one owner stock 88DX 4dr

Hi, I've been lurking here for a couple years and finally registered so I could use the search function! I have a 100% stock 88 DX 4dr 5 speed carb Accord that I bought new! in Dec '87. Currently has 142K miles on it. Well I know everything that has ever gone right or wrong with this car. It only left me stranded once when the fuel pump went out (sometime around 80kmiles)
I had a new clutch, timing belt and CV boots put on around '97 with 95k miles on it (yeah ,I used to drive it kind of hard but now I just baby it) most everything else was just routine maintanence.

About 3 years ago at around 130K miles it started running like crap: stumbling, started the puff of blue smoke on cold startup.... so I decided either put some work into it or get rid of it. I did a tuneup sparks, cables, dist cap & rotor. Switched oil to synthetic (1 qt redline 3 qt. M1 10w-30) and ran
some Redline SI-1 fuel system cleaner through it in some spirited driving.
Replaced the thermostat, PCV, and O2 sensor. I have been using Redline MTL in the transmission since around 100K ..all is well there and still have 5th gear!

This really cleaned it up! No kidding! Since switching to Synthetic I have not seen a single puff of blue smoke on startup and no oil consumption! This thing
has had an intermittant problem with low idle (200-300 rpm) since it was new! Just once every few months or so. Well it seems to have gone away completely except when it is just warming up for a few minutes ( like the high idle shuts off too soon) Only difference now (with synthetic) is the engine will actually idle at 250rpm without stalling! Once it warms up it runs as good (or better) as ever.

Well, I know most of you have alot more miles than mine. I used to commute around 5 miles to work in town driving and most of these miles have been short trip so they are a bit harder than highway. On my 3rd set of brake pads in front, original rotors are getting thin....

Only other issue is my front upper ball joints are bad, boot ripped and they have some play. I just got a set to replace from ebay "hyper4honda", hope they are decent quality and I won't need to replace them again. All the other suspension looks good: boots and tight. Oh yeah, last year I had to replace right axle and tie rod end.

My goal is simply to keep this thing on the road.
I usually get around 28mpg around town and 32-34 on hiway at 75-80mph.
My best milage ever in this car was 38mpg! last summer I took a trip
500 miles on a single tank! from California foothills, Grass Valley to the coast
via hiway 20. Well you rarely get over 55 mph on this 2 lane hiway so if you
can stand to drive 55-60mph I guess you can get really great gas milage!

OK sorry to ramble on about my boring stock 3g DX but I guess I'm a in the
minority here to have owned the car since new.

Thanks for all the good info I've found here in the last couple years and good luck with your 3geez. I'll post if I can contribute or can't find my answer on the search.
Gary

:welcome: sounds like your car has had a easy going history, i would love it if i could get 38mpg :)


oh yeah, and pics would be nice :)

Hmm Pics? Good side or Bad side?
Yeah, car body is perfect ...until a few years ago a crappie little Escort backs out into the middle of the road from behind a parked van and scrapes up the right side from front quarter panel to rear quarter panel. Technically the car is 'totaled' although I drove away. Insurance adjuster cut me a check for $2500 and I kept it. Well, at least nobody messes with me if I want to change lanes on the right!
I have a digital camera coming soon (xmas) so I'll hose the mud off the wheel well and post a pic. Yeah, this is my cream puff beater car! Last year it served to haul 2 chords of wood (in the trunk) from the front yard to the side yard. I need a truck but I don't want one. This thing is much more fun to drive.

Ok, I better shut up before I get in trouble here for abuse!

sounds like you have a nice car....post some pics of it.

sounds like shes a bute. i got an 89 dx carb im the second owner it was old lady owned so shes real clean :)
oh and :welcome:

:welcome:

don't wory your giving it some loving so it gives you the loving back some times its better to leave the dents alone and just do rueteen rust maintenance and it should last you a long time

get us some pics:rockon: of the loved 88DX as soon as your new camera arvies lol


in 5th gear at 55mph you can get upt to 60mpg with a tail wind