1994 Civic EX - 1.6 V-TEC - Is this an interference engine?

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jim L - 25 Jul 2008 06:30 GMT

I just bought this car - runs great - 177K miles, and the timing belt was
supposedly changed at 144K. Aside from some creature comfort issues and
what sounds like a noisy rear strut bushing everything seems sound
mechanically. I plan on pulling top timing cover to check belt for wear,
but would rather be safe than sorry if this is an interference engine. How
do i find out?

Jim

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Elle - 25 Jul 2008 11:21 GMT

Your Civic has an interference engine. Surf www.gates.com
for info. There is a time and miles limit for timing belts,
so if possible, find what year the timing belt was changed
as well.

Belt inspection will not reveal belt age. You need to know
miles and years on the belt.

>I just bought this car - runs great - 177K miles, and the
>timing belt was supposedly changed at 144K. Aside from
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>but would rather be safe than sorry if this is an
>interference engine. How do i find out?

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jim beam - 25 Jul 2008 13:52 GMT

> I just bought this car - runs great - 177K miles, and the timing belt was
> supposedly changed at 144K. Aside from some creature comfort issues and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Jim

there aren't any reliable visual indicators. and unless you know for
sure a honda belt was used last time, you need to be careful anyway. if
in doubt, swap it out. it's worth the few extra bucks for the honda
parts because they are more reliable and fit better.

regarding interference engine, yes it is. i'm not sure exactly why
people regard this as a huge deal on cars - every diesel you'll ever see
on the road is interference, and nobody complains there. changing the
belt on schedule is the price you pay for performance /and/ fuel economy
from /one/ engine - it more than pays for itself.

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jim L - 25 Jul 2008 14:00 GMT

> regarding interference engine, yes it is. i'm not sure exactly why people
> regard this as a huge deal on cars - every diesel you'll ever see on the
> road is interference, and nobody complains there.

Hi Jim - the reason interference matters is because if belt breaks on one
while engine is running valves contact pistons causing bent valves, damage
to guides and sometimes even piston damage. a lot more expense and
trouble.
If the belt breaks on a non int. engine, you just get it towed & change the
belt and go.
Jim.

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jim beam - 25 Jul 2008 15:17 GMT

>> regarding interference engine, yes it is. i'm not sure exactly why people
>> regard this as a huge deal on cars - every diesel you'll ever see on the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> belt and go.
> Jim.

er, i was aware of that. my point was, people come to these groups
bleating about gasoline engines and interference, yet diesels, which are
interference by definition, are never criticized. it makes no sense.

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Backwoodz Tuner - 26 Jul 2008 09:10 GMT

> >> regarding interference engine, yes it is. i'm not sure exactly why people
> >> regard this as a huge deal on cars - every diesel you'll ever see on the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> bleating about gasoline engines and interference, yet diesels, which are
> interference by definition, are never criticized. it makes no sense.

Like it was posted before in doubt change it, no matter what the
mileage or previous owner said, could be BS , its jus good to swap it
for a new one. It'll keep your honda running good for thousands of
miles more. When you go to do it a few other parts also gets replaced
during the process. Such as a new water pump and timing belt
tensioner, jus a few more expenses to think about when you do the job.

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Tegger - 26 Jul 2008 12:48 GMT

>> regarding interference engine, yes it is. i'm not sure exactly why
>> people regard this as a huge deal on cars - every diesel you'll ever
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> change the belt and go.
> Jim.

It's not a given that valve damage will occur with an interference engine.
It's just that there is an increased chance of valve damage. I've seen a
number of people with Hondas that have had a belt break, sometimes at
highway speeds, with no valve damage.

There are engines out there that are "officially" non-interference, but
become interference once some carbon builds up on the piston tops. The
Toyota 5E-FE is one of those.

Signature

Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

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Justbob30 - 26 Jul 2008 18:38 GMT

Jim, since you are a month ahead of everyone else, I would say you have a
good grasp on the future.

> I just bought this car - runs great - 177K miles, and the timing belt
> was supposedly changed at 144K. Aside from some creature comfort issues
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Jim

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jim L - 26 Jul 2008 23:07 GMT

> Jim, since you are a month ahead of everyone else, I would say you have a
> good grasp on the future.

Sometimes it helps to look back & see where i screwed up so I don't do it .
Either that - or I used adjust date/time as a calendar, & hit ok instead
of cancel

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