This almost goes along with my last topic about the VTEC Oil Pressure Switch, but I wanted a straight answer on that, as I would on this, warranting 2 separate topics.

Not to open another can of worms, but I constantly hear people talking about 'feeling' the VTEC kick in, or even hearing the solenoid click. Now, I've got a fairly loud car, so I don't think I would ever hear the solenoid (and I know what they sound like, it's part of what I do for a living), but I never heard it with the stock exhaust before, and I've never felt that VTEC 'kick in' feeling. I noticed my lap times at a race this past weekend suddenly increase after the check engine light came on, and the CEL reading was the VTEC OPS, so I know I had VTEC prior to the pressure switch failure, but I can't say that there was a severely noticeable difference in how the engine pulled with it, or without it. I only know I was down on hp due to my slower lap times.

Do you guys really 'feel' the VTEC kick in, or is that just something the STUNNAZ in the other forums like to brag about?

 

link to the last topic about Vtec oil pressure switch?

You are not going to feel anything on a SOHC vtec motor.

the DOHC vtecs you can sometimes feel and hear the switch over.

 

It all depends on the system design and chosen cam profiles. I personally think a well-designed system would provide a very smooth transition so that you could not feel the VTEC kick in. However, depending on the design and cam profiles, I could see it being very obvious when it kicks in.

Personally, I have never owned a VTEC Acura/Honda, so cannot comment directly. However, my street car uses the Toyota VVTL-i system, which I can definitely feel kick in.

 

I think a lot of the "feel" that people get is a placebo that comes from the sound of the cross over to the big lobe. Don't get me wrong, i know there are cars that squeal the tires at vtec, but this isn't common with stock cams. The gsr engine i have does have a big change in sound at the crossover, but looking at my dyno graph, there is no noticeable increase in torque or hp at that rpm.

 

Ohyeah, for sure you can hear and feel it. I mean, it is literally another 30whp on a stock R when it crosses over. My 98 R was the only vtec car I had stock exhaust on and what a dream. Perfect mix of sound and power, thing felt fast to me and the sound of cracking vtec would fill the tunnels

 

you have the SOHC engine right?

youll never feel/hear it on a SOHC. its half-vtec as its only on the intake side of the camshaft.

 

A "properly tuned" vtec crossover point is when the torque curves for the non-vtec and vtec cross over, i.e. there is no discontinunity in the torque curve. If you can feel some kind of vtec kicking in, there is a break in the torque curve, and you've tuned it wrong.

 

this is also very true. there may be a slightly audible change but a physical kick or lurch is a myth or a result of poor tuning.

 

I've heard of tuners deliberately tune so you will feel a huge jump in tq once vtec is reached. Like someone said earlier, once vtec is reached, tires will start spinning. Its all in want you want from the tune. I agree though, normally if tuned properly, you will not be able to feel vtec engaging.

 

IMO and experience you wont feel and hear in a SOHC motor i.e. d16z6

Now in my B16 I definately feel a changeover after about 4.5-5K on the tach.

 

In my ST 93 Si with a z6, properly tuned you would not feel the cam cross over. I had some fleabay chips I dyno tested though, and the best "seat of the pants" chip had 10whp reduction in peak power output, and since the cam cross over happened at 6k, there was a HUGE spike when the cam came on. With that chip, you felt vtec, and the car "felt" faster, but the dyno doesn't lie....

Now, my R is a different story. In that thing, when the cam comes on, you sure as hell know it. You don't hear the solenoid, you hear the intake mostly, and since I've removed the cat, I can also hear it through the exhaust a bit. There is a torque dip at the cam cross over though, so you do feel the surge of power when it comes back after the torque dip. There is also a fairly noticeable jump in torque after the cam switch too which adds to it. I hope to get all that tuned out shortly though.

 

I have a D with some work making about 150whp. My crossover is fairly audible, especially if the passenger window is down, however I don't feel a sudden kick. What I do feel is an elongated torque curve. The car pulls strong for a longer stretch of RPM's then most motors are capable of.

on the top half of the motor, I have headwork, crower 3 cam, intake manifold, and CAI, all of which will make vtec easier to hear.

I wouldn't expect you to hear much on a stock D, especially if you arent running a muffler like a lot of you H4 guys are. The exhaust pitch will not change much or at all, it's mostly a change in the intake.

