i drive a used 98 civic ex and according to a helms manual that i DLed, i should be running on a D16Y8 (sohc vtec). but if it's a vtec, shouldn't it be labled as that somewhere?

 

Not all valve covers have vtec written on it. If you want to check the motor, check the engine block stamp. Here is a picture of a b series but same location for d series. Under the word this. (borrowed picture )

 

yea just like he stated..check the engine block stamping and it should have labeled D16y8 on it since you say that your car is an EX model or you can always look to see if it has the vtec solenoid which has a brown/goldish round cap with a green n grey plug to it. and not all valve cover has the vtec logo on it.

 

d16y8's dont have vtec written on them anywhere.

look at the motor in front of the radiator, the engine code is stamped on a flat square surface about an 2" by 2".