Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 is an excellent choice! Its actually a synthetic blend (around 20% Group IV PAO) and its only around 10.5 cSt so a good match for a Honda.
Getting a used Civic.....
- Thread starter Pat in Kentuckiana
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Actually I was looking to put the Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic in it for the cold winter months. So ML dino would work well in it the rest of the year, eh?
My mistake. My Corolla was a '95, not an '05.
I used primarily cheapo SuperTech 5w30 oil and SuperTech filters up until I got rid of it. I use the same oil in my Civic, however the SuperTech filter that fits the Civic appears to have a "clicker" bypass valve, and I've had a bad experience with these in the past. I'm currently using a Napa Gold (Wix) filter, but I've also used the Honda filters.
I used primarily cheapo SuperTech 5w30 oil and SuperTech filters up until I got rid of it. I use the same oil in my Civic, however the SuperTech filter that fits the Civic appears to have a "clicker" bypass valve, and I've had a bad experience with these in the past. I'm currently using a Napa Gold (Wix) filter, but I've also used the Honda filters.
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Check the exhaust manifold cause they tend to crack around 90K miles, install NGK spark plugs and wires, cap & rotor. Change transmission fluid. Fuel filter.
Check the Idle Air Control Valve cause it tends to get clogged up. Clean the throtle body as it too also gets caked with grime.
PCV valve - if the oil was changed often, you will notice that the PCV valve will be spotless when you remove it. The PCV 'plunger' will be oily, not clogged.
I'm selling a 98 Civic EX soon, but with basic maintenance.....A Civic will last forever
BTW, when you go to see the car, look to see if the bolts to the timing belt cover has been removed, as the bolts will have white paint on them from the factory. If they haven't been removed, the bolts still have the white paint on them......
and your car will still have the original timing belt and water pump. Thats $300 you can haggle with the dealer to bring the price down. Cause you have too change the TB like yesterday. Good Luck.
Ah, good info here. my exhaust manifold cracked about that time as well. i never checked the dirty the throttle body was or the idle air control valve though.
Quote:
Check the exhaust manifold cause they tend to crack around 90K miles, install NGK spark plugs and wires, cap & rotor. Change transmission fluid. Fuel filter.
Check the Idle Air Control Valve cause it tends to get clogged up. Clean the throtle body as it too also gets caked with grime.
PCV valve - if the oil was changed often, you will notice that the PCV valve will be spotless when you remove it. The PCV 'plunger' will be oily, not clogged.
I'm selling a 98 Civic EX soon, but with basic maintenance.....A Civic will last forever
BTW, when you go to see the car, look to see if the bolts to the timing belt cover has been removed, as the bolts will have white paint on them from the factory. If they haven't been removed, the bolts still have the white paint on them......
and your car will still have the original timing belt and water pump. Thats $300 you can haggle with the dealer to bring the price down. Cause you have too change the TB like yesterday. Good Luck.
A few questions:
Where is the idle control valve located?
Is the fuel filter on the firewall?
What's the recommended way to clean the throttle body?
Thanks
You are making a good choice, as long as you aren't paying too much.
Do change the T-belt at once, unless you are sure it has been done. You can do this yourself, it is not really technically difficult. I did change a few on the Civics I used to own. I would recommend a factory manual if you intend to do something this critical for the first time, or at least an experienced advisor to look over your shoulder. Always change the water pump and the tensioner as well. The biggest problem you'll probably have will be breaking the crank pulley bolt lose.
Anyway, we have owned six Hondas. All ran well into six figures without either leaking or burning any oil.
A Honda is not a Toyota analog. Hondas are generally better handling cars than Toys, and have engines that enjoy being run to redline through the gears. Hondas also do not suffer sludging problems. Finally, I would strongly recommend that you drive a 5 spd before buying the automatic. A better car in every way than the automatic, in my opinion.
Do change the T-belt at once, unless you are sure it has been done. You can do this yourself, it is not really technically difficult. I did change a few on the Civics I used to own. I would recommend a factory manual if you intend to do something this critical for the first time, or at least an experienced advisor to look over your shoulder. Always change the water pump and the tensioner as well. The biggest problem you'll probably have will be breaking the crank pulley bolt lose.
