I own Honday Odyssey 2007, 33000 miles in Texas, US. Recently I went to Honda Dealer for an oil change (every 3000 miles) and the Dealer recommend me the following:
(1) Power Steering Fluid dirty - recommend change
(2) Clean carbon builds up

It costs me for the two $250.00 (Expensive). Due to my intention to maintain in good condition my Odyssey, I approved the recommendation. The dealer told me it is like teeth, when you have good preventive care, it saves you more money.

Later on, when checking internets, I was surprised that rarely people change power steering fluids at 33000 miles and similarly, carbon builds up should not be a problem for Odyssey with 33000 miles.

My main question is whether i have been manipulated by the dealer to give them money for unnecessary maintenance? I am suspicious as some of my friends were surprised when I told them about the maintenance. They though it was not needed. Should I for next time read word - next time - not trusting dealer i.e. word RECOMMEND means no need to do it unless you have spare money?

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

 

I have never changed power steering fluid as a preventative maintenance item on a Honda, ever. Nor have I ever heard of anyone recommending it to be changed. You should only ever need to touch the steering fluid when a component of the PS system is leaking or being removed/replaced.

Clean carbon build-up? On what? At 33,000 miles?

Have you read your owners manual? Does it not outline recommended services and list mileage & time intervals? If you don't already know what services need to be performed before scheduling work, it's rather easy to get swindled out of $250.

 

Sounds like a load of BS to me. What does it say in your owners manual about power steering flushes? I find it hard to believe that the power steering needed to be flushed. Carbon build up is possible. Unless you are using a higher grade fuel than 87 or just using cheap fuel, I don't see this as a problem. I'm not sure if the VCM in the 3.5 is a cause of carbon buildup, I just haven't heard of any problems yet. Check over on www.odyclub.com and see what kind of carbon issues others have had with their Odys. It sounds like the dealer got your money for unnecessary repairs.

 

The '05-07 Odyssey Helm factory service manual does not list a change interval for power steering fluid at all; it only mentions checking level/condition and adding as necessary. The replacement procedure ambiguously instructs that the fluid be changed if it is "contaminated, dark, or discolored."

Carbon build up where? I'm curious as to what exactly the dealer told him that they cleaned. For $250, they better have split the intake manifold and cleaned the EGR and intake ports.

I would think that slow burning high octane fuel would cause more carbon buildup in the combustion chambers, EGR ports, and exhaust than faster burning low octane fuel. 87 is the proper fuel rating to use unless your Odyssey knocks on it.

VCM wouldn't have anything to do with it. VCM disables the valves and shuts off the injectors for certain cylinders, so no combustion occurs in those cylinders while it is active. No fuel to combust = no carbon to deposit.

 

I really appreciate the feedback. You are right, in the manual, it is only mentioned you have to maintain power steering fluids level above min and below max. Nothing mentioned about flushing it. The dealer was kind to call me yesterday (to answer my email) and said they needed to replace the fluid because there was significant debris. When I asked that there was no debris when I did my 30,000 service in the same place, he said the fluid was working hard because of extreme weather change i.e. hot and cold and dry v. humid. He also said that power steering fluid works hard without filter to lubricate components.

On carbon build up he said that it is based on dealer experience with Odyssey, that many cars start developin carbon in 25000 - 35000 miles. The mechanic found carbon trace when inspected, and decided to recommend carbon clean.

What are your thoughts about the above? Many thanks in advance. My thought is that next time I must be more careful and prepared, like what has been advised by some of you. The service advisor from dealer may or may not be right, but his recommendation is not totally unbiased.

 

I was trying to say the same thing. You just put it into plain english... Thanks. I was trying to state that higher grade, slower burning fuel will dirty up a car faster than the 87 octane which the vehicle calls for. Good points on the VCM. The carbon issue is news to me. I have not really heard of any carbon issues with the 2nd gen 3.5 engines without VCM. Most issues I have heard of in the past (on other vehicles) were people who used higher grade fuel than necessary, cheap fuel, poor maintenance, and just poking around. I'm a firm believer of mashing the pedal every once in a while to "blow it out"...

 

To put it simple Honda recommends NO flushes to be done with a machine or additives. Any type of fluid change should be just that. Draining and filling with fresh fluid. No fuel injector cleaner, no lucas tranny additive, no magic pill fluids that are going to put a band aid on worn out parts.

The ONLY reason ANY shop has flush systems is to generate extra money. No other reason.

Yes carbon is an enemy of every Honda engine. ESPECIALLY the V6 (all of the modern V6 engines). The best remedy for this is at least one full throttle acceleration from a stop to about 60 MPH every week. If you haven't done it for a while don't be surprised to see a big cloud of black soot to come out of the back once vtec engages. I've already replaced a stuck open EGR valve on a 08 Pilot. It's usually because of people driving like grandma.