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General VTEC Questions...

Joined
2 February 2003
Messages
66
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Had a couple general questions...

The VTEC on my 03 NSX feels real different than other Honda cars with VTEC I have driven...

My mother drives a 03 TL Type S and a bit after 5k RPM, you can here the VTEC kickin and the engine is noticeable louder and deeper with an extra kick in accelleration... I've felt the same push at VTEC after driving a new S2000 and a 95 Prelude VTEC...

However, my NSX doesnt do any of that.. I dont feel the VTEC really kick in arpund 5k RPM and the engine barely changes tone..

Is there something wrong or is this an older VTEC system on the NSX and this is how all NSX's are?

Appreciate the info in advance...
 
I had a 99 prelude and I too noticed the difference when I bought my NSX. I think the difference is in the NSX cam. There is only a 1.2mm increase in lift on the vtec lobe and around 32.5 degrees increase in duration. I think this is why the NSX engine is a much smoother transition into Vtec than other honda engines. I here that with Comptech cams installed in the NSX you get that kick in the pants feel when the bigger cam lobe engages in Vtec. If I am off someone step in and make corrections please..:rolleyes:
 
With all the stock cars, the big difference at the VTEC crossover point is basically only in sound; the torque and acceleration hardly change at all (even though the louder sound makes it seem otherwise).

However, the difference in sound is indeed less on the NSX than on my other VTEC cars (Integra GS-R and particularly Integra Type R).
 
I have never really noticed the VTEC sound until I was cruisin in 5th gear going down the turnpike and decided to have some fun. I put it in fourth and climbed to VTEC range. As soon as I hit VTEC, I did notice a change in tone...not louder, but it made it sound more 'aggresive' I guess...

Someone told me the V6 Hondas have the quietest VTEC of all. He knows his Hondas pretty well, so I took his word for it...it made sense.

That same kid though told me that when I was racing some kid (he was still in staging), he could definetly hear VTEC kick in from behind the car.
 
IS300nowNSXsoon said:
Had a couple general questions...

The VTEC on my 03 NSX feels real different than other Honda cars with VTEC I have driven...

My mother drives a 03 TL Type S and a bit after 5k RPM, you can here the VTEC kickin and the engine is noticeable louder and deeper with an extra kick in accelleration... I've felt the same push at VTEC after driving a new S2000 and a 95 Prelude VTEC...

However, my NSX doesnt do any of that.. I dont feel the VTEC really kick in arpund 5k RPM and the engine barely changes tone..

I've noticed the same thing after driving the S2000. The S2000 has an "on and off" feeling when the VTEC kicks in vs. the NSX which feels much smoother.
 
The Civic Si coupe has the largest VTEC change over sensation I have ever experienced. At autocrosses you can notably hear it from yards away. I have driven my friends S2000 a few times and his you can hear and feel as well. My 98 NSX I can barely feel, or hear for that matter. The only times it has been noticeable for me was on the dyno, and also accelerating hard uphill. I think while going up hill the additional load on the engine exaggerates the sensation when the cam switches, in my case I was in 2nd gear going up a very big hill:D:D
 
Hi

Going into Vtec with my 93 Prelude made a crazy sound and also a kick. I had a full DCSport on it too.

The NSX is not like that, but a more aggressive sound..rather a transation into a aggressive tone compared to the Prelude's on/off sound

Regards
 
I note that 5k is being mentioned in connection with the cam mechanism switch-over. I believe that 6k is the actual point.

The 1st time I experienced the VTEC, it came as advertised at 6k precisely and sounded as if the muffler had sprung a sudden leak. The hp increase seemed slight, but I was in 4th. I imagine VTEC initiation in a lower gear would seem more substantial...
 
LOL...i was just on S2ki.com and switched to prime real quick, and i see the s2k being mentioned and my mind stayed in S2ki.com realm...jeez man, I was ready to say "This board is being overrun by NSX'ers now!!" LMAO Sorry, I found that funny! :)

Anyways, VTEC on the SI is very very nice!!! The integra GSR too. I haven't been in an S2k but I hear with an exhaust set up, its very loud compared to the normal tone.
 
I think the S2000 is the most dramatic Vtec I have driven. My old Civic Si was pretty dramatic too, but to me the S2000 felt similar to the Si until Vtec. The S2000 EXPLODES above 6000rpm and you feel that tq (that little tq:)) push you back. It is geared perfect also. I enjoyed it.

The NSX is much more gradual, but it feels great. Even the CTSC feels gradual to me... just a lot more power.
 
NetViper said:
Even the CTSC feels gradual to me... just a lot more power.

It should feel exactly the same as your car did stock, cause it is proportionate to the crankshaft. Now with a turbo, you can definately feel the torque increase in a very small rpm increment. Some turbo's dyno lines are almost vertical when full boost hits.
 
my experience with vtec's

i drive a 5th gen prelude, and when i first got it.. the vtec was really strong, and sound was very nice. but now, its like.. old or somethin, and the sound isn't as nice, but you'll still feel the "push back"

my bro had a gs-r, and it was gutted, and i/e/h that thing sounded like a beast compared to h22 vtec. it just screamed till fuel cut off. the engine note wasn't as smooth tho... just the loudness was scary.

civic si (b16) man, it might be me... but i don't like that vtec. is it the power? cause it just feels like i'm goin nowhere when it hits vtec. the push back isn't noticable.. jsut the lift and rapid climbing of rpm is noticed. :confused: this is with a full catback too.

rsx-type s : since its new ivtec, its cvt.. so i don't even feel vtec kick in.. nor doyou hear the changeover. the ride is just comfortable and cabin noise is very subtle so it makes it twice as hard to hear it. since they stuck a 2.0L in it, the kick back you may experience from the tq. but the car is stock, so maybe with intake it'll be louder.

for itrs i heard it is really crazy. and for the TL, and CLs, they are SOHC motors, so its kinda different when you compare it to a dohc vtec.

from my personal hearing of a nsx engine (2002+ model) it seems a lot better then all the cars i've driven. i was walking in SoHo (nyc) when i hear this noise, (cross between ninja bike/race car) i knew it wasn't a normal car. i try to find out what car is making that noise... and what do i find, a yellow nsx flying down houston. the exhaust note was soooooo nice... the engine noise, i'm assuming was 1st gear vtec since he wasn't go that fast, since traffic... but boy was that sound nice. that's when i decided i must have that NOISE! =)
 
My wifes Civic Type R (2.0L, 200 HP) really kicks the VTEC in at 6krpm. It explodes from 6krpm to 8krpm. This car really has two engines under the hood. It is almost the S2k she had before.
 
Here is a plot of a dyno of my NSX. It is clearly to see where the VTEC kicks in.
 

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T Bell said:
It should feel exactly the same as your car did stock, cause it is proportionate to the crankshaft. Now with a turbo, you can definately feel the torque increase in a very small rpm increment. Some turbo's dyno lines are almost vertical when full boost hits.

talk about turbo vs Vtec.. when i first got my nsx, i was not really expecting vtec kick as strong as turbo kick. But, it was nothing close to what i expected.., i thought my vtec was not working..

here is my dyno graph.. this is with winter gas, and with leaky stock blow off valve.. only hold around 16 psi (vs 17/18psi) , it is now 400/400+

*having problem with my photo, will post later*

when turbo kick in, you will have no doubt it is IN
 
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