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Hello,
I am new to this forum, but am a member of several other forums. Thanks for welcoming me here. I have a question about the Honda CR-V and I am quite sure this is the place to get the answer. I have done VW TDI engine swaps and MB 617 swaps on several small trucks and SUVs. I have a friend that has a 2000 CR-V and I have recently come to appreciate this little SUV. I think I would like to get one and eventually swap a 1.9 liter TDI into it after the Honda engine gets worn out. Since these things hold their value so well, I will probably end up with one that has high mileage to start with. So my questions are:
My friends 2000 has CCW engine rotation, are they all like that and which ones arent?
I saw one at the Junkyard (during my research into this possibility) that had the front of the engine towards the passenger side and I think it was an 04. I would prefer it this way. Which years have the engine on the passenger side and trans mostly on the driver side (or engine facing passenger side)
I have a local shop turn the fuel map on these small diesels up and put a larger intercooler. My output numbers are about 140 hp and 245 ftlb TQ. The horsepower is not too much over the stock CR-V, but can the transaxle handle the torque?
Once again thanks for any information . I tried to do a search for this information, but it is a little obscure. I need a gurus advice.
There is also a European diesel variant of the k series.
N-series. Not much of in common with the K-series, really. But they are pretty unique (all-aluminum!) for diesels. There's a bi-turbo variant too. No idea what trans it bolts up to.
OP, forget about trying to work with the original trans in a 2000. Could probably adapt to a later model (>=2002) K-series driveline. The good news? It was native to that 2nd gen CR-V in Europe, so it should be pretty no-brainer to use K-swap tactics to get it in the older chassis.
The downside to reusing the transaxle is going to be the gearing. It is going to be WAY short for a diesel. For the K series stuff 4.7 is the final drive. It can be swapped to a 4.4 and allegedly there is a 4.1 in some markets. Still pretty short gears.
N-series. Not much of in common with the K-series, really. But they are pretty unique (all-aluminum!) for diesels. There's a bi-turbo variant too. No idea what trans it bolts up to.
That looks like the K20C architecture. Wouldn't surprise me if they used the same block. Jaguar has a single architecture they use in 3 to 6 cylinder gas and diesel engines. Makes sense with these tiny turbo DI applications making torque like a diesel.
OK cool, that makes sense. The primary reason for the CCW rotation of pre-2002 models is because of the engine orientation on the left...?
Yep, thats a low geared set of Diffs. and from what I could find out it the 04 has a 5 spd auto with a final of .736, so, If my math is right here I would need to compensate with at least a 30" diameter tire which would give me 76 mph at 3000 and 101 at 4000rpm. Obviously it would be better to run the TDI at 2500 to 2700, right at the engines sweet spot, but the ALH redline is at 5200rpm if I recall and they are ok with winding them a little more than standard diesels. Running it at 3000 rpm would not hurt it at all.
My last swap was in a 93 Mazda 4x4 with 33s. I put a T5 adapted to the TDI which has a .81 5th and the truck has 3.889 diffs. It will go faster, but it likes about 78 to 80 ion the highway. You are right, the 4.4 final gears would make a huge difference in this little plan. Im gonna do a little research and see if thats possible, the 4.1 gears would be fantastic. I wouldnt mind going up a few sizes on the wheels, but I would not want to go crazy with it.
Obviously the best option would be to get a factory Honda diesel, but these are cost prohibitive because of our wonderful government in their infinite wisdom will not allow these diesels to be imported, as if they had a say in what we the people get to buy. There are Toyota Hiluxes and Nissan patrols that are shipped everywhere in the world but here. These little Diesel trucks and SUVs are damn near impossible to kill and get 30 plus MPG. But because I live in the US, my choices are a full size truck or nothing. Sorry for the rant
05+ is when the 5 speed automatic became an option. Good luck running it. As far as I know there are zero standalones to run it. The controller is built into the engine PCM. Also no final drive options.
If you go with a 5 speed manual you can add a 6th gear to the transmission. Super easy. The 12-15 Civic SI had the tallest 6th gear of all the K series manual transmissions. The 04-08 TSX had the next tallest 6th gear. 2006 was the last year for the manual transmission in the CR-V.
That looks like the K20C architecture. Wouldn't surprise me if they used the same block. Jaguar has a single architecture they use in 3 to 6 cylinder gas and diesel engines. Makes sense with these tiny turbo DI applications making torque like a diesel.
It's not though. For better or worse I've spent way too much time elbow deep in torn down K20Cs over the last six years. That thing is so fragile it probably wouldn't make it to the end of the street at diesel cylinder pressures.
I looked into this a while back . Before I swapped my truck, I looked into getting a toyo Hilux imported. Other than the steering wheel being on the right side of the vehicle, there would have been about a 12000 to 15000 dollar fees just to import it other than the price of the car. I havent looked at these yet, so it might be different. It is clear that the US govt. does NOT want small diesels here for us to buy, So much for their narrative on more fuel efficient engines.Now that they have effectively stopped VW from selling small diesels.
Yeah diesel would be nice. Its likely not a legal deal though. I'm sure they are going to get more nasty about things like that. Like the talk about not being able to modify production cars even for off road racing.
But then I guess we can't talk about all that.
Yeah diesel would be nice. Its likely not a legal deal though. I'm sure they are going to get more nasty about things like that. Like the talk about not being able to modify production cars even for off road racing.
But then I guess we can't talk about all that.
That is just from an emissions standpoint. EV conversion would be zero emissions and they can soak a cork on that one.
I looked into this a while back . Before I swapped my truck, I looked into getting a toyo Hilux imported. Other than the steering wheel being on the right side of the vehicle, there would have been about a 12000 to 15000 dollar fees just to import it other than the price of the car. I havent looked at these yet, so it might be different. It is clear that the US govt. does NOT want small diesels here for us to buy, So much for their narrative on more fuel efficient engines.Now that they have effectively stopped VW from selling small diesels.
Sorry, VW killed the small diesel in the US by lying and cheating. 💯% their doing and they got what they deserved for it. Nothing unfair happened to them or the industry here.
turns out the numbers that they were claiming truly were unachievable.
I loved the ‘14 tdi Golf that used be part of my life. It got 40mpg @ 90mph and had great drivability, but knowing what a pig it actually was feels pretty dirty.
Crv Diesel swap
