![K20 head](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/K20_head.jpg)
The
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
K-series engine is a line of four-cylinder four-stroke car engine introduced in 2001. The K-series engines are equipped with
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion c ...
valvetrains and use roller rockers on the cylinder head to reduce friction. The engines use a
coil-on-plug
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
,
distributorless ignition system
A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...
with a coil for each
spark plug
A spark plug (sometimes, in British English, a sparking plug, and, colloquially, a plug) is a device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the combustion chamber of a spark-ignition engine to ignite the compressed fuel/air ...
. 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
A sleeve ( ang, slīef, a word allied to '' slip'', cf. Dutch ) is the part of a garment that covers the arm, or through which the arm passes or slips.
The sleeve is a characteristic of fashion seen in almost every country and time period, ac ...
similar to the
B- and
F-series engines, as opposed to the
FRM cylinders found in the
H- and newer F-series engines found only in the
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is an Roadster (automobile), open top sports car that was manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda, from 1999 until 2009. First shown as a concept car called the SSM at the Tokyo Motor Show#1995, Tokyo Motor Show in ...
.
Similar to B series, the K-series car engines have 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 where K23 and K24 block has a deck height of .
Two versions of the Honda
i-VTEC
VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) is a system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, resulting in higher performance at high RPM, and lower fuel consumption at low ...
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 engine speeds, both intake valves open fully to improve engine breathing. In engines such as the K20A2 found in the
Acura RSX RSX may refer to:
Computing
*RSX, a RISC CPU from Encore Computer
*RSX-11, an operating system family developed by Digital Equipment Corporation
* RSX 'Reality Synthesizer', a graphics chip for the PS3
* Resident System Extension, part of the CP/M ...
Type-S, the VTEC system operates on both the intake and exhaust valves, allowing both to benefit from multiple cam profiles. A modified K20C engine is used in motorsport, as the
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional r ...
Formula 3 and 4 series that run in North America both use a K20C engine, with the Formula 4 engine not having a
turbocharger
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
. These are gaining a following in the import scene, but also among
hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimised for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and made ...
ders and
kit car
A kit car is an automobile available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then assembles into a functioning car. Usually, many of the major mechanical systems such as the engine and transmission are sourced from donor ve ...
enthusiasts, because they can be put in longitudinal rear wheel drive layouts.
K20
K20A (i-VTEC)
;Applications:
;Additional notes:
K20A Spec R engine (FD2 Civic Type R)
*Chromoly flywheel, higher-tensile strength connecting rods, high-compression pistons, stiffer valve springs, higher-lift hollow camshafts with more duration, and 2007–2011 cylinder-head intake-port and exhaust-port surface polishing used in NSX-R.
The JDM K20A type-R engine block would be removed from production assembly line by an experienced Honda engine technician to torque the connecting rod bolts to factory specification by hand using micrometer to measure connecting rod bolt stretching. Then the JDM K20A type-R engine block would be returned to the production assembly line to complete the engine building process.
K20B (i-VTEC I)
*Injection Pressure:
*Center Fuel Injection with swirl guide
*Air-Fuel Ratio:
**Normal driving cycle: 65:1 (ultra-lean combustion)
**Acceleration/High load driving cycle: 14.7:1 (Stoichiometric)
*Deep Piston Cavity formed in top of Pistons
*Application: 2004–2006
Honda Stream Absolute
K20Z (i-VTEC)
;Applications:
;Additional notes:
K20Z3 (as fitted to Ariel's Atom 3.5)
*It has an aluminum block with an aluminum head. The K20Z3 has Honda's traditional performance VTEC (as found on previous generation of engines) on the intake and the exhaust cams. Variable cam timing technology is included on the intake but not the exhaust cams. The added timing control corresponds to the added "i" in i-VTEC.
K20C (Earth Dreams VTEC Turbo)
;Applications:
;Additional notes
*
Earth Dreams Technology
* K20C1: First
Honda Type R
Honda Type R models are special performance editions of their respective model families.
The design of Type R models was originally focused on race conditions, with an emphasis on minimizing weight, and maximizing performance potential (e.g. eng ...
engine to be built in the US at the Honda Anna Engine Plant in
Anna, Ohio
Anna is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,567 at the 2010 census.
History
Pre-historical period
The prehistoric Teays River ran through modern-day Anna about 2 million years ago. The Teays river deposited ...
. First time Honda has used a turbocharger on the TYPE R.
*K20C5: All Acura RDX sold in China (manufactured by
GAC Acura)
*Although the K20C4 in the Acura RDX and the K20C6 in the Acura TLX share the same internals, they are named differently due to different engine mount points to accommodate the sedan body of the TLX.
*The VTEC mechanism is available only on the exhaust valves.
K20C & K20Z (Earth Dreams i-VTEC)
;Applications:
K23
K23A (i-VTEC Turbo)
;Applications:
;Additional notes:
*This version of the K engine uses a Mitsubishi TD04HL-15T turbocharger with a dual path turbine housing, optimizing low end response while allowing better high end flow. Maximum boost pressure is 13.5psi. The engine includes
i-VTEC
VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) is a system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, resulting in higher performance at high RPM, and lower fuel consumption at low ...
and VTC technologies and comes mated to a version of Honda's 5-speed automatic with SH-AWD (note: SH-AWD was standard from 2007-2009 and optional from 2010-2012).
K24
K24A (i-VTEC)
;Additional notes:
K24A2 and K24A3 (2006-2008
Acura TSX
The Acura TSX is a compact executive car manufactured by Honda and sold through its Acura division from 2003 to 2014. The TSX spanned two generations, both derived from the corresponding Japanese/European versions of the Honda Accord, which we ...
)
::*Increased intake flow:
::** Intake valve + 1 mm oversize (Intake valve head measures 36mm, but valve seat still measures 35mm)
::** Intake cam High lift lobe with 0.9 mm more lift and 12 degrees more duration
::** Throttle body increased from 60–64 mm
::** Radius on some intake pipes increased from 70–80 mm
::*Increased exhaust flow
::** Exhaust Head pipe increased from 60–65 mm
::** Higher flow catalytic converter
::** Main (single) exhaust pipe increased from 54–57 mm
::** Rear (twin) pipes increased in diameter from 42.5 to 45 mm
::*Block improvements:
::** Additional air passages in crankcase for reduced pumping losses
::*Others
::** Stronger connecting rods
::** New crankshaft with more counterbalance weight
::** Revised pistons with more valve-piston clearance
::** Under-piston oil squirters
K24Z & K24Y (i-VTEC)
;Applications:
K24W & K24V (Earth Dreams i-VTEC)
Direct Injection, i-VTEC (intake camshaft & valvetrain)
;Applications:
References
External links
*Honda engine pages
i-VTEC DOHC*K Series VTEC Breakdown
{{Honda automotive engine timeline (2000-present)
K
2001 introductions
Straight-four engines
Gasoline engines by model