 

Thanks for the info and perspectives, guys. The only other Honda I had WAS a twin cam, but an Integra LS, so no VTEC there. Again, my only indication that I was down on power were my laptimes. In that car, I think driving on the street, I don't think I'd ever know if the vtec system was even working or not, until some part of it threw a check engine code.

I daily drive an F250 Turbo diesel, and you know when that thing spools up, it definitely pulls harder and you can feel the torque. I always thought I was missing the same thing with the vtec in my car, but all of this info about the D-series single came and the vtec only on the intake side makes sense.

 

D16Z6 SCCA ITA motor and I can't hear it, but I definately can tell when it isn't switching to VTEC. Car feels down on power (like when you're too low in the RPM range) and just doesn't pull like it should. (As much as a SOHC 1.6l can pull) Nice thing with the ODB1 car is that if the CEL comes on and kills VTEC, just cycle the switch and it will re-set. If it comes back - repeat. It means you've got a problem, but in a race you can either do that or pull in to check it out. My S300 has the CEL programmed out so it won't ever kill the VTEC (no matter what is wrong). I'd rather deal with the aftermath than the loss of the little power I have.

 

If you want to feel this "kick", I would recommend driving a stock '06-'08 Civic Si. If you actually find a dyno of this car/engine, there is about a 20hp jump at vtec engagement, approx 6000rpm. You will feel it. My friend with a GSR says his is even more noticable.

But if you are looking for a "kick" my friend, find someone with a big ***, laggy turbo setup. Like a built 600whp car. Those cars kick alright, or more so slam like a freight train? Thats what many boost heads love.

And I just noticed your comment about the diesel...so no its not nearly as significant, a lot more suddle, because its more progressive and much smaller power increase.

 

........... what the hell are u saying? or asking ? if u hear vtec then u go faster? if u dont hear it but its working it doesnt make a difference? .... and if u have a cel light ur lap time is slow... um go ask the ricers ! roflmao

 

the only D motor i have ever heard vtec on is the Y8 its got kinda of a b16 ish cross-over sound

 

Because VTEC provides better acceleration, a lot of people are under the misconception that VTEC somehow provides a big increase in torque. In its stock form, on most of our cars (including the one that's the subject of this forum), it doesn't. The big advantage of VTEC is not that it increases torque, but rather, that it prevents torque from falling as the revs rise. IOW it creates a torque curve that is flatter rather than falling, at least, before you get way up in the revband. The reason that this helps acceleration is not through greater torque (i.e. at the crank), but through gearing, which affects torque at the wheels (i.e. you can stay in a lower gear and still maintain that rate of acceleration without having to upshift as soon). There's a fuller explanation of this in this write-up.

 

I have a stock b18c5 rebuild and i hear vtec CRRAACCKKK like a **** lol

 

Stock B16A with headers, catback and AEM cold air intake. Can't hear any solinoid noise, but about 5500--5700 rpm the intake/exhaust noise increases significantly. Car doesn't accelerate any harder at the moment of the switch, just continues to pull harder all the way to 8000.
Same rush as the secondaries opening on the old 4 barrel carburated v-8's

 

Thank you to all who answered my legitimate question with clear answers, replete with informed opinions, factual evidence based on different tuning and mods, and respectful thoughts and ideas on the subject.

To RED_90TEG, "YOU" is spelled Y-O-U, you stupid, ignorant dumbass.

Mods, please feel free to lock this thread and dock me for flaming, it was worth it.

 

On a y8 I could sometimes hear it depending on what intake the car had on it. On a k20 with a properly tuned vtec crossover, you can definitely hear it, but no noticeable power change.

As others have said, if vtec is tuned properly then you have a smooth powerband and should not feel much of a "kick" when it engages.

 

i have a stock b16 w/ ctr cams,41 header,test pipe,crossover is VERY noticeable and makes a popping sound at 4800rpms w/ no tune w/ pWo ecu and i luv every minute of driving it/

 

Depends on the tune, have a 97 civic hatch w/ JDM GSR and Type R cams and VTEC was very noticeable in the butt dyno and sound.

Then I had it dyno tuned and everything went away..more HP and Torq but no more VTEC just kicked in YO!!!!!!

There's tuners that will not tune a perfect VTEC cross over just to leave that little VTEC "kick" for fun.

 

Last weekend at the track there was a guy with an Accord with a f22. He tried to rig up his vtec so it would engage at a certain throttle position; needless to say his idea failed and was complaining that his car would not move past 5800 or so. He got the vtec working properly and it ran fine.