Civic Type R - First hot hatch
Discussion
Update time!
I thought with the better, drier weather I would have a look at the state of the air con condenser and the coolant radiator:
Yep, that is truly goosed!
I decided against changing both radiators on the drive and have it booked in at TDI north this month, my reasoning being they can do it much faster than I, and can also have a nose around the car for any issues I may have missed or just be plain ignorant about.
I changed out the standard pattern parts filter for a Do-Luck foam one, no doubt it improved airflow, but I didn't notice any appreciable difference.
I also wasted a bit of change on a JDM coin holder. Handy when you have change from drive-thru's and you don't want it falling out your pocket as you are in the seat or rattling around door pockets as you drive.
In the ongoing quest for originality I replaced the under bonnet warning stickers. The white one could do with being a bit more to the left going off other EP3 pictures, but I think removing the sticker will wreck it.
Gave it a quick wash (I am no detailer) and gave it another oil change with a magnetic sump plug, new front brake discs and pads, and replaced a rusty and blowing mid-pipe. I did briefly consider going for an unsilenced mid-pipe to release a couple of extra ponies as it is quite restrictive, but forum consensus seems mixed as to whether or not the resulting raspiness sounds good. I couldn't decide so just went pattern parts for the time being. Oil change was done after 8000 miles since the previous one, I see oil as cheap insurance especially on a highly strung engine like the K20. It only used just over a litre of oil in those 8000 miles which considering it gets v-tec'd almost every day is good.
However for increased noise I did go for:
A K&N Typhoon in crinkle red no less. Sounds like a standard car in low revs commuter mode, however raise the revs and it turns into a lovely burble as it approaches v-tec then when v-tec is reached it becomes a manic howl all the way to the limiter. Happy with it as a compromise between the ridiculously priced but amazing sounding Tegiwa and Gruppe M intakes and the standard airbox (which I have kept should I wish to swap back)
Instagram-w
e alert:
So that's it for now. I am going to get TDI north to take a look at the rear bushes as they sound perished and also as mentioned swap the radiators and throw in fresh coolant. I think my coolant fan doesnt work - I have never heard it or seen it come on so will get TDI to take a look at that also. I know it's not the fuse or relay as I checked those. The car never overheats on the gauge or looses or boils coolant but still I want it investigating.
Then it's just a case of getting the air con regassed for some lovely air con action this summer. Other than that the car is doing well in it's daily duties, I just need to tidy her up providing I can ever find the time. It definitely needs a good machine polish and some stone chips and a couple of small dents taking care of. Oh and the ditchfinders definitely have to go at some point. Me and my brother-in-law are off to Goodwood later in the month for the Festival of Speed and we will be taking the EP3 for it's mix of practicality, speed and reliability!
Comments good or bad welcome.
I thought with the better, drier weather I would have a look at the state of the air con condenser and the coolant radiator:
Yep, that is truly goosed!
I decided against changing both radiators on the drive and have it booked in at TDI north this month, my reasoning being they can do it much faster than I, and can also have a nose around the car for any issues I may have missed or just be plain ignorant about.
I changed out the standard pattern parts filter for a Do-Luck foam one, no doubt it improved airflow, but I didn't notice any appreciable difference.
I also wasted a bit of change on a JDM coin holder. Handy when you have change from drive-thru's and you don't want it falling out your pocket as you are in the seat or rattling around door pockets as you drive.
In the ongoing quest for originality I replaced the under bonnet warning stickers. The white one could do with being a bit more to the left going off other EP3 pictures, but I think removing the sticker will wreck it.
Gave it a quick wash (I am no detailer) and gave it another oil change with a magnetic sump plug, new front brake discs and pads, and replaced a rusty and blowing mid-pipe. I did briefly consider going for an unsilenced mid-pipe to release a couple of extra ponies as it is quite restrictive, but forum consensus seems mixed as to whether or not the resulting raspiness sounds good. I couldn't decide so just went pattern parts for the time being. Oil change was done after 8000 miles since the previous one, I see oil as cheap insurance especially on a highly strung engine like the K20. It only used just over a litre of oil in those 8000 miles which considering it gets v-tec'd almost every day is good.
However for increased noise I did go for:
A K&N Typhoon in crinkle red no less. Sounds like a standard car in low revs commuter mode, however raise the revs and it turns into a lovely burble as it approaches v-tec then when v-tec is reached it becomes a manic howl all the way to the limiter. Happy with it as a compromise between the ridiculously priced but amazing sounding Tegiwa and Gruppe M intakes and the standard airbox (which I have kept should I wish to swap back)
Instagram-w
e alert:So that's it for now. I am going to get TDI north to take a look at the rear bushes as they sound perished and also as mentioned swap the radiators and throw in fresh coolant. I think my coolant fan doesnt work - I have never heard it or seen it come on so will get TDI to take a look at that also. I know it's not the fuse or relay as I checked those. The car never overheats on the gauge or looses or boils coolant but still I want it investigating.
Then it's just a case of getting the air con regassed for some lovely air con action this summer. Other than that the car is doing well in it's daily duties, I just need to tidy her up providing I can ever find the time. It definitely needs a good machine polish and some stone chips and a couple of small dents taking care of. Oh and the ditchfinders definitely have to go at some point. Me and my brother-in-law are off to Goodwood later in the month for the Festival of Speed and we will be taking the EP3 for it's mix of practicality, speed and reliability!
Comments good or bad welcome.
