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I just bought a 2004 civic LX with 208,000km on it. Everything runs great on it, changed the oil and put new spark plugs in but there is a sputtering when I accelerate. It is consistent with the RPM's. At idle and say when downshifting there is no sputtering, and the car doesn't bog down and I don't feel as if it is being sluggish, only when I step on the gas it putts away. Any suggestions on where to start to solving this problem?
Thanks in advance!

 
Rep Power: 517

Your use of the word 'sputtering' may be misleading, the word may mean one thing to you but the mental picture drawn in my head may be completely different.


Cracked exhaust manifold?

 
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Hmmm besides sputtering I would say it's making a "putt putt" sound that is consistent with the RPM's. I was driving it around today and could smell exhaust when sitting at idle in a parking lot. Will take a look at the manifold for cracks, thanks!

 
Rep Power: 517

The raw exhaust smell will be coming from the manifold area, and it should not be.

Either cracked manifold or leaking between manifold and cylinder head.