For those with Hondas...can you actually "feel" VTEC kick in?

edi sucks

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Apr 14, 2005
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Just wondering...I normally don't rev that high, but out of curiosity while driving today I left my '99 civic ex in 3rd gear, revved to 6k rpm's before shifting, and didn't feel a "boost" of power as i've read occurs...

 

Confused

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Nov 13, 2000
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Yes, I can on my 96 Prelude 2.2

However on some other VTEC cars i couldn't.
 

LongCoolMother

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Sep 4, 2001
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yes, i can. on my S2000 when you reach about 5500-6000 RPM you can definately feel the vtec "kick in." its a pretty hard kick too, sometimes if you're pushing it, you can even hear the tires squeal for a second when it jolts.
 

ElFenix

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Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: edi sucks
Just wondering...I normally don't rev that high, but out of curiosity while driving today I left my '99 civic ex in 3rd gear, revved to 6k rpm's before shifting, and didn't feel a "boost" of power as i've read occurs...

if its designed properly you shouldn't. the vtec point should be where the torque curves match up. if you could perceive very well it would seem lik torque came off a bit and then started coming back on. in reality it probably makes the torque curve look a bit more flat. depends on how far apart the two curves were to begin with.
 

Vic

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Jun 12, 2001
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Yes. On my old '98 GSR, you definitely could. Right about 5500 rpm and WOT. With a CAI, the engine note would change entirely too, and be very loud.
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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Its much less apparent on SOHC motors. And no, most people can't and don't notice it. You can hear it a tiny bit if you have an intake or something but thats about it.

On DOHC VTEC motors, however, the difference is most definetely significant.

Go from your 99' EX SOHC D16, and then go and drive a 99' Si with the DOHC B16 and you'll understand what VTEC is. Or just try the others in the thread where people have mentioned the difference. A Prelude with the H22 or go test drive an S2000. It just has to be DOHC because its simply not noticable on the SOHC engines.
 
Jun 14, 2003
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Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
When I drove the NSX I didn't feel it "kick in"


that cars just fast lol

ive felt it in the s2000, i was taken for a ride once, and when you get up to 6000 + rpm (engine goes to like 10K!) theres a definate kick, not the type you get when two barn door turbos get up to speed (the kind that gives u whiplash) but its a subtle kick, you can feel your head being thrown back
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Whatever riceboy told you there was a "boost of power" at the VTEC crossover in a Civic, please proxy-punch him for me.

VTEC definitely does not have a perceptible "kick" compared to boost coming on or nitrous. The "kick" is coming from the fact that Hondas make most of their power in the top third of the engine RPMs, and the crossover point just happens to be very close to that range. Do about 4000rpm in 2nd gear and floor it - you'll probably feel more of a "kick" than after the crossover at 4600 (if my Honda knowledge is up-to-date)

Edit - Above paragraph relevant to the sub-2L SOHC Honda powerplants. If you're in an ITR, Prelude, S2000, or other DOHC/2L+, you'll probably notice the noise a lot more than what kick shows up.

- M4H
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
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Well, no, it's nothing like 19 pounds of turbo boost spooling up (my current car :) ), but you can definitely hear the changeover.
 

mitaiwan82

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Nov 29, 2000
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VTEC faq

I couldn't really tell where the VTEC crossover point was on my '99 Accord V6 until I got a short ram intake. The removal of the stock intake (which has some sound deafening built in) made the engine really growl above the VTEC crossover point (~3500rpm for my car). Using my butt dyno, I feel there is a slight kick in power and a sense of urgency as the revs climb faster during VTEC engagement.
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: Vic
Well, no, it's nothing like 19 pounds of turbo boost spooling up (my current car :) ), but you can definitely hear the changeover.

Sadly, that's all most Civic drivers care about - "damn y0 when I hitz mah VTECK my 3" exhaust getz m4d tYt3!"

19psi ... Subaru?

- M4H
 

AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
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yup, 95 civic si, around 4.5k rpm. you can hear the engine differently and ease of acceleration
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Whatever riceboy told you there was a "boost of power" at the VTEC crossover in a Civic, please proxy-punch him for me.

VTEC definitely does not have a perceptible "kick" compared to boost coming on or nitrous. The "kick" is coming from the fact that Hondas make most of their power in the top third of the engine RPMs, and the crossover point just happens to be very close to that range. Do about 4000rpm in 2nd gear and floor it - you'll probably feel more of a "kick" than after the crossover at 4600 (if my Honda knowledge is up-to-date)

- M4H

Its not (your honda knowledge) up to date.

Your just a typical hater. The difference is definetely noticable in the H22, the F20 and the B16 and B18 variations. Of course its nothing like boost or nitrous, its not supposed to be.

