2023-2024 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 Engine (J35Y8): Problems, Longevity, and Specs

The new Honda Pilot was first released in 2022 and started selling in the US in 2023. The all-new full-size SUV immediately took a lot of attention on the market. You may think that its engine didn't change in comparison with the previous generation, but it's not completely true. The engine was upgraded and we need to talk about it.

Today, we'll tell you more about the 3.5L V6 J35Y8 engine in the new Honda Pilot and will also outline its main advantages and drawbacks to take into consideration. If you are going to buy the new Pilot or have already bought this car, the article is going to be helpful and will certainly show you how to care about your engine to prolong its life.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2023-now
• Average lifespan of J35Y8:210,000-230,000
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:285 hp
• Fuel efficiency:average
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:high
• The most common problems:VCM oil leaks, throttle contamination, carbon buildup on intake valves, engine belt premature failure.

Key facts about the Pilot 3.5L V6 engine

So, this is the J35Y8 engine - the latest J-series engine and probably the last high-displacement V6 powerplant in the series that has no hybrid system, turbochargers, and other modern stuff. The previous generation of the Pilot used the J35Y6 engine - the same series and more or less the same specs. But Honda decided to upgrade the engine to make it a little more efficient and to adjust some ecological parameters.

The new engine has 5 more horsepower which is not significant at all. All other key specs are the same. But the main advantage is the DOHC head construction - double overhead cam with VCM and VTC seems to be pretty modern and efficient. Yes, all those valve timing control technologies and cylinder deactivation systems are going to bother you after 100K miles, but this is inevitable with any modern big engine.

Here's what you should know about the 3.5L V6 engine in the new Pilot:

• the J35Y8 engine is a V6 powerplant with 3.5 liters of displacement, the engine is naturally aspirated;
• the power is 285 horsepower and the roque is 262 lb-ft which is not much for a big and heavy SUV;
• the engine is equipped with the 10-speed traditional automatic transmission - this is also new, the transmission was completely different in the previous generation of the Pilot;
• the engine is equipped with a modern VCM system - variable cylinder management that can turn off three or two cylinders when they are not needed;
• the VTC system may change the valve timing for better combustion and this makes the engine more efficient and economical;
• the engine uses a timing belt which is a questionable advantage - you will need to change it much earlier than the manufacturer requires to avoid issues;
• the engine offers a decent 19 MPG in the city and a wonderful 27 MPG on highways which is the great gas mileage for a V6 machine.

All Pilots come with a 10-speed automatic transmission, all come equipped with the same 3.5L V6 engine but the all-wheel drive is optional, so all trims come standard with FWD but the two most expensive trims that come with AWD only. Anyway, the difference between the LX which is the cheapest trim, and the Elite (the most expensive one) is over $16,000!

If you drive a cheaper version of the Pilot, you will not get a lot of technologies and add-ons and this may make you think the vehicle is not cool. But the Elite and TrailSport trims are really good and leave only wonderful emotions after the test drive.

How long will the 3.5L V6 last in your Pilot?

This engine is actually new and has still only been used in the new Pilot. We can't say for sure how many miles it will go but we can predict that the problems with the V6 Pilot engine in the 2023 model year will be more or less the same as with the previous-generation engine.

This allows us to predict that the new V6 engine in the Pilot will last about 250,000 miles with no serious damages and expensive repairs. You will still need to provide it with some maintenance that may seem to be expensive. But this engine is still cheaper to maintain than the majority of small-displacement turbo or hybrid powerplants.

You should also keep in mind that the engine will burn quite a lot of fuel and it's hard to say if the powerplant is actually lucrative in terms of money. Yes, it will last long. But in terms of fuel costs, this is certainly not the most economical engine in the world.

The bad news is that the Pilot doesn't have any alternatives. So, if you want exactly this model, you should be ready to put up with some flaws it may have. Anyway, we believe that the 3.5L V6 in the new Honda Pilot is a very decent engine in terms of longevity, maintenance costs, and also the pleasure of driving.

What are some of the most common problems with this engine?

Although we can't make a certain list of common problems with the 3.5L V6 in the new Pilot, we can predict the according to the problems with the older version of the J-Series engine. The first Pilots bought in 2023 have barely made 10K miles, so we just don't have any reports about the engine problems yet to rely on.

But let's see which units in this engine may fail:

1. VCM problems are more or less guaranteed

If you buy this vehicle, you may be sure that the VCM system will get on your nerves in a couple of years. The J35Y8 engine has a tricky VCM system that can turn off two cylinders or three cylinders depending on road conditions. After some time, you will find your engine working harshly and having just half of its power due to VCM failure.

Repairing the VCM is not cheap. Even diagnosing this system may be quite expensive and long.

2. Valve timing issues

Most big Honda engines have VTEC technology but the J35Y8 offers VTC - valve timing control. This system is not new and Honda hasn't used it much since this is not the most reliable technology. But it offers better valve control for the DOHC head and it makes the engine much more efficient in terms of exhaust.

After some time, the valves may just fail to close completely and your engine will partially lose compression. This will turn off one or several cylinders and driving your Pilot will be impossible. Repairs are not cheap at all.

3. The timing belt issues

This V6 engine has only one timing belt that synchronizes both camshafts and crankshafts. Seems like a not really good idea because if it fails, you are in big trouble. To avoid failure, better change the belt along with the tensioner much earlier than the manufacturer says it needs replacement.

A belt that is going to break doesn't show any symptoms at all. It just breaks and then your engine turns out to be a complete mess of broken valves and cracked pistons. Not a very good situation, we should say.

4. Gas mileage issues

We've seen people saying that they struggle to get at least 18 MPG in the city traffic. You should know that once you press the gas pedal a little more than needed for your driving style, this powerplant starts burning an uncontrolled amount of fuel. It will obviously not be an economical SUV. If you are searching for a vehicle that will economize your money, find some hybrid or turbo SUV of another brand.

But the Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 will be good for towing. Also, it can easily go with 8 people in the car and you won't feel any power drop.

5. Oil consumption issues

We've seen a lot of reports about oil consumption in previous-gen J-Series engines, so we guess this one will do the same. You should know that it's completely OK for a V6 engine to burn some oil, especially when working at high RPM (higher than 2,200).

But after 150,000 miles, these engines will most likely start drinking oil like crazy and you will need to keep an eye on that. With a low oil level, this engine will just die very soon.

How can you prolong the life of your 3.5L V6 Pilot engine?

This big J35Y8 engine doesn't need a lot of help to live long enough. But we will still show some factors that will help you avoid its premature death:

• check the oil level regularly and keep it closer to the MAX mark;
• regular maintenance is still important;
• change the timing belt sooner than it should be replaced according to Honda;
• avoid overrevving this engine;
• avoid towing more than 5,000 pounds with the AWD Pilot and over 3,500 pounds with the FWD SUV;
• once you see that the engine lost power or started working harshly, have it inspected as soon as possible.

With proper maintenance and a little care, this 3.5L V6 can live as long as other important units of the vehicle. So, if you want a really durable and practical full-size SUV with a classic engine, the Honda Pilot is one of the few options still available on the market.