Ozz316

Hello all. I just purchased a 1997 Civic EX and have a few questions, more to come. The person I bought the car from put an engine with 60K in after the previous owner had blown up the original. Just for my records, I would like to know more info about the motor. Are there any tags that I can look for and find out? I was told it was a Vtec SOHC from an auto, while my car is a stick.

Also, the car has an aftermarket exhaust system with what I was told is a high flow cat on it. They did not put back in the O2 sensor, will this cause any driveablility problems? I am new to Hondas and I am getting used to driving this 5 speed high reving motor. It seems to me that in 5th gear that there is no power under 2700 rpm. Is this normal?

Thank you all in advance for your help.

blk92_d16

The block and head codes are in the front, meaning open the hood and the block badging will be on the left side near where the tranny meets the block. Then on the head, that code should be above the #3 cyl runner and might read...P08-1 or whatever. Whether is comes from a manual or auto car, the motors are the same.

Without the O2 you'll probably not get optimal fuel mileage. If there's no hole for one, any muffler shop can weld on a "bung" and get that O2 in there. You're driving a 100hp Honda, and in 5th you'll have no "passing power"...it's might for cruising speeds. Drop it down a gear or two for "power".

GL!

sql_civic

iTrader: (3)

The block should be stamped "D16Y8".

The secondary O2 sensor is intended to check if the cat is working and does not affect driveability. The primary is used for closed loop dynamic air/fuel adjustment. I would expect that the absence of the secondary sensor would throw a CEL.

Ozz316

So which O2 sensor is directly in front of the Cat? So not accelerating much in the 2000 RPM range in 4th or 5th is pretty normal then? Sorry for my ignorance, but I drive Mixer trucks during the day and the last car with a stick that I owned and drove was a 5.0 Mustang, much different car.

Also, what is the VTEC supposed to do? I am confused on this. I have looked it up on Google but still would like a little more clarification.

Thanks again

alphalanos

Yep. Most smaller Honda motors have low torque, not all though. VTEC is a way to get more power out of a lower displacement motor.

excivicboy96

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ozz316 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So which O2 sensor is directly in front of the Cat? So not accelerating much in the 2000 RPM range in 4th or 5th is pretty normal then? Sorry for my ignorance, but I drive Mixer trucks during the day and the last car with a stick that I owned and drove was a 5.0 Mustang, much different car.

Also, what is the VTEC supposed to do? I am confused on this. I have looked it up on Google but still would like a little more clarification.

Thanks again</TD></TR></TABLE>

The first O2 sensor (closest to engine on exhaust) is the primary HO2S, the one down stream is the secondary HO2S (Heated Oxygen Sensor.) The low power is normal, 5th gear is just for cruising.

VTEC is a way to increase HP with a small motor. It uses a smaller camshaft lobe for low rpms and then switches over to larger lobes for higher rpm ranges. Heres a youtube video about it even though it's for marine engines it's still pretty good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcT_ZyY3F0k