OK, so now I have a tap appearing at idle. I assume its valve related, but w/an OHC, its not a rocker arm. My CRX had a whole valve cover full of knocks at idle - this sounds like 1 valve. Is this common & should I get it taken care of ASAP?

 

The valve tappets are just like rocker arms. There's an adjustment screw at one end. On SOHC Accords the valve lash is measured at the valve stem, not at the camshaft lobe. Check & adjust when cold. Lash should be printed on a sticker under the hood.

 

I'd give this a shot:

1) engine flush
2) Marvel Mystery Oil
3) after 3000 mi, engine flush at normal idle for 5 minutes