I have 1993 Accord SE 2.2 Engine. The car seems to shift fine, but has no power. It was slow to accelerate and hit only 3500 RPM's. At various speeds I put it in neutral and reved the engine to the point it should have red lined. Still it hit only 3500 rpms. Then I checked the plugs. The 2nd plug was covered with oil and the 3rd one had a little oil on it. Someone suggested I change the seals for the spark plug sleeves located inside the valve cover gasket. At the same time I changed the distributor cap, rotor, plugs and
PCV valve. I didn't change the wires, they looked okay. When I test drove it again, I got up to 4000 RPM's - but still slow to accelerate with a low top speed. Could it be a vacuum problem or . . . what? Thanks for any help
you can offer!

 

Could be a vaccuum line issue. I would try replacing all the vacuum lines on the intake. Are your spark plug wires in the correct order? (Dont mean to ask this simple of a question, it is a possibility).

 

also when you changed the cap and rotor did notice any Rust around the Distributor ?

 

Any CEL?

 

It could also be a bad cat. If you change the spark plug seals, do the ones under the vavle train also.

 

oil onthe plugs is bad. Could be spark plug seals. If you have oil on your plugs then it mightnot spark right, causing bogging. CHeck your ground also, and vacuum lines. Then do a compression check .

 

The spark plug wires are in the correct order. I will do a visual check of the intake vacuum lines. Thanks.

 

There was no rust around the distributor. Thanks.

 

I'm assuming you meant the catilytic converter. I didn't realize that would cause a lack of power. I checked the vacuum lines and they appeared to be okay. After changing the plugs and test driving I pulled them again and the tips were dry. There was a very small amount of oil on the threads of a couple plugs, which tells me there is still a seal problem somewhere. Since the tip of the plugs stayed dry I must have gotten good firing. I'll keep looking for the culprit . . . .

 

It sounds to me that you have a restriction in your air intake or exhaust path, that is causing the motor to "run out of breath" as the rpms rise.

Does the motor rev until 3500 then stop and will not rev any higher (computer controlled)? Or does the motor rev up like its not getting any air, then just accelerates barely enough to pass 3500 rpms?

In addition, oil on the spark plugs is not good, but I'm thinking the problem has to do with the motor not getting enough air or not getting rid of it quick enough out the exhaust.
Is your timing off at all?
Clogged/dirty/wet air filter?
Obstruction in intake path (before filter, in resonator) like leaves, etc?
Obstruction in exhaust path (CC, bent pipe, etc)

I don't think its a loose vacuum line or a cracked line, as this would lead to TOO much air getting into the motor, which would be the opposite of what you are experiencing.