CULater wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 2:40 pm
Finally got the CRV back from the dealer in Phoenix. When I picked up the vehicle I told the service person that I wanted documentation of the following:
- service issue and details of the service order
- actions taken and results
- names of personnel involved @dealer and contact info
- recommended followup and proposed remedies if problem recurs
I indicated that I was preparing a dossier to support a possible Lemon Law claim or future class action.
The service tech told me that the only basis for a Lemon Law claim was a documented problem, but no problem was found. Stated there was no gas in the oil when it was drained; didn't say how they determined that. I said I wondered what would cause the volume in the crankcase to grow if something wasn't getting into the crankcase. I also stated that the fact that Honda doesn't report a problem doesn't mean there isn't one and that I would be pursuing this matter independently.
He said they contacted Honda America Technical Services and were told there were no documented cases of the oil dilution issues in the U.S. on file. Only a couple of cases in China (stifling my laughs). I found this interesting since there are several documented NHTSA complaints in the U.S. and some of them indicated that they were told by their Honda dealer that the issue they were experiencing was due to gas in oil-- so I wonder why that wouldn't be in the database somewhere.
I can sorta see where this is going, right? Disappointingly, Honda might not be working on a fix for U.S. owners if they are saying there isn't even a problem. It's pretty clear to me that I may need to go to someone outside of Honda to obtain independent evidence that there is a problem; such as having an independent oil analysis.
They changed the oil and oil filter and said they put the level right at the top mark on the dipstick, which I'll check as soon as vehicle cools down from driving it home. I was told to come back after 500 miles to have oil level checked to see if it has changed. I'll be checking it myself more frequently than that. I find it somewhat paradoxical that they state there is no problem and yet they want me to come back in 500 miles to check the oil level to see if there is a problem -- but maybe I'm overthinking it.
The service information I was provided by the dealer seems to cover the items I wanted, and I have a service number on file with Honda to facilitate followup. So, the process begins. My plan is to keep tabs on the oil level and if it rises above the full indicator mark sufficiently, I'll get an independent oil analysis done before taking it back into Honda service. Perhaps someone who is familiar with this can suggest how and where to do that.
Even though my "fishy" antenna went up when I was dealing with the Honda service people, as things go forward, I'm trying to remain calm and be hopeful that the oil level will remain stable and I won't smell gas when I sniff the dipstick. Nothing would please me more and I'll be eager to retract everything I've said about this oil dilution issue if that turns out to be the case. If it doesn't I plan to become a major nuisance to Honda.