How many miles do you guys get out of your distributor rotors? I have a stock setup on an 00 SI and it seems like after 10,000 miles the rotor contact point is toast. The stated replacement interval is 20,000 miles but I dont see how that is possible.

 

What do you mean by toast? Is it corroded?

 

Toast = 90% of the metal contact strip is scorched brown. Pretty normal looking from 20 years of hondas. I've just never had them wear so quickly.

 

The soot has to be coming from somewhere. Either air is getting in or something in/on the cap or rotor is burning. You might try sealing the cap better with some dielectric grease on the rubber gasket. A weak spark increases corrosion of the rotor and cap terminals but if they were well insulated then you might get soot after awhile instead. Just for kicks you may want to test the spark and grounds. Have you tried different brands of rotors and caps?

 

I'm not sure that makes any sense. Distributor caps are vented. There's air getting in there all the time.

 

For both Honda sohc and dohc, I know numerous people that went 50k miles or more on an OEM cap and rotor. Much like the fuel filter, its a forgotten piece of maintenance. I try and keep mine and the other Hondas I work on changed every 20k-30k. Believe it or not, I dont seem to notice a change in performance/mpg's after the new parts, go figure.

edit: The contacts on the cap and rotor will discolor and show carbon buildup, and it seems to form rather quickly. Dont be fooled by it, its normal.

 

If the engine run's good leave it alone. If you feel the need to spend money. Buy a new cap and rotor and keep it handy for when you really need them.

IMO today's cars car go at least 60,000 miles before you need to replace those parts.

I think the 92Si I replaced them at 60,000.

FYI it's best to use OEM parts for the replacement. There cheap enough.

 

Yea, I've used nothing but OEM caps and rotors at $15 a piece. Usually the issue is roughness at high RPM's and having to crank it over a few times when starting. When I replace the cap and rotor, both issues immediately go away.

I will try to post a photo of the rotor.

 

I've seen people put well over 150,000 miles on a stock honda cap and rotor.

 

Mine has about 100k+ on it right now.