1994 honda accord

[Ramrod]

I bought the accord, with 160K miles, for my daughter's daily driver; it's driven 120 miles per day of which 100 miles are freeway. It had been sitting for two years. I tuned it, changed oil and filter, then changed oil and filter again at 1000 miles--oil dirty and filter heavy. I will change oil and filter again at 2500 miles--oil looks better on stick and has not used any in 1500 miles. The oil is Federated 5w30 and the filter wix 51344. I'm looking for suggestions on oil that I can buy at wally world in 5QT jugs; we will do OCI's from 4000 to 6000 miles depending on our schedules.
We will use oversize filters such as the 51344, FL822, L24458, B1402 ect. that we can buy off ebay for < $4. Do not want to go to synthetic oil because or price. I would like to try MC synthetic blend 5w20. Has anyone had experience with the MC in this 2.2 L4 engine? I can't get the 5w30 in the 5QT jugs. Would like to stay in the $12-$13 range if possible. Suggestions and experiences will be appreciated

 

[ThirdeYe]

I would just use Pennzoil 5W-30 or Valvoline 5W-30 year round if you want to stay on the conventional route. Can't go wrong with either of those. Castrol GTX and Mobil Clean 5000 will also get the job done. The first two are just my personal preferences.

 

[mva]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
I would just use Pennzoil 5W-30 or Valvoline 5W-30 year round if you want to stay on the conventional route. Can't go wrong with either of those. Castrol GTX and Mobil Clean 5000 will also get the job done. The first two are just my personal preferences.


Agree 100%

Great choice of cars. Very reliable and still fun to drive.

I tried Maxlife 5W20 in my 1994 2.2L Accord to try and get slightly improved gas mileage. I didn't like it because the engine seemed to be a bit more noisy. This engine is not speced for 5W20 but my logic was that many of the older 5W30 oils used to shear down to a 5W20 and still get good UOA results.

My car has 260,000km with no problems other than regular maintenance. It has had 5W30 dino oil (GTX, PYB, QS, etc) for most of it's life (until I found BITOG 2 years ago). I have pulled the valve cover to check the valve lash and everything looks very good - slight varnish, negligible cam wear, no sludge. The valve lash was still within specs.

Engine, clutch, tranny, cooling system, suspension, rear brakes are all original. I did the front brakes for the first time at about 250,000 km. I have also replaced the exhaust, battery, CV joints, timing belt and all fluids. This car has seen a lot of short trips and extreme cold winter weather. The body is just starting to rust from all the road salt.

I recommend that you change the PCV valve. It is very easy to access and costs about $5. Mine has plugged twice during the life of the car.

i am currently running Pennzoil Platinum 5W30 in the engine, Amsoil MTF in the tranny (shifts very nice)and Honda power steering fluid.

 

[spasm3]

how about the super tech hm oils?

 

[Andyge]

for 50 cents more you could go with Quaker State HM in 5qt jug.


PHM $13.50
QSHM $13
STHM $12.50

 

[Ramrod]

Hey guys I just got back to my PC. Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I have already done everything mva suggested except for the pvc valve. I was going to do that but the local parts stores did not have one. The honda stealer wanted $24 for one; I freed the old one up with brakecleane. It was sticky. In another six months to a year, I may have some answers for someone else. The H@#% of it is, everything keeps changing. The oils get better or worse. the base changes, the add package is different. And, obviously with an older vehicle, the way it was maintained before we get it makes a difference. Thanks again

 

[fdcg27]

How cold does it get where you live?
I'm thinking that most of Washington has a maritime climate, and does not get that cold.
You could probably do a couple of 3K runs on a 15W-40 HDEO during warm weather, to help clean things up, and then go to a 10W-30 HDEO year 'round.
We have an Accord of this generation, and it has had everything from GC to PP to Tection Extra 15W-40 in it, along with its current fill of M1 EP 15W-50, and it seems happy and economical with any of them.
Fuel economy with these cars should average an easy 30 mpg+. so I wouldn't worry too much about trying to reduce consumption with a 5W-20. Honda never speced a 5W-20 for this engine, so I've never tried one in ours. Honda did spec a fifty in other markets, so I am observing their specs.
Anyway, these are trouble free and durable cars.
They are also fun to drive, and pretty quiet and confortable.
Pay attention to the T-belt service.
When did this car have it done?
Another little thing is that I had to replace the radiator on ours at around 135K. The OEM part was around $240.00, and it was pretty easy to do. There are also cheaper alternatives.
Our '97 (the last year of this generation, '94 being the first) has a tick under 170K now. We bought the car at 64K and six years, for 6K. It has been a very good value any way you look at it.
Good luck, and welcome to the fold.
Hondas really are all that, IMHO.

