Y Honda is best engine?

[Win]

Originally Posted By: ClarkB


For example, the original Civic required no catalytic convertor due to it's engine design.

Clark


It was not that great an idea. The CVCC engine I had barely had enough compresion to start after 70K ish miles, and blew smoke like a mosquito fogger when it did.

Honda foggers were pretty common back then.

For that matter, I think I still see more Honda foggers than any other brand.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Win
Originally Posted By: ClarkB


For example, the original Civic required no catalytic convertor due to it's engine design.

Clark


It was not that great an idea. The CVCC engine I had barely had enough compresion to start after 70K ish miles, and blew smoke like a mosquito fogger when it did.

Honda foggers were pretty common back then.

For that matter, I think I still see more Honda foggers than any other brand.

Now I hardly ever see smoky Honda engines, except when some tuner beats the life out of the engine.

I'm more used to seeing Mitsubishi engines blow smoke.

 

[nthach]

That was because the C27 is based off the C30/C32 that powers the NSX, minus VTEC and the crank/cam/piston setup. Also, Honda has kept the jam nut type valve actuation mechanism - a throwback from their bike engines. There are a few of their engines that use shims - mostly older bikes.

Honda does make a good engine - but their trannies are weak, for the exception of most of their manual gearboxes which are easy shifters.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: nthach
That was because the C27 is based off the C30/C32 that powers the NSX, minus VTEC and the crank/cam/piston setup.

Honda does make a good engine - but their trannies are weak, for the exception of most of their manual gearboxes which are easy shifters.

Current ones are weak.

Most 1980s and 1990s automatics were strong.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
That, and "Check engine" light problems aren't common either.


They got into trouble with the EPA over that. Seems the firmware was set up so that the check engine light wasn't coming on when it should have.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: artificialist
That, and "Check engine" light problems aren't common either.


They got into trouble with the EPA over that. Seems the firmware was set up so that the check engine light wasn't coming on when it should have.


Where did that information come from?

 

[pottymouth]

Originally Posted By: shrooms
Honda is the master of 4cyl engines. It's they're specialty.

Remember the CRX? TODAYS hybrids can't even come close to it's 50mpg and that was a NORMALLY aspirated engine. No batteries, just Honda know-how.


Actually, it was more physics than Honda know-how. The original CRX HF (the one that could actually get 50mpg) weighed about 1,700 lbs and has something like 60hp. It also had precious little for options and safety equipment. I wouldn't want to hit a Big Wheel in one.

My buddy's older sister had one when we were in high school and she was in college, and it was actually the more powerful model. We used to drive it sometimes as she was away at school anyway. It was tremendous fun to throw around, but that's about all I could say for it.

The best engine in all the cars I have actually owned was probably the 3.0 V6 in the '96 Maxima I had. It was the first brand-new car I ever bought. It was smooth, quiet, reliable and felt much more powerful than the 190HP it was rated. With the 5 speed manual, it was immensely fun. Still miss that car to this day.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: Hoosier_Daddy
best at what?
magically gaining horsepower with the application of VTEC stickers and neon lights.

 

[SWSportsman]

I don't know about "best," but the 4cyl engine in my 2003 Element may turn out to be the best I've owned for reliability, durability and trouble-free running. Nearly 175 thousand miles now and absolutely nothing done to the engine other than regular maintenance. It still runs and sounds like I remember it when new! I don't think I can say that about any other automobile I've owned.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: ClarkB
As stated before, Honda is the largest maker of internal combustion engines in the world. They also happen to have a history of making engines that sip gas, meet emissions and are very easy to maintain. For example, the original Civic required no catalytic convertor due to it's engine design.

Honda does make excellent engines but saying one company makes the best engine is like saying that the shade tree in your backyard is the best tree in the world. It's a big ocean with lots of fish that do lots of different things, "best" is situation specific adjective.

Clark


If meeting the emissions requirements of the era negated it from requiring at cat, I get a bit of a chuckle out of that.

Here's why:

That is a stock 1987 302 with ~285,000Km on it. It has no cats and no air pump. Only an EGR and PCV valve.

Would it have done better with cats and the air pump? Absolutely! But it still passed without them

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

B18C1, F20C, K20s all great engines. Some of the best 4cyl engines were made by Honda.

Reliability, fun to drive, fuel economy. They also developed variable valve timing. That's how they got their reputation.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
B18C1, F20C, K20s all great engines. Some of the best 4cyl engines were made by Honda.

Reliability, fun to drive, fuel economy. They also developed variable valve timing. That's how they got their reputation.



Variable valve timing is a VERY old technology originally invented by the British for use on steam engines.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Rohan
I kept hearing that Honda engine is best. Y?


