I just can't believe this.

MY wife's 02 Accord V6 has developed a rod knock at 181000 miles.
What makes it more unbelievable is that the oil and filter has been changed every 3500 miles without fail. It has also had all the major service and was actually into it's second timing belt (2/10)
This car is driven daily about 40+ miles to work and back.
It has been to Colorado and all over the East coast.
We have towed a small sailboat behind it numerous times including the trip to CO. The boat weighs just under 400lbs and the trailer probably 150 and with other gear it was probably around 800 lbs total. Under the towing limit of 1000lbs.
The remarkable thing is that the trans is still functioning pretty good.
I do detect some differences from new though.
The body and interior of this car are in excellent condition.
The worst visual item is the finish on the aluminum wheels is peeling off.

Nothing can be done so we are installing a used engine that the dealer located. $3300. I know it doesn't seem like the car would be worth this but we know about the quality of what remains and we could not buy a car this nice for that money. 12 month parts and labor warranty on the engine.
They are going to change the timing belt and water pump from the blown
engine (which were new in Feb) to the used engine before they install it in the car. Also keeping the existing alternator and AC comp, alternator replaced about a year ago.
We had planned to give this car to our daughter. She is 30.

Anyone else have a similar experience with a V6?
I searched on Gooogle and found one other similar problem at 118K.
Gary

 

How sure are you of the diagnosis? Have they torn down the engine?

Have you ever had any overheating or head gasket issues?

 

Cinic, thanks for your interest and concern.

No the engine has not been torn down yet.
I hope to get access to it after it's removed to at least remove the oil pan and take a look.
It really is pretty obvious about the sound.
I'm 60 and have heard other engines do this over the years.
I have also rebuilt some engines so I am familiar with how they work.

Never had a head gasket go out but the radiator was struck by debris on the road and sprang a leak but was noticed right away and towed to the dealer.

I'll post again after I get a look at the rods the first of next week.
Photos too.
Still can't believe it happened.

I own a 1984 BMW 533i. It has 312k on it and has never been opened up.
I had a Volvo 240 Turbo wagon that went 350k with two turbos and a head rebuild. So this one shocks me.
Gary

 

wow, ive heard those motors to be bulletproof j30 if my memory serves me...

 

Yes it is definetly rare for a well maintained J motor to develop a rod knock, but at the same time can happen to any motor with this mileage. You have to step back and say again "one hundred and eighty-one thousand miles". Even for a Honda, this still falls well within the realm of high mileage. Maybe yours was assembled the end of second shift on a Friday...

 

x2

 

Here's an update and some photos.
Defiantly a rod.
Don't know the number for each cylinder but it was one of the middle on the
the left side of the engine from the front (crank).
You can see the pan was clean other than staining.
The rod bearing spun and you can see was starting to disintegrate.
The oil pickup for the pump was clean too.
Must have been a bad bearing we couldn't see any real reason for it to fail.