 

[gotnogunk]

I agree with ThirdeYe- You can't kill a good Honda if you change the oil& filter with a good brand 5W-30 at a reasonable interval.

 

[Ramrod]

I live on coast of southwest WA; seldom gets below 20 degrees F. I was Also considering the HDEO, but wasn't sure how it wood take it. I just happen to have two gallons of Rotella 15w40 in the garage. 15w40 is all I ever ran in my 406 sbc before I ran over it with the dragline that I operated, one night. Close to 200k on rotating assembly and used a quart every 2000 miles from the day I built it to the day I destroyed it. This is the first honda that I have been around and have found the honda dealer parts to be comparable in price to those for the my lexus; but from what I have seen in just this short time, honda has toyota badly beaten IMHO. Not sure of the mpg, but daughter says it doesn't use much gas. This one has an auto, that has been either rebuilt or replaced. It's dry and has not used any fluid in 3000 miles. Timing belt cover is marked 99,000 so it will be due again about the first of the year with the amount of miles she puts on. I planned on oil change this weekend, so with the 15w40 I won't need to drive to wally world. Thanks again you guys

 

[Ramrod]

Actually I use scheaffers 9000 5w40 in both my duramax and my lexus. Once I get it cleaned up, maybe I should just use that and forget about it for 20k miles like I do them other than a filter change at 10k

 

[HTSS_TR]

You should be able to use Scheaffers 9000 in the Honda for 15k miles without changing oil filter in midway. 15k miles is 6 months if the car is driven 120 miles a day for 5 days a week. Just check the oil level every month and top off if needed.

 

[Coogles]

Originally Posted By: mva
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
I would just use Pennzoil 5W-30 or Valvoline 5W-30 year round if you want to stay on the conventional route. Can't go wrong with either of those. Castrol GTX and Mobil Clean 5000 will also get the job done. The first two are just my personal preferences.


Agree 100%

Great choice of cars. Very reliable and still fun to drive.

I tried Maxlife 5W20 in my 1994 2.2L Accord to try and get slightly improved gas mileage. I didn't like it because the engine seemed to be a bit more noisy. This engine is not speced for 5W20 but my logic was that many of the older 5W30 oils used to shear down to a 5W20 and still get good UOA results.

My car has 260,000km with no problems other than regular maintenance. It has had 5W30 dino oil (GTX, PYB, QS, etc) for most of it's life (until I found BITOG 2 years ago). I have pulled the valve cover to check the valve lash and everything looks very good - slight varnish, negligible cam wear, no sludge. The valve lash was still within specs.

Engine, clutch, tranny, cooling system, suspension, rear brakes are all original. I did the front brakes for the first time at about 250,000 km. I have also replaced the exhaust, battery, CV joints, timing belt and all fluids. This car has seen a lot of short trips and extreme cold winter weather. The body is just starting to rust from all the road salt.

I recommend that you change the PCV valve. It is very easy to access and costs about $5. Mine has plugged twice during the life of the car.

i am currently running Pennzoil Platinum 5W30 in the engine, Amsoil MTF in the tranny (shifts very nice)and Honda power steering fluid.


Fun to drive? I wouldn't call a 94-97 Accord with the F22 fun to drive. At all.

I'm doing M1 5w30 EP in mine at 7500 mile intervals, but any quality dino will work just fine at 4k-6k.

 

[fdcg27]

I don't know.
Our '97 stick wouldn't have too much trouble hanging on to my convertible toy, and it has a higher top speed as well.
The Honda also corners hard, although the understeer is a bit much beyond 8/10s or so.

 

[fdcg27]

I'd go with the 15W-40 when its warm.
In colder weather, a lighter grade is desirable.
The Scheaffers would be fine in this car all year 'round, although Hondas are not picky about oil, so something cheaper would do just fine, unless you really want to extend drains.

 

[bigmike]

I loved my 94 Honda. And it was fun to drive. It was even better once I sheet metal screwed my inner fender wells due to them blowing out when over 100MPH.

 

[Ramrod]

OK I put HDEO 15w40 in the honda; I had delvac instead of rotella in the garage. I then drove it about 80 miles. I don't drive it much but the motor seems quieter to me than last time I drove it. Probably just me, or maybe after sitting for two years before I bought it, it just took 3500 miles to quiet down.