Base Model Blown Engines/Failures Data

[Pur3MotioN770]

LAST UPDATED** 10-15-2020


For those interested, here's some compiled data, in regards to engine failures, AKA blown motors, specifically for base models. Although many of us have known this for some time now, it appears there's a higher failure rate of cars running ethanol on Hondata. The data also seems to indicate that CVTS are more likely to fail on a basemap, whereas 6MT are more likely to fail with custom tuning. Obviously, the sample size here is relatively small, but it is what is... ?‍ For those that find it useful, take from it what you will...


1.CivicX Forum Member - EX-T 6MT Canadian Hondata Over-Rev Misshift
Custom Tuned 91 Octane


2. Civic X Forum Member - Pouyan Pasyar CVT Sport 93 oct. Ktuner Custom Tune, Blowoff Valve, Abused


3. 10th Gen Civics Member - Corey Booher - EXT- CVT Ktuner Custom Vittune 93 Octane
55-60k Miles


4. Buckeye Honda - Hondata EXT 6MT E85 320 WTQ Heavily Tracked, Ran Very Hard Before Failure, Was Bouncing Off Limiter


5. John William 10th Gen Civics FB - Sport Hatch CVT Ktuner 21PSI 93 Octane


6. Romel - Sport 6MT Ktuner E30 (mixed with 91 oct.) E48 Blend 239 WHP, Clear Hood, Idled For Hour Immediately Prior To 1st Gear WOT Pull


7. Miami IG - Sport Hatch 6MT Hondata FBO Custom Tuned E40 (mixed 93 oct) 268/317wtq 20k miles???


8. Gnoix Andrew - Ktuner Full E85 Custom Tune Sport 6MT, Abused, Bounced Off High Rev Limiter


9.Yves Huy - CVT Sport Hondata Modified 24psi tune For 10k miles 91 Octane


10.Kev_fk7 IG 6MT Sport Hatch Hondata Full E85 Custom Tune


11. Robert Villard (Canada) CVT Ktuner 24K Miles 91 Octane Canadian equivalent TSP Stage 1


12. 10genhatchNS (Civic X Member)
6MT 91 octane 57k, Injen Intake, DP, Ktuner, TSP Stage 1


13. Mathew Corralejo FB 10th Gen Civics Sport Hatch CVT Hondata E40 blend (93 mix) 72K Hondata basemap +6PSI flex


14. Dustin Nicholas Badenell FB FBO CVT Ktuner 91 TSP Stage1 91Octane 120k miles Driven Hard


15. DBlack Youtube - CVT Hondata +6PSI Flex Fuel + Intake


16. Bernard Clark Jr. - 6MT Sport Hatch 47k Miles Hondata Custom Tune 27 PSI 93 Octane 235WHP/305 Torque Full Bolt Ons


17. Big Guy Big Brian Civicx - EXT CVT Ktuner Stage 2 - Cuzin Mistakingly Ran 87 Fuel - Multiple Spark Plug Issues


18. Peterletran CivicX EXT - 6MT Hondata 6MT +9 PSI - Misfired For Weeks Before Blowing, Multiple Misshifts, Abused, Tune Tweaked, 93 Octane


19. stockfc1 (IG) Civic EX-T 6MT Hondata, 91 Octane +9 PSI


20. Tarren Snyder FB - Sport 6MT Hatch - Hondata E30+91 15k Miles On Self Tune FBO Bigger Turbo


21. Blacklion703 FBO CVT Hatch EX
Hondata Powermetrics E85 70K Agressive Driving


Hondata Failures - 12 (Custom 7) (Ethanol 8)
(4 CVTS/8 6MTS)


Ktuner Failures - 9 (Custom 5) (Ethanol 2)
(6 CVTS/ 3 6MT)


6 Speed Failures - 11 (5 Pump Gas/ 5 Ethanol)


CVT Failures - 10 (7 - Pump Gas/ 2 Ethanol)


Basemap Failures - 9 (6 CVTS/ 3 6MT)
(5 Ktuner/ 4 Hondata - 2 Flex Fuel)


Custom Tuned - 12 (8 6MTS/ 4 CVTS)
(8 Hondata/ 4 Ktuner)


91 octane or 91 equivalent - 6 (4 OTS tune)
(3 CVTS/ 3 6MTS) (Ktuner 3/ 3 Hondata)


91 Octane Ethanol Blend - 3 (1 Ktuner / 2 Hondata)


Ethanol Blend - 5 (4 Hondata) (1 Ktuner)


Full E85 - 4 (3 Hondata) ( 3 Custom, 1 Basemap)


93 Octane - 5 (3 CVTs/ 2 6MT) (4 Custom) (All Ktuner)


93 Octane Ethanol Blend - 2 (2 Hondata)

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[arnoldo]

Thank you for consolidating and compiling this data. This is very useful for us to use as reference & it would be great if you can add link to the related thread for us to better understand the cause of failure.

