Honda Civic: General Information and Maintenance Schedule
Keeping up to date with the maintenance on your vehicle will reward you with reliable and efficient transportation.
This article applies to the Honda Civic (1996-2000).
Honda offers a maintenance schedule that serves as a good reference point for when you should have your vehicle serviced. Depending on the service needed, it can be done as a DIY. Other services may require you to take the vehicle into a dealer service center or a reputable auto shop. There are slightly different service recommendations for the conditions in which you drive your Honda Civic or Del Sol. Read on for more on maintenance schedule for normal driving and severe driving conditions.
Normal Driving Conditions
These are scheduled maintenance intervals for the majority of Honda owners. Folks who feel like they drive in extreme conditions should also check out the "severe duty" service schedule. Most owners, however, should fit the normal driving condition profile. Staying on top of scheduled maintenance is pretty easy in the Hondas from this era. They're not terribly complicated and their engine bays are fairly roomy for the size of their motor. Stay on top of maintenance and this car should stay alive well past 200,000 miles.
Regular Maintenance Items
- Replace engine oil every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months (1 year)
- Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop
- Rotate tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
- Inspect Supplemental Restraint System (air bag) 10 years after production
- Visually inspect the following items every 15,000 miles, 42,000 km, or 12 months (1 year):
Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Cooling system hoses and connections
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connection(s)
Scheduled Maintenance
15,000 MILES, 24,000 KM, OR 12 MONTHS (1 YEAR)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
Figure 1. Replace oil filter. 
Figure 2. Inspect brake pads and rotors. 
Figure 3. Emergency brake adjustment.
30,000 MILES, 48,000 KM, OR 24 MONTHS (2 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace air cleaner element
- Inspect valve clearance at 30,000 miles (48,000 km) only
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (CVT)
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
Figure 4. Replace (or clean) dirty air filter. 
Figure 5. Remove spark plug.
45,000 MILES, 72,000 KM, OR 36 MONTHS (3 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace engine coolant
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Replace brake fluid
- Check parking brake adjustment
Figure 6. Replace engine coolant. 
Figure 7. Replace brake fluid.
60,000 MILES, 96,000 KM, OR 48 MONTHS (4 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace air cleaner element
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (CVT)
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
75,000 MILES, 120,000 KM, OR 60 MONTHS (5 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace engine coolant
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
90,000 MILES, 144,000 KM, OR 72 MONTHS (6 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace air cleaner element
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (MT/AT/CVT)
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Replace brake fluid
- Check parking brake adjustment
105,000 MILES, 168,000 KM, OR 84 MONTHS (7 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace timing belt and inspect water pump
- Inspect idle speed
- Replace engine coolant
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
120,000 MILES, 192,000 KM, OR 96 MONTHS (8 YEARS)
- Replace engine oil filter
- Replace air cleaner element
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (CVT)
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Check parking brake adjustment
Severe Driving Conditions
Honda has few criteria for what they consider "severe driving conditions." Most regular drivers will encounter some of these conditions in the course of normal driving, but they should only consider this maintenance schedule if they endure them regularly. Likewise, anyone regularly driving their Honda Civic hard (racing, autocrossing, mountain driving) should adhere to this maintenance schedule as well.
- Driving less than 5 miles (8 km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less than 10 (16 km) per trip
- Driving in over 90°F (32°C) conditions
- Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving
- Driving with a car-top carrier, or driving in mountainous conditions
- Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads
Regular Maintenance Items
- Replace engine oil and oil filter every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 6 months
- Check engine oil and coolant at each fuel stop
- Inspect front and rear brakes every 7,5000 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months
- Rotate tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
- Inspect Supplemental Restraint System 10 years after production
- Visually inspect the following items every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months:
Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
- Visually inspect the following items every 15,000 miles, 42,000 km, or 12 months (1 year):
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Cooling system hoses and connections
Exhaust system
Fuel lines and connections
Lights and controls
Vehicle underbody
Scheduled Maintenance
15,000 MILES, 24,000 KM, OR 12 MONTHS (1 YEAR)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
30,000 MILES, 48,000 KM, OR 24 MONTHS (2 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Inspect valve clearance at 30,000 miles (48,000 km) only
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (MT/AT/CVT)
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
45,000 MILES, 72,000 KM, OR 36 MONTHS (3 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace engine coolant
- Replace brake fluid
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
60,000 MILES, 96,000 KM, OR 48 MONTHS (4 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (MT/AT/CVT)
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
75,000 MILES, 120,000 KM, OR 60 MONTHS (5 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace engine coolant
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
90,000 MILES, 144,000 KM, OR 72 MONTHS (6 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (MT/AT/CVT)
- Inspect front and rear brakes
- Replace brake fluid
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
105,000 MILES, 168,000 KM, OR 84 MONTHS (7 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element (use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace timing belt and inspect water pump
- Inspect idle speed
- Replace engine coolant
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
120,000 MILES, 192,000 KM, OR 96 MONTHS (8 YEARS)
- Replace air cleaner element(use normal schedule except in dusty conditions)
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect and adjust drive belts
- Replace transmission fluid (MT/AT/CVT)
- Check parking brake adjustment
- Lubricate locks and hinges
- Clean antenna mast
Related Discussion and Site
- Honda Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) - HondaProblems.net
- Factory Service Intervals Honda Civic 1992-2000 - Honda-Tech.com
