Japanese automakers have ascended the auto industry’s ladder to become some of the most popular and consumer friendly in the whole world.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.
Honda car company became the second-largest Japanese automotive manufacturer in 2001 and a major player in the sports cars bussiness. Honda was the eighth largest auto-mobile manufacturer in the world behind General Motors, Volkswagen Group, Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group, Ford, Nissan, and PSA in 2011.
Honda owners have created their own community. Their own Honda JDM subculture. Engine swaps and tuning is something casual !
Here is our top Honda Engines list:
High Tech !
215 PS/ 2.0L / stock performance
The Honda K series engine is a four-cylinder four-stroke engine introduced in 2001. The K series engines are equipped with DOHC valvetrains and use roller rockers to reduce friction. The engines use a coil-on-plug, distributorless ignition system with a coil for each spark plug. This system forgoes the use of a conventional distributor-based ignition timing system in favor of a computer-controlled system that allows the ECU to control ignition timings based on various sensor inputs. The cylinders have cast iron sleeves similar to the B-series & F-series engines, as opposed to the FRM cylinders found in the H-series and newer F series engines found only in the Honda S2000.
Similar to B series, K-Series has two short blocks with the same design; the only difference between them being the deck height. K20 uses the short block with a deck height of 212mm where K23 and K24 block has a deck height of 231.5mm.
Two versions of the Honda i-VTEC system can be found on a K series engine, and both versions can come with variable timing control (VTC) on the intake cam. The VTEC system on engines like the K20A3 only operate on the intake cam; at low rpm only one intake valve is fully opened, the other opening just slightly to create a swirl effect in the combustion chamber for improved fuel atomization. At high rpm, both intake valves open fully to improve engine breathing. In engines such as the K20A2 found in the Acura RSX Type-S, the VTEC system operates on both the intake and exhaust valves, allowing both to benefit from multiple cam profiles.
The cutting edge technology that drives the new i-VTEC mechanism in the K series engines first burst on the scene in the Honda Civic EP3 Si. This DOHC engine strays quite a bit from the older B series cousins, but the K20 is undeniably at the forefront of Honda engine swaps. For more reading on the K series, check out our What is the K20 primer here.
Available in many Acura and Honda vehicles, the K20A is found in the early 2002-2004 Acura RSX Type S, after this year range it’s the K20Z1. Many of the later model K series engines also come as a larger displacement motor, with a 2.4 liter K24.If you can source one from a TSX with a six speed manual transmission, building a K24 hybrid can provide over 220 naturally aspirated horsepower which makes for a potent power to weight ratio.
The new i-VTEC variable valve technology is what pushes these K series swaps onto the Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps list. Available with 197hp on entry-level 2.0L engines, you can find JDM versions that can exceed 220 horsepower in factory form.
Engine Specifications
Found In
2001-2006 Civic Type R (Japanese) (EP3)
Displacement (cc): 1998
Bore x Stroke (mm): 86.0 x 86.0
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Rev Limit: 8400rpm
i-VTEC Engagement: 6000rpm
Horsepower: 158 kW (215 hp) @ 8000 rpm
Torque: 222Nm (20.6kgm) @ 7000 rpm
Piston Oil Squirters (for cooling)
Chromoly Flywheel
Intake Manifold: PRC
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.
Honda car company became the second-largest Japanese automotive manufacturer in 2001 and a major player in the sports cars bussiness. Honda was the eighth largest auto-mobile manufacturer in the world behind General Motors, Volkswagen Group, Toyota, Hyundai Motor Group, Ford, Nissan, and PSA in 2011.
Honda owners have created their own community. Their own Honda JDM subculture. Engine swaps and tuning is something casual !
Here is our top Honda Engines list:
K20
High Tech !
215 PS/ 2.0L / stock performance
The Honda K series engine is a four-cylinder four-stroke engine introduced in 2001. The K series engines are equipped with DOHC valvetrains and use roller rockers to reduce friction. The engines use a coil-on-plug, distributorless ignition system with a coil for each spark plug. This system forgoes the use of a conventional distributor-based ignition timing system in favor of a computer-controlled system that allows the ECU to control ignition timings based on various sensor inputs. The cylinders have cast iron sleeves similar to the B-series & F-series engines, as opposed to the FRM cylinders found in the H-series and newer F series engines found only in the Honda S2000.
Similar to B series, K-Series has two short blocks with the same design; the only difference between them being the deck height. K20 uses the short block with a deck height of 212mm where K23 and K24 block has a deck height of 231.5mm.
Two versions of the Honda i-VTEC system can be found on a K series engine, and both versions can come with variable timing control (VTC) on the intake cam. The VTEC system on engines like the K20A3 only operate on the intake cam; at low rpm only one intake valve is fully opened, the other opening just slightly to create a swirl effect in the combustion chamber for improved fuel atomization. At high rpm, both intake valves open fully to improve engine breathing. In engines such as the K20A2 found in the Acura RSX Type-S, the VTEC system operates on both the intake and exhaust valves, allowing both to benefit from multiple cam profiles.
The cutting edge technology that drives the new i-VTEC mechanism in the K series engines first burst on the scene in the Honda Civic EP3 Si. This DOHC engine strays quite a bit from the older B series cousins, but the K20 is undeniably at the forefront of Honda engine swaps. For more reading on the K series, check out our What is the K20 primer here.
Available in many Acura and Honda vehicles, the K20A is found in the early 2002-2004 Acura RSX Type S, after this year range it’s the K20Z1. Many of the later model K series engines also come as a larger displacement motor, with a 2.4 liter K24.If you can source one from a TSX with a six speed manual transmission, building a K24 hybrid can provide over 220 naturally aspirated horsepower which makes for a potent power to weight ratio.
The new i-VTEC variable valve technology is what pushes these K series swaps onto the Top 10 Best Honda engine swaps list. Available with 197hp on entry-level 2.0L engines, you can find JDM versions that can exceed 220 horsepower in factory form.
Engine Specifications
Found In
2001-2006 Civic Type R (Japanese) (EP3)
Displacement (cc): 1998
Bore x Stroke (mm): 86.0 x 86.0
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Rev Limit: 8400rpm
i-VTEC Engagement: 6000rpm
Horsepower: 158 kW (215 hp) @ 8000 rpm
Torque: 222Nm (20.6kgm) @ 7000 rpm
Piston Oil Squirters (for cooling)
Chromoly Flywheel
Intake Manifold: PRC