 

[86salmon]

Good job with this!

Don't forget Brian Matsuda / BMSpec and the Circuit Heart fk7

https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/circuit-heart-time-attack-fk7.36412/post-642812

 

[The Vyzitor]

Well this certainly doesn’t support the narrative of some KTuner fanatics that Hondata blows engines but KTuner is safe

thanks for compiling this.

 

[Pur3MotioN770]

Well this certainly doesn’t support the narrative of some KTuner fanatics that Hondata blows engines but KTuner is safe

thanks for compiling this.

For pump gas that seems to be fairly true, but when running ethanol on Hondata, definitely appears that there's an increased risk because of some shortcomings. I've also seen a handful of reports of overboosting with Hondata. Keep in mind also, these are only base model failures, and a relatively small sample size. I'm sure there are plenty other cases we don't know about.

 

[Pur3MotioN770]

OP has been updated with three more cases.

 

[gtman]

Well this certainly doesn’t support the narrative of some KTuner fanatics that Hondata blows engines but KTuner is safe

thanks for compiling this.

I certainly have never said or felt that. I've owned Hondata and KTuner. For the most part, I don't think it's the tuning device or base tunes in general that causes most failures. It's often simply tuning for too much power, abuse or neglect.

 

[CAPTS]

most of the cases are human error.
thanks OP for compiling

 

[xjoshuax89]

User error probably accounts for 90% of all the failures. 5% tune issue and remaining 5% is probably defective part(s) .

 

[The Vyzitor]

For pump gas that seems to be fairly true, but when running ethanol on Hondata, definitely appears that there's an increased risk because of some shortcomings. I've also seen a handful of reports of overboosting with Hondata. Keep in mind also, these are only base model failures, and a relatively small sample size. I'm sure there are plenty other cases we don't know about.

I certainly have never said or felt that. I've owned Hondata and KTuner. For the most part, I don't think it's the tuning device or base tunes in general that causes most failures. It's often simply tuning for too much power, abuse or neglect.

Yeah I don’t get that vibe in these forums, more talking about a couple groups on Facebook that constantly push KTuner and literally insult people for even suggesting Hondata because it will blow your engine.

 

[Gruber]

Just counting the number of failures with Ktuner and Hondata doesn't allow for accurate conclusions on which one is more risky. The big missing factor is the number of owners of each device out there. A more subtle factor is also the distribution of the devices/tunes over the spectrum of users. Meaning which device is more likely to be selected by less experienced or informed (beginner) or rmore risky users. Which device is preferred for specific reasons by more extreme users who want to go all out for max power/torque and so on, and which is more often purchased by those who just heard about those tuner boxes....

 

[xjoshuax89]

Yeah I don’t get that vibe in these forums, more talking about a couple groups on Facebook that constantly push KTuner and literally insult people for even suggesting Hondata because it will blow your engine.

There are certainly alot more blowups but just aren't reflected in the collected data.

Besides the blowups, a few tuners including Derek Robinson have come out to state why Ktuner is the better choice for the 1.5T when tuning.

 

[arnoldo]

I believe both platforms are safe for stock car tuned with original calibration from KTuner/ Hondata Flashpro given the owner does not abuse the car. I think custom tune depends on tuners' experience, knowledge, and familiarity to the tuning platform.

Regarding overboost, I don't see overboost with +3 PSI and +6 PSI tune. I custom tune & I also don't see overboost with my custom calibration. I did find boost spike but even TSP tune for KTuner has the same boost spike. No boost creep with OTS and TSP tune based on my experience.

My point is, all available platforms are safe as long as the owner/user does not abuse the car.

KTuner engagement with consumers is solid. Quick adjustments and quick enables, as well as OTF is also nice for ECU with full support.

 

[hfpdohc]

i love abusing my stock car without worriyng

 

[brownman]

great another thread taken over by ktune vs hondata.

Great to know even for the stock guys. cannot count out stock blowing up. With ac condenser issues and weird dents on the b pillar we cannot rule out an issue with some drivetrains or cvt influenced failures. I will follow this thread closely and thank you once again for creating this puremotion777

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