How many miles before replacing an Honda car engine?

Answer 1

It depends on how well it has been taken care of and the kind of wear and tear it was subjected to. A car used primarily for long commutes will generally last longer than one used for short trips locally. The starts and stops, and the repeated hard acceleration that short trips see, will be harder on an engine, than would starting the car and driving for extended periods. Most of the wear on an engine occurs during the first 2 minutes as it warms and oils its internal parts. once started and warmed, it really doesnt wear much internally. 200K miles is not uncommon for a Honda. By the time an engine has 150K miles on it, it should have had at least one new timing belt and idler, as well as a couple spark plug changes and the valves adjusted. The cooling system should have been flushed and new coolant installed as well. As long as the engine hasn't been overheated, or abused by redlining it excessively (ie,teenage driving), it will suprise you with its durability. The dealer/owners manual will tell you to do way more than that, but unless you have a problem with a specific area, you should only need to do regular oil changes and air filter and belt replacements for the first several years. You should consider the cost of replacing parts as they fail on your old engine versus the cost of a rebuilt or used Japanese domestic engine swap. I just recently completed a swap on a 93 civic LX with 200K miles (and a thrown rod). I bought the car from a teenager who obviously abused it. I tore it down and saw no excessive wear on any internals...only the damage done from the rod smacking the block. (overrevving??) I purchased a used Japanese engine and re-used my fuel injection and exhaust, and all accessories (PS, A/C, Alternator), and as of the first 1K miles it works beautifully! I could go on all day about this subject, but what really tends to end an engines career is the age of the rubber seals and gaskets it uses. The steel parts can last extremely long. It is the front and rear main seals, and the oil pan gaskets, and the valve seals and head gaskets that limit lifespan the most. I'd say 200-250K miles at any age, or even 100K miles if over 15 years old, and you need to seriously consider engine replacement. And if the engine is "tired", you can imagine what the transmission is feeling.