PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

That is, with no major repairs?

If you don't know my Integra GS-R is now 12 years old and is nearing 240,000 miles. It's still running on the original engine, and the original transmission. I've owned the car since 89,000 miles, and to my knowledge the engine itself has never been opened up or had any internal work done on it.

The car still runs great, gets 32mpg highway (probably better if I would replace the original O2 sensor still in it), and there is no significant oil loss between my 3K mile oil change intervals. I do still rev it up on occasion, close to 8K RPM, maybe a few times a week. All maintenance and parts replacement over the years has been done by me. I replaced the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and ALL front end oil seals at 179K miles. I replaced my clutch and flywheel at 135K miles and will probably have to do it again here sometime before next summer.

I have been using Valvoline MaxLife 5w30 oil for well over 100,000 miles, changing it every 3K miles, along with STP oil filters. I have been using GM Synchromesh Friction Modified fluid in my transmission for over 70,000 miles now, and I change it about every 25K miles or so. I usually flush my cooling system about once a year or so.

There is just a slight touch of RPM fluctuation at idle, but it's usually just up and down from 600-750 RPM, only a very small fluctuation. There is no noticeable coolant loss, and the car does not smoke to my knowledge.

My question is, just how long will it keep going? Would there be any warning signs if any catastrophic failure were about to happen, like a spun crank or rod bearing, or worse, throwing a rod through the block? I just don't want to be stranded somewhere. This is my only car, and unfortunately I can't afford to get anything else right now (although I really want a TSX really bad).

And another thing, what about suspension parts like balljoints? My car still has all the original ball joints on the front suspension, except the tie rod ends and ball joints are only a year old. I have not seen any torn balljoint boots or any leaking grease. I just don't want something breaking while I'm driving, again leaving me stranded somewhere. I like to travel and go on road trips when I can afford it, and my worst fear is something happening while I'm far away from home. Are there any signs other than the obvious torn boots or leaking grease that the balljoints might need to be replaced?

I probably do need to replace all my suspension bushings (they're still all the original rubber) but I don't really want polyurethane, and I don't want to pay the price of OEM Honda replacement rubber ones.

Anybody have any thoughts, suggestions? I know people on here have taken Integras beyond 300K miles, and that's great, but I don't really need to know that. I just need to know if there's anything I should be concerned about, anything I should do, fix, or replace, to ensure my car continues to be as impeccably reliable as it has been for the past 5 years and 150K miles.

ykracing

wow, thats a lot of miles...
but, thats why I love hondas...

Anyway, the first thing that comes to mind for me, is tie-rod ends, and ball joints.
Those will destroy the car if they break while driving...

other than that, I would keep driving it and fix the little stuff when it breaks.

non-VTEC

keep your eye on the front and rear lower control arm bushings. they seem to wear out especially after that many miles and age. and of course keep your eyes on the ball joints and tie rod ends.

other than that i would not worry about any major engine damage/failure unless you really abuse the **** out of the thing everyday. engine failure would be the absolute last thing you should ever worry about especially if you do frequent oil changes with good oils and filters.

keep up the maintenance and enjoy the ride.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Yeah the tie rod ends are less than a year old. I went ahead and replaced them because my tie rod boots were torn and needed replacement anyway.

And if the LCA bushings wear out that won't cause the suspension to fall apart, I don't think. But the ball joints, is there any way to know for sure they need replacement, if the boots are still intact?

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

any more thoughts?

Heretic:Si

kind of off topic but there is an '85 prelude that comes to the dealership with 490,000 miles he does all the routine stuff everyone above has stated and his car runs great. he never drives it in the winter either so the body is pretty mint.

non-VTEC

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> But the ball joints, is there any way to know for sure they need replacement, if the boots are still intact?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you need to check the ball joints for play. they should have none. even if the boots are still in good shape they joint can get worn out.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

You mean like when the ball joint is unbolted, move the stud around and see if it's stiff or if there is any free movement?

I most recently had my lower ball joints disconnected from the lower control arms, maybe a few months ago, and if I remember there wasn't any play in the movement of the ball joint stud as I was trying to guide it back into the hole in the LCA. But the upper balljoints, I've never disconnected those before.

11SecCrx

is this car still alive?

non-VTEC

ya im pretty sure patrick is still driving this car.....

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

lol yup, still kickin'... 15 yrs old now, 277K+ miles. Leaks zero oil and burns very very little. I was only 1/2 quart low or less after 3K miles the last time I changed my oil.

94EG8

Correct

No, you have to pry (with a large bar) between the lower control arm and the lower ball joints, if there is any play the ball joint is bad, checking the upper ball joints is more or less the same.

rick_rabies

the most miles ever go to a 72 volvo. 2 million miles

CRX T-Si

When anyone mention life of a Honda one thing always comes to my mind...the Distributor.

Maybe I have bad luck but I had a few that broke on me on long trips. Just check it for internal play.

You should check your wheel bearings as well, very easy to check and it does not hurt since you said you will check your ball joints.

fastrxu

you guys know this is from three years ago right?

He just came back and posted to update on the mileage of his car and wether it's alive or not.

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Holy crap man (after another EIGHT years), 360,000 miles now and STILL running!! lol who knew I would keep a car for over 16 years! Original engine and gearbox still, only minor head work done during head gasket replacement about 3-4 years ago.

holmesnmanny

If Ford's can go a million miles so can Hondas. As long as you never let the car overheat and the oil never gets low and is changed normally.

ratchetEDsedan

My 91 Civic had 501k on the clock when I bought it. The kid I bought it from said he got it from his grandpa (original owner) like two years before I got it, which was a year ago this month. Kid said that his grandpa had just rebuilt the engine before kid got it. I don't know how true that is, because it was running like ****, going through a quart of oil in about 300 miles. But if it was true then the original engine went from 91, to 2014, and assuming 10k was put on the car every for the two years the kid had it, that would put the original engine at about 480k.
Funny though, when I bought the car I had my girlfriend at the time hold the revs at around 4k, and I was watching smoke pour out of the tail pipe. I turn to the kid and he's like, "Is that bad?"