Anyway, we have owned six Hondas. All ran well into six figures without either leaking or burning any oil.
A Honda is not a Toyota analog. Hondas are generally better handling cars than Toys, and have engines that enjoy being run to redline through the gears. Hondas also do not suffer sludging problems. Finally, I would strongly recommend that you drive a 5 spd before buying the automatic. A better car in every way than the automatic, in my opinion.
Ahh, something else I hadn't thought of: oil filters. Would AC filters have the same issue with the clicker since they're Champion? Any experience with Purolators on one?
I had a 2000 Acura EL a Canada only Model that is a dressed up Civic EX (I think EX was the trim level in the US with the 1.6L VTEC). So essentially the same car (the 95-2000 model) but with bells and whistles like leather upholstery but the 127HP VTEC engine.
I will put it this way, when we gave it up 5 months ago to get a Mazda 3 Sport GT Wagon to accommodate a baby, and associated baby paraphenalia open warfare broke out in the family as to who could buy the car.
This was as close to a maintenance free car as you could hope for. Never had to do anything. Was not driven "hard" but was driven about 90% short trips. COnstant 2 mile trips in Canadian weather is severe service. Engine oil looked clean even several thousand miles in. In my opinion these engines are tremendously easy on oil. I am normally very suspicious of engines with small sumps but these appear fine. Did fine on any 5w30 conventional it was fed.
Re the timing belt/water pump, as previously suggested it is probably a removal and reinstall issue. These engines are packed in there. Once you are in to replace the timing belt you might as well do the water pump for the cost of parts and maybe only 20% more in labor.
Without a lot of things to suggest that can go wrong I would point out the few areas of the car that may be worth keeping an eye on.
1. ABS. I am not really in love with ABS systems and on this generation Civic with rear drums and the stock Michelin all seasons I found it had a hair trigger. If you have newer better rubber on the car, probably not a big deal.
2. These engines love to rev. You can be at 5500 RPM before you notice it. This is where they make their power, and it can be fun. But if you play that game you will pay in fuel consumption. They are economical cars if driven timidly, but if you wind them up they will go through fuel. I mean in my Porsche Turbo driving style makes less of a difference in fuel consumption than in this car.
3. Honda sheet metal is thin. Compared to a Corolla the Civics will dent easily. Civic is much more fun to drive.
4. Not a huge fan of the Automatic transmission, but this is maybe weighted by the fact that I don't like ATXs in general and it was a step backwards from the ATX in the Integra. It is way more on the soft side than I like
5. Cupholders. What were they thinking? Get something aftermarket.
Great car, though. Enjoy
I will put it this way, when we gave it up 5 months ago to get a Mazda 3 Sport GT Wagon to accommodate a baby, and associated baby paraphenalia open warfare broke out in the family as to who could buy the car.
This was as close to a maintenance free car as you could hope for. Never had to do anything. Was not driven "hard" but was driven about 90% short trips. COnstant 2 mile trips in Canadian weather is severe service. Engine oil looked clean even several thousand miles in. In my opinion these engines are tremendously easy on oil. I am normally very suspicious of engines with small sumps but these appear fine. Did fine on any 5w30 conventional it was fed.
Re the timing belt/water pump, as previously suggested it is probably a removal and reinstall issue. These engines are packed in there. Once you are in to replace the timing belt you might as well do the water pump for the cost of parts and maybe only 20% more in labor.
Without a lot of things to suggest that can go wrong I would point out the few areas of the car that may be worth keeping an eye on.
1. ABS. I am not really in love with ABS systems and on this generation Civic with rear drums and the stock Michelin all seasons I found it had a hair trigger. If you have newer better rubber on the car, probably not a big deal.
2. These engines love to rev. You can be at 5500 RPM before you notice it. This is where they make their power, and it can be fun. But if you play that game you will pay in fuel consumption. They are economical cars if driven timidly, but if you wind them up they will go through fuel. I mean in my Porsche Turbo driving style makes less of a difference in fuel consumption than in this car.
