is it true that there is a lag in vtec?

 

I've never noticed it.

 

no. ive never had any lag in vtec.

 

There is a dip in power when VTEC activates. I wouldn't call it lag.

 

Having been a Honda R&D employee, I can give you a bit of insight into this. When doing emissions testing for the new vehicles, Honda has always been careful not to let the car go into vtec. Honda actually keeps the vtec (and probably vtc now too) high enough in the rpm band (mph band on the emission rig) so that it doesn't go into vtec during the emissions test. When you throw lots of overlap and cam into the engine equation, emissions levels go up; so it's simply a way they hit their emissions requirements.

This is how ALL car companies do it. I even know a company that has a time-based algorithm that adds fuel after about 30 seconds of WOT to improve power output for marketing without affecting emissions... it's not honda and I won't say who it is... it's an american car company.

So, that's one major reason Hondata and other tuners can quickly get power from vtec engines in the midrange... just lower vtec and there you go... but then it would be worse on the federal emissions testing equipement (which you will never see).

Interesting stuff even to people that have been in the industry for awhile.
Chris