I heard it's how it's been run-in that determines in the main it's oil consumption. For someone who has only ever bought second hand and will likely never buy new for the forseeable at least, it's out of my control and it's a worry initially after a car has been bought. I bought it on the basis of the gearbox and engine seemed strong, tired bodywork is easy to tidy up in comparison. My car has done nearly 110k now so I'd class that as just run in for a petrol Honda 
I have seen in the forums that some EP3's are gulping 1 litre of oil per 900-1000 miles. I'd find that a major annoyance, it's like me driving to London and back and having to top up half a litre. I'd be looking for a rebuild or a new car then.
I have seen in the forums that some EP3's are gulping 1 litre of oil per 900-1000 miles. I'd find that a major annoyance, it's like me driving to London and back and having to top up half a litre. I'd be looking for a rebuild or a new car then.
Great looking car, can you pass a message on to TDiNorth for me?
I was trying to get hold of them ALL Friday on the phone and not once did anyone answer, I wanted to buy a grands worth of parts from them and in the end went to CPL racing, so basically whichever lazy git was sat at the end of the phone that day not only cost their company a grand but lost all hope of getting any business from me in future! Which given I'm running a race car represents a st-ton of money on a pretty regular basis!
...back to your car, that K&N is probably in pretty much the worst place you could put it, its almost right above the exhaust manifold which is going to really heat the air around the intake, is there at least some kind of shielding or air feed that you can run to it?
Sorry to be a bit of a downer, I really do like what you've done with the car, (other than the K&N).
I was trying to get hold of them ALL Friday on the phone and not once did anyone answer, I wanted to buy a grands worth of parts from them and in the end went to CPL racing, so basically whichever lazy git was sat at the end of the phone that day not only cost their company a grand but lost all hope of getting any business from me in future! Which given I'm running a race car represents a s
t-ton of money on a pretty regular basis!...back to your car, that K&N is probably in pretty much the worst place you could put it, its almost right above the exhaust manifold which is going to really heat the air around the intake, is there at least some kind of shielding or air feed that you can run to it?
Sorry to be a bit of a downer, I really do like what you've done with the car, (other than the K&N).
Edited by TobyLaRohne on Monday 2nd June 13:47
TobyLaRohne said:
Great looking car, can you pass a message on to TDiNorth for me?
I was trying to get hold of them ALL Friday on the phone and not once did anyone answer, I wanted to buy a grands worth of parts from them and in the end went to CPL racing, so basically whichever lazy git was sat at the end of the phone that day not only cost their company a grand but lost all hope of getting any business from me in future! Which given I'm running a race car represents a st-ton of money on a pretty regular basis!
...back to your car, that K&N is probably in pretty much the worst place you could put it, its almost right above the exhaust manifold which is going to really heat the air around the intake, is there at least some kind of shielding or air feed that you can run to it?
Sorry to be a bit of a downer, I really do like what you've done with the car, (other than the K&N).
Thanks for the kind words. Tdi do always seem to be very busy, if you want to book in a car for a weekend then you'll have to wait 6 weeks or so, I work shifts so luckily I'm going mid week and don't have to wait as long. I emailed them and got a reply later that day.I was trying to get hold of them ALL Friday on the phone and not once did anyone answer, I wanted to buy a grands worth of parts from them and in the end went to CPL racing, so basically whichever lazy git was sat at the end of the phone that day not only cost their company a grand but lost all hope of getting any business from me in future! Which given I'm running a race car represents a s
t-ton of money on a pretty regular basis!...back to your car, that K&N is probably in pretty much the worst place you could put it, its almost right above the exhaust manifold which is going to really heat the air around the intake, is there at least some kind of shielding or air feed that you can run to it?
Sorry to be a bit of a downer, I really do like what you've done with the car, (other than the K&N).
Edited by TobyLaRohne on Monday 2nd June 13:47
Totally get what you are saying about the K&N, and it was something I weighed up for a while in my head.
Again, as I work shift's my commute times avoid the typical rush hours therefore I am hardly ever stuck in traffic slowly baking the engine bay. I have retained the standard airbox's cold air feed which directs air straight toward the filter so that may alleviate heatsoak on the move somewhat. I do need to research if there is a heatshield I can buy or fashion for it. Saving for a house deposit means I can't justify several hundred on proper cold air kits like the Gruppe M or Tegiwa, (a K&N does fall within the 'acceptable' budget especially after a couple of wins at the bookies) so in terms of value for money it's a mod that can be easily reversed and sold on, and I can live with the chances of increased intake temps for now for the noise it makes.
seany87 said:
Thanks for the kind words. Tdi do always seem to be very busy, if you want to book in a car for a weekend then you'll have to wait 6 weeks or so, I work shifts so luckily I'm going mid week and don't have to wait as long. I emailed them and got a reply later that day.
Totally get what you are saying about the K&N, and it was something I weighed up for a while in my head.
Oh well I'm sure if they've got a 6 week backlog they probably don't need or want my money Totally get what you are saying about the K&N, and it was something I weighed up for a while in my head.
Incidentally I have a mate with an ex-Factory Spoon Challenge DC5 and it has the same configuration of filter as you and we race in 40C air temps so I wouldn't worry too much about it losing too much power from heatsoak, he does ok against me.
and I have the same engine and ecu but I have the ingen front mounted air filter.Love driving it mate, its a cracker. All I've done so far is a service and change the tyres but will get a thread up soon.
It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
Patch888 said:
Love driving it mate, its a cracker. All I've done so far is a service and change the tyres but will get a thread up soon.
It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
Something's not right then. Does the intake noise change dramatically between 5 and 6K?It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
HorneyMX5 said:
Patch888 said:
Love driving it mate, its a cracker. All I've done so far is a service and change the tyres but will get a thread up soon.
It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
Something's not right then. Does the intake noise change dramatically between 5 and 6K?It's very smooth through the rev range, right up to the red line, I haven't however noticed a VTEC kick that some owners claim to feel. It just pulls and pulls very well.
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