Answer me this do I honestly just drive too hard or do the older honda's have constant problems with the gaskets and seals not holding very well or for very long? It doesn't help that I'm working as a driver at Domino's but still ya know.

 

It really all comes down to maintenance and yes how you treat your car.

My 00 Civic Si I purchased new started with 40 moles and I put 80k miles on it but I autocrossed it for 6 years straight. The only thing that I had to change out was the clutch as it died before I sold it. That's 350+ autocrosses, 2 track days, 2 drag races (at Honda Day), and 80k daily driving miles. I kept up on her like she was my baby. Changed oil every 5000 miles, filter every 3000 miles, coolant every year, tranny fluid every year, belts, water pump, alternator at 70k, flushed the brake fluid every year, etc....

My 93 Civic Si which I have now just turned 216k and I purchased it when it had 204k miles. I just recently changed the seals and about to do the belts and head gasket. I do not know what the owner did to the car before, but I'm slowly working out the gremlins.

 

In my experience it has more to do with the up-keep of the cars than how they're driven, within reason.

When you say gaskets I immediately think of head gasket, which in most cases (at least on Hondas) have problems due to overheating and not so much mileage/old age.

There are so many older Hondas out there that don't have a working radiator fan, old-ass coolant, etc. that it's a wonder that more of them don't have serious issues as it is.

Overheating issues or just running hot (even if the gauge isn't near the red) along with some people not changing the oil regularly enough will lead to sludge and varnish to build up which can shorten the life of the seals.

I'd rather buy a used car that was raced occasionally but had been properly maintained than one that was a grandma's daily-driver but was neglected as is usually the case with used cars.

 

Example: Currently I have to replace my rear main oil seal between the engien and the trany. My oil pan gasket might have to be replaced as well it's a 95 civic I had to replace the engien cause the old one when I bought it was all kind's of messed up. low compression in the second cylinder, 2 oil leaks and blow by at high rpm. It would have cost me the same to fix it as it would to replace it so I just replaced it. so far i've only had this problem. When I got the car it had some where around 89k on it now i'm up to 130k and when i dropped in the new stock engine i was at 115k *shrug* i just need to stop doing pizzia delivery ya know.