2019 Honda Civic
2019 Honda Civic: Fuel Dilution of Engine Oil (1.5L Turbo)
Unburned fuel washes past the rings into the crankcase on short cold trips, raising the oil level and thinning it. Most reported in cold climates on cars used for brief commutes.
- Problem
- Fuel Dilution of Engine Oil (1.5L Turbo) on the 2019 Honda Civic
- Severity
- ModerateGet it looked at soon
- Can you drive?
- Short trips only
- Typical repair
- $0–$150 software free; extra oil changes are the ongoing cost
- Usually reported at
- Any mileage; worst in the first winter of ownership
What is different on the 2019 Honda Civic
The vehicle-specific detail — not the generic version of this fault.
The L15B7 is direct-injected. On a cold start it runs a rich mixture and sprays fuel directly onto cylinder walls that have not warmed up, so some of it slips past the rings instead of burning. On an engine that reaches full operating temperature, that fuel boils back out of the oil. On an engine that is shut off after eight minutes in 20°F weather, it does not.
- The tell is an oil level above the upper dipstick mark combined with a strong gasoline smell from the dipstick.
- Honda issued a service campaign for affected tenth-generation cars that reprogrammed the engine and HVAC control software to bring the engine up to temperature faster, and in some cases extended powertrain warranty coverage.
- The 2.0L naturally aspirated engine in the LX and Sport uses port injection and does not have this behavior.
- It is far less of an issue in warm states and for anyone whose commute includes 15 minutes of steady driving.
Parts involved
What a shop will be inspecting or replacing on this job.
- L15B7 1.5L turbo engine oil
- Engine and HVAC control software
- Piston rings and cylinder walls
The fix and what it costs
Confirm the Honda software campaign has been applied at a dealer, then change the oil more frequently than the Minder suggests if you drive short trips in the cold.
- Typical repair cost
- $0–$150 software free; extra oil changes are the ongoing cost
- Usually reported at
- Any mileage; worst in the first winter of ownership
Cost figures are national US estimates for planning purposes. Actual pricing varies with your vehicle, engine, location, shop labor rate, and whether OEM or aftermarket parts are used. Always get a written quote before authorizing work.
Other issues reported on the 2019 Honda Civic
- A/C Condenser Refrigerant LeakThe condenser develops pinhole leaks and the system loses refrigerant, leaving you with air that is cool for a few weeks and then not cool at all. The most common expensive failure on this generation of Civic.
- Repeated Dead Battery from Parasitic DrawThe car will not crank after sitting two or three days. Honda addressed this on tenth-generation Civics with control module software updates.
- CVT Shudder at Low SpeedA vibration or judder felt at 15–35 mph under light throttle, usually caused by degraded CVT fluid rather than mechanical damage.