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
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sounds like your car has had a easy going history, i would love it if i could get 38mpg 
of the loved 88DX as soon as your new camera arvies lol
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