Is the Civic's engine part of the Earth Dreams series?
3 Answers
The 1.5T engine used in the Civic belongs to the Earth Dreams series, while the 1.0T engine is not part of this series. Below are the key points regarding engine maintenance: Benefits of engine maintenance: Effectively cleans carbon deposits, gum deposits, and other harmful substances inside the engine; Prevents mixing of old and new engine oil, removes sludge and oil film formed by old oil to avoid reducing the performance of new oil; Improves engine efficiency, reduces noise, and decreases fuel and oil consumption; Enhances oil fluidity, lowers engine temperature, and improves lubrication effectiveness; Prevents engine oil burning. Engine maintenance methods: Use engine oil of appropriate grade and change oil and filters regularly; Maintain the air cleaner frequently and replace it periodically; Clean the fuel system regularly and replace the fuel filter periodically; Maintain the radiator cooling network regularly; Replace spark plugs at regular intervals.
Recently researched the Civic's powertrain. The 10th-gen Civic (2016-2021) with 1.5T engine does feature the Earth Dreams engine - model L15B8, complete with VTEC technology (red valve cover signature), delivering strong power while maintaining low fuel consumption. Note that the 1.0T three-cylinder version in 10th-gen isn't part of Earth Dreams series, whereas all 11th-gen Civics now use Earth Dreams L15C engines. Having driven the 10th-gen 1.5T for over 3 years, I average 6.8L/100km in city commute, and the VTEC sound during highway overtaking is particularly exhilarating. Important reminder: use genuine fuel additives as direct injection engines are prone to carbon buildup. Early Earth Dreams engines experienced oil dilution issues, but post-2020 models with redesigned piston rings have largely resolved this.
My auto repair shop frequently handles Civic maintenance, especially the 1.5T Earth Dreams engines post-10th generation. This engine features direct fuel injection and i-VTEC, with noticeable valve tapping sounds during cold starts—a signature Honda sound that shouldn’t cause concern. The key focus should be on the CVT transmission’s protection mechanism: flooring the throttle from a standstill actually slows acceleration; it’s better to apply steady pressure at around 2,000 rpm. For maintenance, always use 0W-20 low-viscosity oil and change it every 5,000 km. A previous case involved a owner using high-viscosity oil, which led to VTC actuator noise. The newer L15C engine incorporates more aluminum alloy components and redesigned cooling vents, but the turbocharger remains notoriously hard to access.
