I have a 2014 CR-V with a plastic intake manifold. My previous vehicle has an aluminum intake manifold. Intakes seem to have gone plastic many years ago on many makes and models. I have also been reading about intake backfire when the a/f mix is too lean, intake valve open when the cylinder is fired etc., I have visions of the plastic intake manifold blowing up in my face when I am checking something in the engine bay while the motor is running

How does a plastic intake manifold hold up in the event of an intake backfire?

 

You are more likely to die on an airplane piloted by Harry Potter with a winning powerball ticket in your pocket than you are to be in any sort of harm from the plastic intake. Unless you are spraying it with a ridiculous amount of nitrous while standing over the motor on a dyno pull or trying to diagnose a no start with starting fluid.

 

The intake comes apart,sometimes it splits in half,other times a big hole is blown. I ve seen a few become damaged due to back firing over the years.(Never on a Honda though,always Fords, and GMs)

 

So, are you saying these plastic intake manifolds can contain the backfire without getting damaged?

 

Did Honda do anything in the design (electrical or mechanical) to prevent intake backfire from ever occurring? (like some kind of an interlock between the ignition and cam systems)

 

No. Ford and GM have been using plastic intakes for a few decades. Im sure once Honda gets there,they'll have a few blown manifolds.....

 

For quite some time,yes. Eventually they will give way if subjected to enough stress....

 

No, but your odds of encountering a random intake backfire on a perfectly running engine while you are directly on top of it are fantastically astronomical.