I am getting a rough idle sometimes.. and around 15-16 MPG, oh.. and it sputters occasionally when I start it... It is a 1991 honda accord station wagon, 2.2L FI Naturally aspirated engine, automatic trans, but I'm sure you all knew that..... I should be getting at minimum 19 or 20MPG, considering the fact that I basically did an engine rebuild around three months ago and replaced all the exhaust valves among tons of other repairs and maintenance items (listed below)..
I also took around a 2500 mile trip around three months ago to visit family in a different state (2500 miles each way, drove around 200 miles a day during the trip.. and it lasted two weeks so 7000 miles minimum) (the trip is what caused an exhaust valve to bend AND break, around three days into the trip, so I drove around 3500 miles on three cylinders... don't judge me, I had no choice.. It just goes to show that Honda made immortal engines from 90-97.)

Recent Repairs/maintenance (Within the last six months)
EGR cleaning
air filter replacement
oil change (and seafoam)
transmission fluid change and flush (using chemicals, not a machine)
replaced all exhaust valves
tune up: (spark plug gaps, dielectric grease on all major connections)
Intake gasket change (all of the gaskets), and intake cleaning (TONS of sludge, cleaned it all out)
Cleaned throttle body.
Lacquer thinner became my Best friend...
O2 sensor changed
Coolant changed
During the exhaust valve replacement, nearly every gasket having to do with the engine was replaced, a few fuel injectors were replaced (not new ones, I replaced them with ones from the junkyard)

281,xxx miles.

It also shifts from 1st to second at around 2.8k revs, second to third at around 3.2k Revs, and third to fourth at around 2.7k Revs... And it seems to want to downshift if I'm going up any kind of hill.. I never floor it, and I usually let my foot off the gas and let it shift around 2.5k Revs. While I **** people off in traffic, It seems to make for better fuel economy.. Then again, I'm getting the kind of gas mileage a V10 gets.. X.x


props to you if you read everything, please help? ^.^

 

You need to compression test the engine to see what kind of shape it is in. Normally engines will go for a long time provided the timing belt doesn't slip or break, you do regular oil changes and oil is atleast at the minimum level, the engine never overheats, and you never overrev the engine.

 

Did you do the rebuild yourself? Like holmesnmanny said you need to check your compression. The one thing I question is if the timing belt is in time. The only way you would bend a valve is if you slap a piston. What specifically did you rebuild?

 

I didnt really rebuild the whole engine, but I did a valve job which means I had to replace the head gasket and nearly every other gasket under the hood.. I think the total ended up being something crazy like 40? .. During that time, I cleaned the pistons, chambers, and intake valves along with checking the head and block for warpage.
I use full synthetic oil and it's always topped off ( I check it daily).. I need to check the timing, but I don't have the minimum of 50 bucks to pay a mechanic for it.

 

I made this specifically for you! But here is guide for your timing belt. Check your compression also and get back to us. Let me know if you have any questions.