My coworker has a 94 Integra with a 1.8 VTEC motor with about 150,000 miles on the motor. He recently changed oil to PYB from using various synthetics such as M1,Syntec,EDGE and RP. The motor is running smooth however the problem is that VTEC is not kicking in now with the PYB in the crankcase. He claims that this has never happened with any other oil in the car. I am not to familiar with the VTEC system , I am aware that it is activated by oil pressure . Anything you guys can think of that would cause this? I can think of why it wouldnt kick VTEC on , funny thing he says he is getting noticeably better MPG's with the PYB . Thanks!
Oil for VTEC
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Sometimes the vtec solenoid mesh screen gets gunked up not allowing vtec to kick in. maybe pyb cleaned too much?? Pull out the three screws on the solenoid and have a look. Also, is it throwin a CEL?
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Originally Posted By: dsmdriver2588
Sometimes the vtec solenoid mesh screen gets gunked up not allowing vtec to kick in. maybe pyb cleaned too much?? Pull out the three screws on the solenoid and have a look. Also, is it throwin a CEL?
We were thinking the same thing , the oil only has 500 miles or so on it and its already quite dirty
Sometimes the vtec solenoid mesh screen gets gunked up not allowing vtec to kick in. maybe pyb cleaned too much?? Pull out the three screws on the solenoid and have a look. Also, is it throwin a CEL?
We were thinking the same thing , the oil only has 500 miles or so on it and its already quite dirty
Hi.
I'm an engineer at Honda Racing and although I am not a mechanic, your problem may be the VTEC engagement mechanism, specifically the "lock pin," that is worn out.
After a number of disengagement/engagements, the mechanism will fail to engage the high-lift camshaft "VTEC" profile. It will remain in the "normal" or "economy" profile.
I'm an engineer at Honda Racing and although I am not a mechanic, your problem may be the VTEC engagement mechanism, specifically the "lock pin," that is worn out.
After a number of disengagement/engagements, the mechanism will fail to engage the high-lift camshaft "VTEC" profile. It will remain in the "normal" or "economy" profile.
To add on,
Every product has a set criteria. A mean time before failure. The trick is to design it with enough durability for consumer satisfaction, but cost effective enough to stay within the budget that is given.
Although I do not speak for the company, it is what it is.
But then again, that's only if it is the pin that is worn out and not something else. I may be incorrect.
Every product has a set criteria. A mean time before failure. The trick is to design it with enough durability for consumer satisfaction, but cost effective enough to stay within the budget that is given.
Although I do not speak for the company, it is what it is.
But then again, that's only if it is the pin that is worn out and not something else. I may be incorrect.
Several parameters must be met for vtec to engage, CEL, temp, tsp, knock sensor, rpm load. I am fairly confident it is not the oil that is the problem. Could be the mesh as mentioned.
Venture to say it's not the oil, perhaps the screen is clogged or the pin is 'worn out', but at most the PYB 'perhaps' got a glob moved to the screen. You'd figure a CEL if it tried to engage but couldn't?
Anyway, the car doesn't know what kind of oil is in there, so at this point it doesn't matter what oil you use if you have to fix a mechanical issue.
Anyway, the car doesn't know what kind of oil is in there, so at this point it doesn't matter what oil you use if you have to fix a mechanical issue.
As for the gas millage increase, most likey do to staying on the economy camshaft profile LOL haha.
I do not mean to criticize your coworker in any way, but some of the inexperience Honda owners out there sometimes claim that their Vtec is not working when it is (if your coworker is basing this on what he hears). On a bone stock 94-2001 Gsr (B18c1), assuming the car is not a custom hybrid 1.8l build such as a Ls-Vtec etc., the Vtec engagement is not that audible. Based on a couple bone stock gsr I've driven and worked on so far, you won't be able to hear the Vtec crossover. If you did, usually it was very faint or barely noticeable. On the other hand, to be able to noticeably hear the Vtec transition, you can run an after-market intake or take off the top half cover of the stock air filter box. This will expose the stock cone filter inside. If you did this, I guarantee you will hear Vtec if it was working correctly. Also, having a header and exhaust as well will help amplify the sound. Now, I'm only assuming that your coworker's car is bone stock since you didn't give me enough information to go by.
If his car wasn't bone stock, then that's a different story. Vtec in this case could be because of a mechanical defect or something else. I do know for a fact that Vtec won't engage if the oil level is too low or if the car is not up to operating temperating. Also, if the Vtec solenoid is defective or not plugged in then Vtec won't work either.
