Acura TL UA7

Honda J35 V6, workhorse of the Acura fleet. Runs solid when VCM is disabled or dead. Variable Cylinder Management causes progressive oil consumption from ring wear — a VCM disabler or oil catch can is the community's standard countermeasure.

• !! VCM-Induced Oil Consumption from 130,000 km

  Variable Cylinder Management reduces ring seal pressure in deactivated cylinders, causing progressive ring and valve stem seal wear. Typical consumption 1 qt per 1,000 miles by 80k miles.

  Symptoms: Oil level drops between service intervals without visible leaks, oil warning light before service due, faint bluish smoke on cold starts
  300–8,000 $
  Ad piston rings J35VCM disabler MDX TLXoil catch can J35
• !! Connecting Rod Bearing Failure (Recall 23V751) from 145,000 km

  Manufacturing defect in connecting rod bearings causes premature wear and catastrophic seizure. Recall 23V751 covers only select VINs.

  Symptoms: Metallic knocking from engine, sudden power loss, metal shavings in oil pan
  6,000–24,000 $
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• !! Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (Recall 23V858) from 50,000 km

  Low-pressure fuel pump fails due to particulate contamination, causing engine stall at speed. Three consecutive recalls (2020-2023).

  Symptoms: Sudden engine stall during driving, hard start or no-start, power loss during acceleration
  0–800 $
  Ad fuel pump module Acura MDX RDX TLXrecall 23V85817045-T6N-A00

3.7L V6 without VCM — still burns oil from ring wear. Acura accepts 1 qt/1,000 mi as normal. Otherwise robust and strong, especially with SH-AWD. Check oil weekly.

• !! Excessive Oil Consumption — J37 V6 from 100,000 km

  Piston ring wear causes oil consumption from ~60k miles. Acura accepts 1 qt/1,000 miles as factory tolerance.

  Symptoms: Oil level drops between service intervals, oil warning before scheduled change, no visible smoke
  300–7,300 $
  Ad piston rings J37short block J37A4valve stem seal J37A4