Failures from the tuning reliability thread

[Jaxson]

Are the rods in the Si more robust than the sport or they the same?

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[hobby-man]

Are the rods in the Si more robust than the sport or they the same?

They are definitely stronger.

https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-base-1-5t-and-si-1-5t-connecting-rods.21416/

 

[kytos]

Are the rods in the Si more robust than the sport or they the same?

Tested by drob with a durometer, the SI ones seems to be harder and exact same size.
https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-base-1-5t-and-si-1-5t-connecting-rods.21416/

EDIT: Seems like hobby-man has faster fingers hehe

 

[Civii]

They are definitely stronger.

https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/comparison-of-base-1-5t-and-si-1-5t-connecting-rods.21416/

Don’t the Hatchback sports have a different engine code? Not L15B7? What is even the difference?

if so, it would be interesting to see how many of those non-si fails were hatchback sports.

 

[kytos]

Don’t the Hatchback sports have a different engine code? Not L15B7? What is even the difference?

if so, it would be interesting to see how many of those non-si fails were hatchback sports.

Anything that is not an SI has L15BA AFAIK

 

[hobby-man]

Don’t the Hatchback sports have a different engine code? Not L15B7? What is even the difference?

if so, it would be interesting to see how many of those non-si fails were hatchback sports.

The Si uses an L15B7 and the motor in the sport hatchbacks are L15BA. Beyond the rod strength, I know the B7 has a different cylinder head (intake cams), HPFP, lower compression ratio, and a couple other things I am forgetting.

In my last chat with Mitch (@gtman) we totalled:

Even though there are many more Si's in the thread, only 3 Si owners that posted in the thread have had failures. 11 non-Si's have failed (CVT's and rods)

 

[Jaxson]

Thanks all for the quick replies. That’s good to know! I was about to run back to my old school K20 motor in the 8thgen that I had hahah.

 

[Civii]

I could have sworn I was reading online and here that the hatchback sport has a different code and is not a B7 compared to the other non-si’s.

 

[kytos]

Which non-si have B7 and not BA?

 

[hobby-man]

Which non-si have B7 and not BA?

Depending where you look, I've seen listings for the "base" sedan and coupes (EX, etc.) having an L15B7 and not an L15BA (hatchbacks). But that's either wrong, or there's two different B7s because no way the Si and base share the same internals.

I think the correct stacking is either

Si: L15B7
All else: L15BA

or

Si: L15B7 (one revision)
All other sedans/coupes: L15B7 (other revision)
Hatchbacks: L15BA

edit: ran some part numbers too

connecting rods:
4 door EX turbo (6MT): 13210-59B-J00
5 door sport turbo (6MT): 13210-59B-J00
4 door Si (6MT): 13210-5PA-A00

(same rods in base sedan / hatchbacks, different for Si)

intake cams:
4 door EX turbo (6MT): 14110-5AA-A00
5 door sport turbo (6MT): 14110-59B-000
4 door Si (6MT): 14110-5PA-A00

(different intake cams across all 3 trims)

pistons:
4 door EX turbo (6MT): 13010-59B-J00
5 door sport turbo (6MT): 13010-59B-J00
4 door Si (6MT): 13010-5PA-A00

(same pistons in base sedan / hatchbacks, different for Si)

Ultimately it's clear the Si motor stands alone

 

[GermanCivic]

...we still only have a less than 3% overall failure rate which is good. Especially considering that a number of those failures were from flat out abuse or neglect. But, there's an alarming trend.

I'm not even on a tune, but what would you define as abuse?

Does driving at max speed (124 mph) for a longer periods of time already count as abuse?

 

[gtman]

Brake launching is clearly CVT abuse; actually the CVT death knell.

I don't think long term top speed highway cruising is abusing the CVT. I don't know how great it is for the engine though.

The CVT's enemy is too much torque being applied. In a non-tuned car, as long as you don't brake launch you should be fine. You're just not producing enough torque to destroy one.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

I'm not even on a tune, but what would you define as abuse?

Does driving at max speed (124 mph) for a longer periods of time already count as abuse?

I'd define abuse as frequent launching of the car, brake boosting (especially in the case of a CVT) and low RPM WOT in higher gears, which eventually will lead to low speed preignition and put a window in your block.

 

[NewCivicRs]

You guys are great !
Let me add something, using cheap oil, fuel, and late oil changing when it supposes to get new change, are abusive too.

CVT Cooler and Bigger Intercooler are very good upgrade to make our Civics Happy, like me who lives in summer weather country ( Indonesia ), especially when I push it lightly or quite hard at very hot sunny day, The Knock Control and IAT temp are lower, so the power is always there whenever I push my foot forward and will not hurt the engine nor cvt.

Note: Those upgrades with conservative tune 1.3-1.4 bar making power up to 250 Bhp will make it long last and safe. No failure reports of CivicX in Indonesia yet for those upgrade and such power.

 

[gtman]

You guys are great !
Let me add something, using cheap oil, fuel, and late oil changing when it supposes to get new change, are abusive too.

I'd classify that as neglect. But yes, you're correct, it isn't just anti-lag and two stepping that contribute to failures.

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