridgeline with 227K miles at the time of the picture. Though you can see the intake valves being clean, the runners were very coated.

 

So basically, the question is, do I buy a new 2019 or 2020 Elite trim level with plans of putting 150-200k+ miles on it over 8-10 years with no major carbon buildup issues? That is if I leave it stock and do no catch can or any other modification. Is it reasonable to think this?

 

Any warranty issues with modifying the emissions system?

I'd hope not but one never knows.

 

I pulled the trigger on a 2019 Obsidian Blue Elite. I absolutely love the van so far. Hoping the direct injection is not an issue. My dealership gives a lifetime powertrain warranty with all their new Hondas if regular maintenance is done with them so the decision was a little easier. Wish me luck!