I'm pretty sure your coworker knows that there are three available 1.8l motors that comes in the 94-2001 Acura Integra models. One is the 140hp Non-Vtec motor (B18b1) available in the Ls, Gs, SE, and Rs trim, and the other is a 170hp Vtec motor (B18c1) available in the Gsr trim. The last motor is also a Vtec motor with a 190hp Vtec motor (B18c3) available only in specific years of the Type R trim.
I don't think oil is the problem here as long as the oil meets factory specs if you exclude mechanical errors related to Vtec engagement. I'm not quite clear what your coworker meant when he said Vtec is not kicking in. Is he basing this on what he hears, feels, or actually know?
According to my knowledge, Vtec is like a two stage program. Vtec engages at around 4.5k (not noticeable unless you got some mods), and what you hear at around 6k, what people commonly call Vtec crossover, is actually the secondary butterflies opening up.
If his car wasn't bone stock, then that's a different story. Vtec in this case could be because of a mechanical defect or something else. I do know for a fact that Vtec won't engage if the oil level is too low or if the car is not up to operating temperating. Also, if the Vtec solenoid is defective or not plugged in then Vtec won't work either.
I'm pretty sure your coworker knows that there are three available 1.8l motors that comes in the 94-2001 Acura Integra models. One is the 140hp Non-Vtec motor (B18b1) available in the Ls, Gs, SE, and Rs trim, and the other is a 170hp Vtec motor (B18c1) available in the Gsr trim. The last motor is also a Vtec motor with a 190hp Vtec motor (B18c3) available only in specific years of the Type R trim.
I don't think oil is the problem here as long as the oil meets factory specs if you exclude mechanical errors related to Vtec engagement. I'm not quite clear what your coworker meant when he said Vtec is not kicking in. Is he basing this on what he hears, feels, or actually know?
According to my knowledge, Vtec is like a two stage program. Vtec engages at around 4.5k (not noticeable unless you got some mods), and what you hear at around 6k, what people commonly call Vtec crossover, is actually the secondary butterflies opening up.
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Originally Posted By: Torquejumper
I do not mean to criticize your coworker in any way, but some of the inexperience Honda owners out there sometimes claim that their Vtec is not working when it is. On a bone stock 94-2001 Gsr (B18c1), assuming the car is not a custom hybrid 1.8l build such as a Ls-Vtec etc., the Vtec engagement is not that audible. Based on a couple bone stock gsr I've driven and worked on so far, you won't be able to hear the Vtec crossover. If you did, usually it was very faint or barely noticeable. On the other hand, to be able to noticeably hear the Vtec transition, you can run an after-market intake or take off the top half cover of the stock air filter box. This will expose the stock cone filter inside. If you did this, I guarantee you will hear Vtec if it was working correctly. Also, having a header and exhaust as well will help amplify the sound. Now, I'm only assuming that your coworker's car is bone stock since you didn't give me enough information to go by.
If his car wasn't bone stock, then that's a different story. Vtec in this case could be because of a mechanical defect or something else. I do know for a fact that Vtec won't engage if the oil level is too low or if the car is not up to operating temperating. Also, if the Vtec solenoid is defective or not plugged in then Vtec won't work either.
I'm pretty sure your coworker knows that there are three available 1.8l motors that comes in the 94-2001 Acura Integra models. One is the 140hp Non-Vtec motor (B18b1) available in the Ls, Gs, SE, and Rs trim, and the other is a 170hp Vtec motor (B18c1) available in the Gsr trim. The last motor is also a Vtec motor with a 190hp Vtec motor (B18c3) available only in specific years of the Type R trim.
I don't think oil is the problem here as long as the oil meets factory specs if you exclude mechanical errors related to Vtec engagement. I'm not quite clear what your coworker meant when he said Vtec is not kicking in. Is he basing this on what he hears, feels, or actually know?
According to my knowledge, Vtec is like a two stage program. Vtec engages at around 4.5k (not noticeable unless you got some mods), and what you hear at around 6k, what people commonly call Vtec crossover, is actually the secondary butterflies opening up.
