My '08 recently started "chugging" at stoplights or otherwise in idle. It feels like the engine is going to die, but it doesn't.

Sparkplugs? I'm hoping so. I'm taking it to the shop next week, but PLEASE tell me I don't have a huge repair bill on my hands.

 

Need more info. How many miles would help. Assuming it's over 100K it's overdue for plugs and valve adjustment. Huge is relative but that's gonna run you $400+

 

It's at around 67,000 right now.

 

Too soon for plugs or valve adjustment. Take it in for diagnosis...

 

Could be bad gas... If it's running terribly I'd get it diagnosed and if they conclude this it's as simple as draining and filling with fresh good gas.

Otherwise I'd live with it and buy at a nice clean shiny gas station for the next few tanks and see if it improves...

 

I thought of bad gas too, but I've been going to the same station forever and never had a problem. Still, it could be a one-off. It's also not consistently bad, sometimes it will chug a lot and sometimes hardly at all. Good thing the mechanic is right next door to work.

 

Is it worse after the first cold start, then gets better as the car runs for a few minutes or more? If so, you probably need a valve adjustment. It's not too soon for a valve adjustment.

 

No, it actually seems worse the longer the car runs.

 

Its never too soon for valve clearance adjustment, especially when chuffing is experienced at idle. Anyone who thinks valve clearances are good for any specified miles doesn't now much about internal combustion engines with mechanical valve actuation.

 

Never, ever, think a station has consistent gasline. They are at the mercy of distributors and the refineries who make the gas and consistency has bever been their strong suit. Still in this case I'm going with valves, adjustment or guides. And if you got to 67k without a valve adjustment you're way past due. now spark plugs are investigatable but secondary possibilty. Thats where OBD II comes to use.

 

I'll go with Honda's engineers on valve adjustment intervals. Of course, if diagnosis calls for it earlier I wouldn't rule it out...