Honda is famed for its well-built, thoughtfully designed vehicles that just don’t quit. The Japanese automaker earned this enviable reputation the hard way over may decades by focusing on quality and not cutting corners. But no matter how well a vehicle is engineered or how good the materials employed are, no car or truck can withstand abuse forever, and one Honda CR-V engine was destroyed by its neglectful owner that never changed the oil over the course of 30,000 miles.
An Absolute Disgrace
This vehicular abomination was just featured on the I Do Cars YouTube channel, where Eric, the teardown extraordinaire, performed another one of his automotive autopsies. The engine in question is a Honda L-series unit, a 1.5-liter turbo-four that was rated at around 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This little dynamo came in a used CR-V that was purchased with around 120,000 miles by the owner. Said motorist then neglected to do any oil changes for the next 30,000 miles.
Somehow – miraculously – Eric said this little engine was still running, just (predictably) quite poorly, barely able to move the vehicle it was installed in. As they say, appearances can be deceiving, and this powerplant doesn’t look too bad on the outside; the spark plugs are in decent condition, and the rotating assembly even turns over easily. But this belies the horrors that lurk within.
The turbo is completely trashed. The shaft actually snapped, and the impeller retainer nut fell off, ending up in the air box, a crazy thing to happen. The induction ports are slimy and crusty, but the carbon buildup is not horrible. Things take a serious turn for the worse, however, once the cam cover comes off.
This Engine’s Destruction Is Absolutely Breathtaking
The carnage here is absolutely biblical.
It’s What’s Inside That Counts
This poor engine’s top end is caked in thick, black sludge that looks like death and smells even worse. “The aroma in this garage has changed significantly since pulling that valve cover,” said Eric, “And I must say, I don’t like it.”
Despite the varnish and buildup, the cylinder head does not appear to have any sparkly metallic bits present, which is good news, though also almost irrelevant given the severe sludge problem. Remarkably, once the camshaft caps got removed and the bumpsticks pulled, the cam journals appeared to be in shockingly good condition.
With those major valvetrain components out of the way, the cylinder head could get pulled, and it came off without a fight. Now, it’s possible to get a good look at the cylinder bores. They show some signs of wear on the thrust surfaces, but the crosshatching is still present, and the valves in the head look nice, too.
With the engine flipped over on the stand, Eric pulled the oil pan, which – not surprisingly – was filled with nasty sludge, complete with a bit of a metallic cast indicating bearing damage. Surprisingly, though, the crankshaft and connecting rod big ends were not overly sludged up.
Once the pistons and connecting were removed, we get a nice look at the rings and bearings. The former are clean for an engine with this mileage that has withstood such abuse, but the rod and main bearings are all pretty chewed up, which is not good, the source of the metallic bits in the pan.
You Won’t Believe What Ruined This Legendary Toyota V8
This poor engine should have run practically forever, but abuse brought it to a tragic end.
Please Don’t Do This
Overall, this Honda four-cylinder fared better than it should have given the horrendous abuse. The valvetrain looked decent, the cylinder bores weren’t horrible, and there were no signs this engine was overheated. Of course, the turbo was junk, and the main and rod bearings were trashed, so not every component survived without damage.
SUV
2025
Base MSRP: $$32,370 (including $1,450 in destination fees)
Obviously, don’t do this. No matter what kind of car or truck you own, whether it’s a brand-new 2026 Honda CR-V or something much older, do yourself a favor and take care of it. Change the oil regularly – more often than the manufacturer recommends if you plan on keeping the thing forever – and use the best-quality lubricant you can. Simple maintenance like this can save you an absolute fortune down the road.
Source: I Do Cars YouTube channel
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