What Are The Most Common Honda 1.5 Turbo Engine Problems?

Honda’s popular and ubiquitous 1.5 turbo engines are a family of small, 4-cylinder powertrains that were produced by Honda from 2016 to this day. Featuring a tiny but potent turbocharger, an all-aluminum construction, and dual overhead cams, it’s a pretty fantastic, punchy, fuel-efficient little motor. That said, there are Honda 1.5 turbo engine problems to be wary of.

Used in most of Honda’s current line-up, including the Civic, CR-V, and Accord, some of the most common problems you might encounter are carbon buildup, as well as motor oil dilution. Still, while these issues might seem severe, Honda’s 1.5 turbocharged engines are generally pretty reliable. Nonetheless, like every other car out there, not everything is perfect.

Known for its impressive performance and fuel efficiency, here are some of the most common issues with Honda’s 1.5 turbo engine (specifically, the L15B7 engine, and this also extends far into the rest of the L15XX family, including the L15BA and L15BE):

1. Oil Dilution

Oil dilution is a common issue with turbocharged and direct injection engines, of which Honda’s 1.5 engines feature both. This issue occurs when gasoline mixes with the engine oil, reducing its viscosity and lubricating properties. This can lead to increased wear and tear on the engine components, affecting its longevity and performance.

Now, most folks do agree that a bit of oil dilution is pretty normal. But, too much of it can be an issue. Honda has acknowledged this issue and implemented a fix in the form of a software update. However, it is essential to monitor the oil levels regularly and get the oil changed at the recommended intervals (around 5,000 miles) to prevent this problem from occurring.

In addition, when it comes to Honda’s 1.5 turbo engines, most oil dilution problems were caused by cold weather. This is because Honda’s 1.5 turbo engines are too slow to get up to their normal operating temperatures. This causes some fuel to stick to the cylinder walls, which is then picked up by the piston rings, before then mixing with the oil.

Consequently, this gasoline dilutes the motor oil. Additionally, most of the Honda vehicles affected by this are cars that were driven short distances in cold climates. One symptom you might notice is the smell of gasoline when checking your oil. On top of that, you might notice unexpectedly increased oil levels, engine stalling, and misfires, in addition to random power loss.

2. Carbon Buildup

Like other direct injection engines, the Honda 1.5L turbo engine is prone to carbon buildup on the intake valves. This leads to a variety of issues such as poor performance, reduced fuel efficiency, and engine misfires. You might additionally experience other symptoms, like rough idling, hesitation under acceleration, power loss, and even damaged spark plugs.

Regular maintenance and the use of high-quality fuel can help prevent this issue. Additionally, getting a carbon cleaning service at the recommended intervals can also help keep the engine running smoothly. Walnut blasting is an effective way of clearing carbon buildup from your engine, but it’s a costly service. Usually, it’s somewhere around $500 to $600.

Specifically, with the Honda 1.5 turbo engine, carbon buildup is one of the more frequently reported problems with it. At times, the carbon buildup is so excessive, that it clogs up the intake ports completely and causes them to not seal properly, requiring a clean-up. Unlike port injection, direct injection sprays fuel at high pressure, atomizing the fuel massively.

This isn’t ideal, since motor oil that goes past the piston rings doesn’t have the time to be washed out from the cylinder walls. The end result is carbon buildup. It’s no coincidence that these carbon buildup problems mostly appear once the piston rings gradually wear out. Oftentimes, you’ll experience this at around the 60,000-mile mark, but some last until 100,000 miles.

3. Spark Plug Failure

Another one of the more common Honda 1.5 turbo engine problems is spark plug failure. As mentioned, this is partly caused by the excessive carbon buildup that some of these engines suffer. On top of that, it’s well-known that turbocharged engines put additional wear on spark plugs, so it might be necessary to check and replace your spark plugs more frequently.

For Honda’s 1.5 turbo engines, it’s recommended to replace these spark plugs once every 30,000 miles. This shouldn’t be too expensive; you can buy a pack of 4 spark plugs for just $10. And, you could even replace these yourself to save on labor charges. Some of the symptoms you’ll notice due to poor spark plugs include misfires, hesitation, rough idle, and power loss.

As a whole, though, Honda and their 1.5 turbo engines are generally pretty reliable, despite these issues. They’re not too scary, especially if it’s properly maintained. In particular, that walnut blasting from earlier and cleaning the intake ports on the heads to clear up the carbon buildup. Plus, you’ll likely need to replace the spark plugs a bit more frequently than usual.

For the most part, owners of Honda cars fitted with these 1.5 turbo engines can typically expect headache-free ownership. The core of the engine is dependable and robust, and the Honda 1.5 turbo engine life expectancy is fairly good. You can expect at least 150,000 miles before major issues start to appear. But, with good maintenance, you can easily expect way more.

Other Honda 1.5 Turbo Engine Problems To Look Out For

Really, those 3 aforementioned issues are the most common problems you’ll see on Honda 1.5 turbo engines. However, there are some other random and sporadic (not systemic, which is good) faults you might encounter, including (but not limited to):

• Overheating, which is likely caused by a faulty radiator, thermostat, or water pump. Or, it could also be caused by coolant leaks, sometimes into the motor oil.
• Turbocharger failure, which can at times be prone to failure. Symptoms include loss of power, increased exhaust smoke, and a loud whining noise from the engine.
• Fuel injector failure, and this happens over time (mostly due to neglect). This leads to problems like poor fuel economy, rough idling, and misfires.
• Timing chain problems, as this wears out over time. That can lead to other problems like hearing a rattling noise from the engine, poor performance, and even engine failure.
• EGR valve failure, which is usually caused by regular wear and tear, or clogging. Signs include increased emissions and poor performance. Regular cleaning is easy enough to do.
• Excessive vibrations at idle, but the cause can be varied. This includes engine mount failure, unbalanced tires, or alignment issues. A thorough inspection is recommended.
• CVT transmission problems, which is a noteworthy problem on some Honda vehicles. Though not directly related to the 1.5 turbo engine it’s fitted to, you’ll notice symptoms like shuddering, jerking, and even outright transmission failure.