The 1991 Honda Accord was equipped only with the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. Between the cylinder head and the block is a one-piece gasket designed to prevent coolant leaks and loss of cylinder compression. To avoid damaging the gasket when the cylinder head is installed, you must tighten the head's securing bolts in particular sequence. Take care not to tighten the bolts too much, which could damage the head, the engine block and the gasket.
Each of the ten head bolts must be tightened three times in sequence. Tighten all bolts to 29 foot-pounds of torque. Tighten all bolts a second time to 51 foot-pounds of torque. Finally, tighten all bolts to 78 foot-pounds of torque.
The Honda's cylinder head bolts must be tightened in a particular order. Each bolt location has an assigned number, which represents the order in which it must tightened. Note that there are five bolts along the front and back of the cylinder head. The middle bolt on the side of the head closest to the front of the car is bolt No.1. Working to the right of bolt No.1 are bolt Nos. 5 and 7. On the opposite side of bolt No.1 are bolt Nos. 3 and 9 if moving towards the left side of the head. The middle bolt on the side of the head closest to the windshield is bolt No.2. Working towards the right of bolt No.2 are bolt Nos. 4 and 10. On the opposite side of bolt No.2 are bolt Nos. 6 and 8 if moving towards the left side of the head.
Several different styles of torque wrenches are manufactured. Older styles have a metal needle that bends across a numbered scale just above the handle. Other designs features an adjustable handle. Surrounding the top of the handle is a numbered scale. The handle is rotated to a mark that is stamped into the body of the wrench. Modern designs feature a digital display. It is important to carefully follow the manufacturer's directions when using any of the three styles to avoid over-tightening the head bolt.
