Car Model History

Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991) · 1988–1991

1990Honda Civic

Lower, wider, with double-wishbone suspension. In Japan the SiR gained the B16A VTEC engine — the start of the VTEC performance era. US model years 1988–1991.

Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991)

1990 Honda Civic — gray sedan, front three-quarter view

Photo: “File:1990 Honda Civic DX Sedan in Pewter Gray Metallic Clearcoat, front right, 08-15-2022.jpg” by Cutlass / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1990 Honda Civic model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1990 Civic

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

1factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

1versions shown
Three-door hatchback

Honda Civic DX Three-door hatchback

Body
Three-door hatchback
Engine
1.5-liter inline-four
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1990 model year

Overview

The 1990 Honda Civic belongs to the fourth-generation EF. In US-market context, this year sits within the low, double-wishbone EF chassis and four-valve engine era. Exact equipment, engine availability, and emissions calibration varied by body style, trim, state, and build date.

Specifications

Engines
  • 1.5 L inline-four
  • 1.6 L inline-four
Transmissions
Manual, Automatic
Body styles
Three-door hatchback, Four-door sedan, Five-door wagon

Year over year

What changed

  • Detail and trim revisions updated the EF Civic.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • 1990 is part of Honda's fourth-generation EF; market-specific performance models should not be assumed to have been sold in the United States.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1990 Civic, condition and documented maintenance matter more than the nameplate's general reputation. Check the VIN for open recalls, confirm the installed engine and transmission, and compare service history with Honda's year-specific schedule.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1990 Civic on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1990 Honda Civic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
9
Factory intervals
8
Fitment-scoped
9
Exact references
2

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — engine oil and oil filter · checked

  • Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 6 months · Replace with engine oil; whichever comes first.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — engine oil and oil filter · checked

    1.5L — cataloged oil filter

    Baldwin lists B227 for the 1.5 L inline-four Civic row; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.

    Applies to: 1990 · 1.5 L inline-four · United States · 1.5 L inline-four only.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 312, Honda 1990 Civic rows — 1.5 L inline-four row — Lube — B227 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    1.6L — cataloged oil filter

    Baldwin lists B161-S for the 1.6 L inline-four Civic row; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.

    Applies to: 1990 · 1.6 L inline-four · United States · 1.6 L inline-four only.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 312, Honda 1990 Civic rows — 1.6 L inline-four row — Lube — B161-S · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Engine air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first; severe dusty service is more frequent.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — air cleaner · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — spark plugs · checked

  • Timing belt and water-pump inspection

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 90,000 mi / 144,000 km / 72 months · Replace belt and inspect water pump; whichever comes first.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — timing belt/water pump · checked

  • Transmission fluid

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Confirm automatic/manual fluid specification before ordering.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — transmission oil/fluid · checked

  • Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 45,000 mi / 72,000 km / 36 months · Initial replacement; then every 30,000 miles/24 months.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — radiator/engine coolant · checked

  • Brake fluid

    Sourced interval available

    US 1990 gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule.

    Applies to: 1990 · US · Gasoline Civic Sedan under Honda's normal-conditions schedule; GX, Hybrid, Si, other body styles, and severe service require their own schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 24 months · Whichever comes first.

    Source: 1990 Civic Hatchback/Sedan Owner's Manual — required maintenance schedule · Required Maintenance Schedule — brake fluid · checked

  • Fuel filter

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin lists BF1120 for both cataloged Civic engine rows; this establishes fitment only, not a service interval.

    Applies to: 1990 · 1.5 L inline-four, 1.6 L inline-four · United States · Cataloged 1.5L and 1.6L Civic applications.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog (2017) · Printed catalog page 312, Honda 1990 Civic rows — Fuel — BF1120 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Honda Global — Civic heritage and 40th-anniversary history
  2. Honda Global — 75 Years of Honda History: automobile business
  3. Honda Owners — owner manuals and maintenance information
  4. NHTSA — VIN recall lookup
  5. Wikipedia — "Honda Civic"

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All Fourth generation · EF (1988–1991) years →

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