They are decent engines as a whole but not the best except in some people's minds. No serious faults except the timing belt which saddles owners with expensive maintenance or expensive engine failure.

 

[Oldswagon]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


If meeting the emissions requirements of the era negated it from requiring at cat, I get a bit of a chuckle out of that.

Here's why:

That is a stock 1987 302 with ~285,000Km on it. It has no cats and no air pump. Only an EGR and PCV valve.

Would it have done better with cats and the air pump? Absolutely! But it still passed without them

I live out of the "Drive Clean" area in Ontario, but I was under the impression that you had to pass a visual inspection as well as the sniffer test? How'd you get the Mustang to pass without cats in place? I know it's an offence in Ontario to remove the cats from your car and it's a big fine. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT criticizing you, I've taken cats off over the years too, but I was always worried about getting busted by the MOE guys. That said, when we did the exhaust on my brother's '76 Chevelle last year, we decided to run twin high flow cats instead of removing them for the peace of mind.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Oldswagon
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


If meeting the emissions requirements of the era negated it from requiring at cat, I get a bit of a chuckle out of that.

Here's why:

That is a stock 1987 302 with ~285,000Km on it. It has no cats and no air pump. Only an EGR and PCV valve.

Would it have done better with cats and the air pump? Absolutely! But it still passed without them

I live out of the "Drive Clean" area in Ontario, but I was under the impression that you had to pass a visual inspection as well as the sniffer test? How'd you get the Mustang to pass without cats in place? I know it's an offence in Ontario to remove the cats from your car and it's a big fine. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT criticizing you, I've taken cats off over the years too, but I was always worried about getting busted by the MOE guys. That said, when we did the exhaust on my brother's '76 Chevelle last year, we decided to run twin high flow cats instead of removing them for the peace of mind.


Back in '03 I don't think there was a visual. They slapped the car on the rollers and either it passed or didn't. This was the car's last E-test IIRC. Though it may have had one in '05, I can't remember. If there was another, it passed it too.

The car has been in the garage since late'05 when it rocked out playing Raiders of the Lost Ditch and the powertrain is in a new body. And yes, the fine for being without cats is rather large. Sort of sad, since the car was exempt due to its age when they revised the emissions rules to omit cars 1987 and earlier.

Historically, Peterborough has not been a place that had a lot of MTO roadside checks. In recent years, this has changed. I had the Lincoln pulled over. Got a fine for no pollution pump. It was seized solid and I removed it.

I've got a set of Magnaflow high-flows on the Lincoln and like them a lot. I really hate the emissions laws. If the car passes the test without the equipment, I don't think I should be required to have it. It is obviously "clean enough" to pass the test, and subsequently is "clean enough" to be on the road free and clear.

 

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: nthach
That was because the C27 is based off the C30/C32 that powers the NSX, minus VTEC and the crank/cam/piston setup. Also, Honda has kept the jam nut type valve actuation mechanism - a throwback from their bike engines. There are a few of their engines that use shims - mostly older bikes.

Honda does make a good engine - but their trannies are weak, for the exception of most of their manual gearboxes which are easy shifters.


Didn't the C27A come out years BEFORE the C30A/C32A?

 

[Falcon_LS]

"Best" is definitely subjective, and it depends what it's "best" at. But I have to say I like how smooth and fuel efficient Honda engines are. Never owned one, but certainly wouldn't mind having a 2.4L Accord for a daily driver.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Those emissions are not directly comparable to the Honda because they only represent the percentage of pollutants, not the total amount. HC (raw hydrocarbons) is measured in ppm (parts per million). This does not tell you how many millions of 'parts' are emitted. CO (carbon monoxide)is measured in percentage. The Ford engine is over three times larger than the Honda engine therefore it is going to put out more total 'parts'. Emissions tests by the EPA are measured in grams per mile. This gives you a better indication of the total amounts of harmful pollutants coming out of the tailpipe.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
"Best" is definitely subjective, and it depends what it's "best" at. But I have to say I like how smooth and fuel efficient Honda engines are.


I definitely agree. The 3.0 V6 we have is extremely smooth. It has however, become a rattle trap at 54k miles.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
B18C1, F20C, K20s all great engines. Some of the best 4cyl engines were made by Honda.

Reliability, fun to drive, fuel economy. They also developed variable valve timing. That's how they got their reputation.



Variable valve timing is a VERY old technology originally invented by the British for use on steam engines.


And VTEC isn't exactly "variable valve timing" anyway. Its just a mechanism for letting the engine shift from one valve lift profile at low RPM to a different one at high RPM. Newer systems from several other manufacturers actually use more continuously variable valve timing methods that don't have a jump when the shift happens. VTEC is still very simple and reliable- no knock against that.