Ok, so I put an oil pressure guage in when I pulled my mini-me out and put in a straight Y8 - I've noticed the oil pressure drops from 75 psi down to 50 psi when VTEC engages. It makes sense because VTEC is oil pressure activated. However, I've seen oil pressure guages on both a D16Z6 and a B16A, and neither of them seem to do it. Is this specific to the weak pumps in the Y series, or do I have an oil leak in my head after the solenoid?

 

I would think you have a leak somewhere. It should not drop the pressure that much just to activate VTEC. I am not sure about the pump, but it really shouldn't drop that much. Not that it is dangerously low, but should be addressed.

 

Same conclusion I am coming to. I just disconnected the solenoid, and performance is the same, but pressure doesn't drop. When I run 12v to the solenoid while running, the solenoid actuates, but no change in idle.

I'm about to pull the rocker assy and make sure I didn't lose any synchronizing pins while assembling.

 

Technically you are not supposed to actuate the VTEC solenoid unless you have sufficient oil pressure. (well above idle) This is why there is a pressure switch on the VTEC assembly. I have heard it can damage the pins, but I have not tried this myself to confirm or deny. Hopefully nothing happened to yours.

 

Nah, it was fine. I did find the problem though - the previous owner of the head seems to have lost one of the the pins - the one in the primary intake lobe rocker on cylinder one - thus my drop in pressure, as well as VTEC not working.

It's nice to have it working, and sad to realize it hasn't worked for the last year I've been running a Y8 head.

Oh well, thanks for the help!