VTEC Problems

Author
Discussion

Tinkerbell

Original Poster:

93 posts

221 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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Hello all,

I have a 52 plate CTR. The VTEC has started to play up, in 2nd gear there is almost no VTEC kick except for a slight "bunny hop"at 7000rpm, in third gear there is a muted kick at just after 6000 rpm but acceleration is flatter than normal, at 7000 rpm another kick occurs followed by what I would consider to be a proper acceleration curve.

The car is going in for its annual service soon, but I would like to know if anybody has any ideas as to what it might be, before I talk to the techs.

cheers.

john7

267 posts

217 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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VTEC, amongst other technicalities, works with the correct amount of oil in the engine and the correct viscosity. You say it requires a service, this may be your problem.

Holst

2,468 posts

222 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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Dont wait for ther service, check your oil levels straight away.

Although these cars have a long service interval they may use some oil if driven hard (propperly)

If your running low on oil you might cause damage to the engine, so top it up ASAP. However donw overfill it as this can also cause damage.

Your car is too new to have problems with the VTEC solenoid, so its probably oil related.

EvoBarry

1,903 posts

266 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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I'll second what they said, check the oil before you do anything else... go, do it now, go! wink

Qube

437 posts

261 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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Just a though after checking the oil level check that the wire connected to the oil sensor isn't loose. This happened on my S2000 a few months ago the wire had started to swing free under it's protective rubber shroud...


giger

732 posts

195 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
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Just to butt it, I also wouldn't rule out a clogged VTEC solenoid. How many miles has the car done?
Over 60k and there is a chance is could need a clean (although this could happen at any point).

Oil is tge biggy though. Check it every couple of weeks as they are known to burn it off rather quickly. 90% of Type R probs are caused by low oil levels.

ALawson

7,815 posts

252 months

Thursday 28th August 2008
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Have you checked the oil level yet? If not don't carry on driving it, assuming you can afford a new engine wink

Tinkerbell

Original Poster:

93 posts

221 months

Thursday 28th August 2008
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Cheers all for the info,

I am very ashamed with myself, having lived with a K-series elise for two years I am usually very careful with the cars engines. The Oil was very low, it has taken about 3.5 litre's to bring it back up. Thankfully the car is now purring away, seemingly quite happy.

What amazes me is that in the 6 years I have owned the car it has never used oil to this degree and yet no oil warning light has come on!!!

Speaking with a toyota engined elise owner today, he believed that if a VTT-i engine was to run that low it would have given up the ghost almost immediately.

I am now off to flagellate myself at the alter of VTEC.

EvoBarry

1,903 posts

266 months

Friday 29th August 2008
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For info, my DC2 uses oil heavily if used "properly", as in a litre per 1000miles if driven hard, and requiring top ups on trackdays even. I'm quite happy the engine is healthy, its just how these motors are I think.

Holst

2,468 posts

222 months

Friday 29th August 2008
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EvoBarry said:
For info, my DC2 uses oil heavily if used "properly", as in a litre per 1000miles if driven hard, and requiring top ups on trackdays even. I'm quite happy the engine is healthy, its just how these motors are I think.
My prelude isnt quite that bad but I always keep a spare litre in the boot and check the level all the time.

Sometimesd my girlfriend dosent understand that the bonnet it open to make sure nothing is going to go wrong, she always assumes it already has :P

Tinkerbell, keep a very close eye on the oil level, as you may have a leak if you have lost 3.5L
I would check it every couple of days to begin with to be safe.
Hopefull you didnt do any damage reving to 7000 with the oil so low.

With Honda engines once the oil light is on its to tell you your engine is almost dead, not to warn you to top it up.

Uncle John

4,300 posts

192 months

Sunday 31st August 2008
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tinkerbell - surely being on this site and an obvious enthusiast "a la elise" you must be in the routine of standard maintenance?

3.5 litres, sh*t that is bad, your engine had about half a litre of lube. Thes things must be checked regularly.

Made me laugh when a mate said that the Alfa he had had for a year needed oil, he claimed that modern engines shouldn't need any care. Quite the opposite when talking about performance cars. Knob.

Shame on you both.

Revs_Addiction

2,090 posts

232 months

Sunday 31st August 2008
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st the bed!! eek The sump only takes about 4 1/2 litres. I hope you haven't done any long-term damage....

Everyone with a K20 engine - CHECK YOUR OIL REGULARLY - THEY LIKE A DRINK, (ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GIVING THEM A SPANKING)!!! biggrin

fido

16,807 posts

256 months

Sunday 31st August 2008
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Tinkerbell said:
I am now off to flagellate myself at the alter of VTEC.
Shame on you. nono My '52 CTR has never been below the middle of the dipstick, and i hardly ever check the oil .. but then i do change the oil every 5-6k .. how many miles have you done without a service?!


Edited by fido on Sunday 31st August 21:45

RossB_eg4

279 posts

193 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
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Your engines sound like the oil stem seals are away or on their way out if they're liking a drink as much as you say.

No blue smoke following you on spirited driving?

Technonotice

4,250 posts

192 months

Friday 12th September 2008
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RossB_eg4 said:
Your engines sound like the oil stem seals are away or on their way out if they're liking a drink as much as you say.

No blue smoke following you on spirited driving?
i had `an old civic where the stem seals went. I had to put oil in everyday before i got it scrapped.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

218 months

Friday 12th September 2008
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RossB_eg4 said:
Your engines sound like the oil stem seals are away or on their way out if they're liking a drink as much as you say.

No blue smoke following you on spirited driving?
Nah, some VTEC engines use very little oil, some seem to use a lot. Call it a chracteristic. Just make sure you keep an eye on the levels!

Almost all my VTEC Hondas (B16, B18, K20, F18) used to vary from one time to another in how much oil they used.

MrFlibbles

7,692 posts

284 months

Friday 12th September 2008
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My S2000 drinks about a half a litre every 1000 miles if i cain it.

bondyboy

27 posts

193 months

Saturday 13th September 2008
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I'll second (third, fourth?) that, if you've got the k20 check your oil regular especially if driven hard. think I've used about half a ltr in 5 months