MajorCommonEngine

Honda Stream: Oil consumption and throttle body / EGR contamination (D17)

Oil consumption and throttle body / EGR contamination (D17) is a common engine fault on the Honda Stream on the 2000–2006 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $200 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 22 documented faults on the Honda Stream.

Vehicle: Honda Stream
Engine: 1.7L
Years: 2000–2006
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Honda Stream as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Stream faults22 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the EGR valve yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Beyond the head gasket, the D17 is known for burning oil at high mileage (worn rings and valve stem seals) and for oil vapour and EGR soot contaminating the throttle body and intake, causing hunting idle and hesitation. Owners report consumption creeping up to a litre per 1,000-2,000 km. A throttle body and EGR clean restores driveability cheaply, but genuine oil burning needs valve stem seals or rings — rarely economic. On any D17 Stream, check the oil level and top-up habits carefully.

What you would notice

Oil level noticeably low between services
Blue smoke on start-up or on overrun
Hunting or dipping idle
Hesitation off idle

How to check it

Where to look. Engine top end and intake; throttle body at the intake manifold, engine bay

Pull the dipstick: very low or very fresh oil both deserve questions.
Look for blue smoke in the mirror on the test drive when lifting off after a long pull.
At idle, watch the tachometer for hunting.
Check the exhaust tip for oily black residue.

Parts involved: EGR valve.

What it costs to put right

$200 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“How much oil does it use between services?”
“When was the throttle body or EGR last cleaned?”
“What weight of oil is being used?”

Now check the Honda Stream you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

MyEngineSpecs 'Honda D17 Engine Problems' (oil consumption, throttle contamination)
Honda-Tech D17 oil consumption discussions
BreakerYard 'Honda Stream Common Problems & Solutions'

Honda Stream buyer questions

Is oil consumption and throttle body / egr contamination (d17) serious on a Honda Stream?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Stream. Beyond the head gasket, the D17 is known for burning oil at high mileage (worn rings and valve stem seals) and for oil vapour and EGR soot contaminating the throttle body and intake, causing hunting idle and hesitation. Owners report consumption creeping up to a litre per 1,000-2,000 km. A throttle body and EGR clean restores driveability cheaply, but genuine oil burning needs valve stem seals or rings — rarely economic. On any D17 Stream, check the oil level and top-up habits carefully.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Stream?

$200 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Stream years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2006 Honda Stream. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Pull the dipstick: very low or very fresh oil both deserve questions. Look for blue smoke in the mirror on the test drive when lifting off after a long pull. At idle, watch the tachometer for hunting. Check the exhaust tip for oily black residue. Look here: Engine top end and intake; throttle body at the intake manifold, engine bay