The main purpose of VTEC is to get good gas mileage on the initial cam lobe's and have the power the engine is capable of in the top end. Your basically getting the best of both worlds.
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: AMDZen
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Whatever riceboy told you there was a "boost of power" at the VTEC crossover in a Civic, please proxy-punch him for me.

VTEC definitely does not have a perceptible "kick" compared to boost coming on or nitrous. The "kick" is coming from the fact that Hondas make most of their power in the top third of the engine RPMs, and the crossover point just happens to be very close to that range. Do about 4000rpm in 2nd gear and floor it - you'll probably feel more of a "kick" than after the crossover at 4600 (if my Honda knowledge is up-to-date)

- M4H

Its not (your honda knowledge) up to date.

Your just a typical hater. The difference is definetely noticable in the H22, the F20 and the B16 and B18 variations. Of course its nothing like boost or nitrous, its not supposed to be.

The main purpose of VTEC is to get good gas mileage on the initial cam lobe's and have the power the engine is capable of in the top end. Your basically getting the best of both worlds.

Edited: 06/27/2005 at 05:49 PM by MercenaryForHire

And I'm just going to post this before I start laughing at you calling me a Honda "hater."

- M4H
 

alien42

Lifer
Nov 28, 2004
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: alien42
how about a vtec with the automatic sportshift transmission?

It's still a motor and a transmission.

- M4H

yeah, but in fully auto the rpms will never get that high, so i wasnt sure if the sportshifter would make a difference. guess i will have to try that on the way home from work.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Vic
Well, no, it's nothing like 19 pounds of turbo boost spooling up (my current car :) ), but you can definitely hear the changeover.
Sadly, that's all most Civic drivers care about - "damn y0 when I hitz mah VTECK my 3" exhaust getz m4d tYt3!"

19psi ... Subaru?

- M4H
LOL. Riceboy Civic drivers are fun. "Yo, boyz, I be runnin' 18's!!"

(seconds) :D

Yep, stage 2.5 WRX with professional custom-tuned EcuTek reflash (and some other goodies).
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Whatever riceboy told you there was a "boost of power" at the VTEC crossover in a Civic, please proxy-punch him for me.

VTEC definitely does not have a perceptible "kick" compared to boost coming on or nitrous. The "kick" is coming from the fact that Hondas make most of their power in the top third of the engine RPMs, and the crossover point just happens to be very close to that range. Do about 4000rpm in 2nd gear and floor it - you'll probably feel more of a "kick" than after the crossover at 4600 (if my Honda knowledge is up-to-date)

Edit - Above paragraph relevant to the sub-2L SOHC Honda powerplants. If you're in an ITR, Prelude, S2000, or other DOHC/2L+, you'll probably notice the noise a lot more than what kick shows up.

- M4H

Oh sure now you edit your post. The ITR has a B18 powerplant, and is only 1.8 liters. Yet you say "If your in an ITR or other DOHC/2L+ motor you will notice the noise". The ITR doesn't and never had a 2L+ motor except the current variation in Japan. So your basically contradicting yourself with that sentence.

Which proves that your just a typical hater that has no real knowledge of Honda motors.
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: alien42
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: alien42
how about a vtec with the automatic sportshift transmission?

It's still a motor and a transmission.

- M4H

yeah, but in fully auto the rpms will never get that high, so i wasnt sure if the sportshifter would make a difference. guess i will have to try that on the way home from work.

Oh yes they will. Just stomp it - preferably in a lower gear so you don't have to wait as long - and it'll spin up there. The recent transmissions and most of the older ones only chop about 500 off the limiter in automatic mode.

- M4H
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: AMDZen
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Whatever riceboy told you there was a "boost of power" at the VTEC crossover in a Civic, please proxy-punch him for me.

VTEC definitely does not have a perceptible "kick" compared to boost coming on or nitrous. The "kick" is coming from the fact that Hondas make most of their power in the top third of the engine RPMs, and the crossover point just happens to be very close to that range. Do about 4000rpm in 2nd gear and floor it - you'll probably feel more of a "kick" than after the crossover at 4600 (if my Honda knowledge is up-to-date)

Edit - Above paragraph relevant to the sub-2L SOHC Honda powerplants. If you're in an ITR, Prelude, S2000, or other DOHC/2L+, you'll probably notice the noise a lot more than what kick shows up.

- M4H
Oh sure now you edit your post. The ITR has a B18 powerplant, and is only 1.8 liters. Yet you say "If your in an ITR or other DOHC/2L+ motor you will notice the noise". The ITR doesn't and never had a 2L+ motor except the current variation in Japan. So your basically contradicting yourself with that sentence.

Which proves that your just a typical hater that has no real knowledge of Honda motors.
B18C is DOHC.