Yeah I should have been more specific about his car. It is the Gsr 1.8 and it is mildly modified with air intake,headers and full catback exhaust. He described it to me that he cant hear it at all since the oil change nor does he "feel" the performance at higher rpm's . I have never driven it but its in good mechanical shape with no motor problems etc. He thought it could be the screen but I thought id ask on here to see if anybody had had a similar problem with their vtec motor and different oil. he says he has always ran 5w-30 in every type of oil ran in his car.Thanks for the advice
I do not mean to criticize your coworker in any way, but some of the inexperience Honda owners out there sometimes claim that their Vtec is not working when it is. On a bone stock 94-2001 Gsr (B18c1), assuming the car is not a custom hybrid 1.8l build such as a Ls-Vtec etc., the Vtec engagement is not that audible. Based on a couple bone stock gsr I've driven and worked on so far, you won't be able to hear the Vtec crossover. If you did, usually it was very faint or barely noticeable. On the other hand, to be able to noticeably hear the Vtec transition, you can run an after-market intake or take off the top half cover of the stock air filter box. This will expose the stock cone filter inside. If you did this, I guarantee you will hear Vtec if it was working correctly. Also, having a header and exhaust as well will help amplify the sound. Now, I'm only assuming that your coworker's car is bone stock since you didn't give me enough information to go by.
If his car wasn't bone stock, then that's a different story. Vtec in this case could be because of a mechanical defect or something else. I do know for a fact that Vtec won't engage if the oil level is too low or if the car is not up to operating temperating. Also, if the Vtec solenoid is defective or not plugged in then Vtec won't work either.
I'm pretty sure your coworker knows that there are three available 1.8l motors that comes in the 94-2001 Acura Integra models. One is the 140hp Non-Vtec motor (B18b1) available in the Ls, Gs, SE, and Rs trim, and the other is a 170hp Vtec motor (B18c1) available in the Gsr trim. The last motor is also a Vtec motor with a 190hp Vtec motor (B18c3) available only in specific years of the Type R trim.
I don't think oil is the problem here as long as the oil meets factory specs if you exclude mechanical errors related to Vtec engagement. I'm not quite clear what your coworker meant when he said Vtec is not kicking in. Is he basing this on what he hears, feels, or actually know?
According to my knowledge, Vtec is like a two stage program. Vtec engages at around 4.5k (not noticeable unless you got some mods), and what you hear at around 6k, what people commonly call Vtec crossover, is actually the secondary butterflies opening up.
Yeah I should have been more specific about his car. It is the Gsr 1.8 and it is mildly modified with air intake,headers and full catback exhaust. He described it to me that he cant hear it at all since the oil change nor does he "feel" the performance at higher rpm's . I have never driven it but its in good mechanical shape with no motor problems etc. He thought it could be the screen but I thought id ask on here to see if anybody had had a similar problem with their vtec motor and different oil. he says he has always ran 5w-30 in every type of oil ran in his car.Thanks for the advice
He's running the correct factory weight for his oil so I doubt the oil is the issue here. Maybe he should try putting the car in 3rd from a roll, at around 4k, and accelerate to redline to see if he can still hear it. From my experience, Vtec crack the loudest in that gear.
For as long as I can remember the rule I use is: if it worked 15 min. before I did this and 15 min after it did not work guess what???? by using this system, I avoided all the time trying to figure out why, which came in handy because i had little time to spend. Just return to what was. IMHO unless you like to think and analize and.......
Originally Posted By: Thax
My coworker has a 94 Integra with a 1.8 VTEC motor with about 150,000 miles on the motor. He recently changed oil to PYB from using various synthetics such as M1,Syntec,EDGE and RP. The motor is running smooth however the problem is that VTEC is not kicking in now with the PYB in the crankcase. He claims that this has never happened with any other oil in the car. I am not to familiar with the VTEC system , I am aware that it is activated by oil pressure . Anything you guys can think of that would cause this? I can think of why it wouldnt kick VTEC on , funny thing he says he is getting noticeably better MPG's with the PYB . Thanks!
Originally Posted By: Thax
My coworker has a 94 Integra with a 1.8 VTEC motor with about 150,000 miles on the motor. He recently changed oil to PYB from using various synthetics such as M1,Syntec,EDGE and RP. The motor is running smooth however the problem is that VTEC is not kicking in now with the PYB in the crankcase. He claims that this has never happened with any other oil in the car. I am not to familiar with the VTEC system , I am aware that it is activated by oil pressure . Anything you guys can think of that would cause this? I can think of why it wouldnt kick VTEC on , funny thing he says he is getting noticeably better MPG's with the PYB . Thanks!
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