hey...my car's getting along in yrs...and i just busted 100k...so i was wondering what tips u guys had for keeping it running alive and well...how bout switching to valvoline maxlife

 

go get a major tune up and valvoline maxlife would create a better seal (thicker) for your engine.

 

Have you changed your timing belt yet?

 

Timing belt - definitely. Along with water pump since its right in there.

PS fluid. I've never seen it scheduled in the owner's manual for any car.

I've taken cars to pretty high mileage, around 200k, and never used anything like that maxlife oil. IMHO you don't use that stuff unless you observe some reason in your car. Like deteriorating oil pressure, seals leaking, or something real. Not 'just because' its old.

Get yourself emotionally prepared to start replacing major stuff. Steering pumps, racks, AC compressors, etc. I wouldn't change anything until it breaks, but 100k or 150k is an average lifespan for some of that stuff.

Crawl underneath & take a REAL good inspection for body corrosion. Be brutally honest with yourself about how long the body is gonna last. Keep that in mind for next time something major breaks.

 

regular tune ups, and I'm a big fan of true synthetic oils. As for body corrosions, you should be fine most likely unless you live in a really salty humid area.

- Nathan

 

forgot to mention it's an auto

 

o...as for humidity...i moved it out to la from chitown...so...i had snow/rain/humidity all that junk...had some nasty rust on the rear 1/4s...but i got all of my rust decently fixed w/ my paint job

 

ps fluid is easy.. get a small hose, ie one use for ur fish tank, suck it out, pour new ones in.. drive around, let fluid circulate, do it a few times and it'll be nice and clean

When my alternator failed in 80k, I replace the alternator, the timing belt, water pump and the accessory belt.. Its also a good time to get your UR pulleys install if you want more power

 

suck it out?...i really hope u don't mean w/ ur mouth...don't know much about pulleys...i only have i/e...would the pulleys really be beneficial?...what would u recommend

 

This is TRUE....

Mine has 145k and it is nickel and dime-ing me to death. $100 here $200 there....one thing after another. It's still a great car and the engine probably has another 100k on it if it is taken care of...but shit, you get tired of fixing the fkg thing. Next thing to go is the AC compressor...starting to make a strange noise when you first turn it on (AC Clutch maybe...i dunno) and I think the 1st gear synchro is starting to go (doesnt like to shift into 1st at an idle i.e. stoplight)

Probably gonna trade her in in January or so. Doesn't make since to just sink tons and tons of $$$$ into something that old. But I must say, she has served me well.

Don't let me rain on your parade though...it's still a VERY dependable car and I will be sad to get rid of it. The new Honda's don't handle like the 4th gen did. Not nearly as tight IMO.