3. Honda sheet metal is thin. Compared to a Corolla the Civics will dent easily. Civic is much more fun to drive.
4. Not a huge fan of the Automatic transmission, but this is maybe weighted by the fact that I don't like ATXs in general and it was a step backwards from the ATX in the Integra. It is way more on the soft side than I like
5. Cupholders. What were they thinking? Get something aftermarket.
Great car, though. Enjoy
The fuel filter is located next to the battey on the fire wall, the IAC valve is next to the throtle body. To clean both, I just used an old rag to wipe off the oily black grime.
You can use the Purolator L-20073 oil filter on your Civic. This oil filter is 'oversized' and it will fit perfect without any leaks.
You can use the Purolator L-20073 oil filter on your Civic. This oil filter is 'oversized' and it will fit perfect without any leaks.
Is the stuff-for-all-engines antifreeze green? What color is the Honda stuff? Reason I ask, the antifreeze could stand to be topped and there's green in it. There's some in the overflow, but it's low and I was wanting to bring it up to level. Would adding the wrong green stuff hurt anything??
Got the Civic Saturday and it's a BLAST. I filled up just outside of Louisville and when I got back to Indy I topped off to see what it did...39.2mpg!!
Does the added length help in getting it on and off? I read in another post the location of the oil filters on these engines is a pain to access.
The oil filter is really not that bad, although you will need to elevate the car a bit to get to it. I keep a couple of pieces of 2X8 to back the front tires of the two Hondas I currently have on to, which gives me enough room to get under far enough to get to the filter.
The Civic is great, you'll like it. Now, on to more imporatant matters.
You have a Corvair! 110 or 140?
I have had two Monzas, a '64 110 4dr, my first car, and a '65 coupe I bought years later, and put quite a few miles on before selling. The Corvair is without doubt the most interesting American car of the 'sixties, from the era when GM could design, engineer, and make work pretty much anything they wanted to. How times have changed!
The Civic is great, you'll like it. Now, on to more imporatant matters.
You have a Corvair! 110 or 140?
I have had two Monzas, a '64 110 4dr, my first car, and a '65 coupe I bought years later, and put quite a few miles on before selling. The Corvair is without doubt the most interesting American car of the 'sixties, from the era when GM could design, engineer, and make work pretty much anything they wanted to. How times have changed!
OK, I haven't had a chance to check out the service manual I got downloaded to me on ebay today, so is the timing belt on the right side of the engine as you're facing it, next to the dipstick? If that cover is where the timing belt is, then no, there is no white paint on any of the bolts of that cover. This is one of the downsides to buying a car from a dealer...no knowledge of what's been done to the car. Going to see what I can do about finding the previous owner though.
I've got a '65 Monza 110/powerglide (see below). Had it since '99, and the second I've owned. I've got a brother with a '66 Monza convertible and my dad's got two '64's, a Spyder and a Monza coupe. I think between me, my dad, and 3 of my brothers, we've had about 10 in the family over the years.
Nice!
Just for grins, I checked e-bay last night. There were 28 of the beasts on offer, ranging from a '60 through some '69s, and including three vans, one of which (In CA, of course) looked to be a very nice driver.
The Corvair remains on my must look at list whenever one is offered locally.
Just for grins, I checked e-bay last night. There were 28 of the beasts on offer, ranging from a '60 through some '69s, and including three vans, one of which (In CA, of course) looked to be a very nice driver.
The Corvair remains on my must look at list whenever one is offered locally.
I don't have any personal experience with Purolators on a Civic, but I would think they're fine. But the AC....you might want to look down the center tube and see if you see a bunch of small circles in a ring on the inside bottom of the filter. If you see this, then it's got a clicker bypass valve.
Weird. I've owned about 6 Hondas and have never had one leak or burn a drop of oil. And neither have the people I know that also own Hondas. Not challenging your veracity...just saying this is the first time I've heard that.
Gotta go wit da dawg on this one. We have had six Hondas, and none soiled either the garage or the driveway, and none required oil additions between changes.
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