I always hear about high taxes in Japan, blah blah. Is it true that many of the engines get tossed before 30,000 miles? I never really believed this, and thought it was just a JDM myth that has been passed around, but you read it so much.

Also, if this is the case, is it really better to get one of these engines. For example, you have a good ol 94 USDM engine with 75k miles that has just been pulled (fresh from use) from the donor car. Or you get the same 94 JDM engine with only 30k miles, but it has been sitting on a shelf for 5 years? This thought just recently came to mind because of the whole 30k thing, and I figure most of these older engines would most likely have been sitting around, am I wrong?


[Modified by piscorpio, 4:24 PM 1/13/2003]

 

Yes, it is true, not a myth.
I believe every year or so, car registration goes up over there depending on the mileage of your car. More mileage means more wear & tear which equals higher chance of polluting. This is because of the Japanese air association known as JASMA. They set the rules for the air over there..heh.

So, (in Japan) when it comes time for an owner of a 89 civic SiR to smog/register his car, he either has to spend an X amount of $$$ to fix his car to pass smog laws+pay taxes on it or just yank the engine/put a newer engine in....or just sell the car as a whole and get something new. It's usually around 30-40K miles when the car owners in Japan pull the engine and/or sell their cars.

It's funny over there, car things get old after about 3 years.

It works something to that effect. My explanation of this could be slightly off a bit though....open for correction.

This is why you see all those ads in the Recycler for 'low mile Japanese engines', because these motors get yanked out and sold to JDM junkyaards then exported to whichever country wants to buy them.

Biggesst PRO of getting a JDM engine:
Higher HP rating vs. US counterpart.

Biggest CON of getting a JDM engine:
for most, its smoggin issues. You can't smog a JDM engine in the US, depending on your location in the US.

I'm not totally sure if a JDM B18C or B16A engine would be sitting for 5 years, I would think they'd get sold or exported around quite often if they were.....especially these past couple of years since a lot of JDM engine selling shops have emerged.


[Modified by Katman, 3:15 PM 1/13/2003]

 

Thanks for confirming the 30k thing.

I still have to think that if a 92-95 engine is being sold, it had to get yanked at 30-40k, so you assume that it hit that mark a while ago, probably years. So either this thing has been sitting for a while, or if it has been used (since they have become popular and move from one place to another), it no longer has only 30k on it. I just kind of had this revelation, so Id really like to hear anyone elses opinions on this topic specifically.

As far as the smog thing, I may be wrong, but I am almost sure I don't need to worry about that in IL.

Thanks Katman.

 

yes and know. if you ever see alot of clusters coming in with the motors and half cuts you'll notice that 90-5 motors will have more like 50-70k miles...not 30-40k miles... 98+ Spec motors will usually have about 20-40k km.

from what I see, and I see about 10 shipments of motors and trannies at my local JDM importers it follows like this:
ZC dohc = 50-90k miles
1st gen b16a = 40-90k miles
2nd gen b16a = 40-90k miles
obdII b16a/b18c = 25-50k miles

other motors such as nissans or toyota usually on the average have lower kms. as there isn;t much market for them so the importers just don't grab anything they can.

 

yeah..
The engine mileage has too many variables to get an exact answer, though.

Lets say a Nippon owner, owns a 92 EG6...but only drives it on the weekends, not even that much, maybe just to go on a sunday touge run or something; and just up until recently, he's hit the 30K mark and his mileage -- he's got to deal with either paying more taxes on the car or just pulling the motor out....

Then, there just might be the scenerio of an 89 SiR civic that has had its engine pulled out since 1994, and the motor has sat for that long.

That is a possibility.
But there's just so many variables of what/where/when a motor has last been or sat for how long.

 

Here's another thought

there's less room to drive so its harder for them to rack up as many miles as here.

If I knew I was going to yank my motor at 30k do you think I would maintan it as well as I do the motor I expect to last 200k plus. I have seen a lot of low mileage jdm motors full of burnt sludge

 

Good point.

Let me put it to this. If two engines were driven alike, of the same production year, but one happens to top out at 30k and sits for a few years, while the other was driven for longer and had twice the mileage, but is being freshly pulled. Which would you rather have, if they are both the same price? I suppose what I am really getting at, is how detrimental is it to the engine to sit in storage for a long time vs. being run to higher mileage?

Thanks for the feedback guys, this whole discussion is making some good points.

 

JDM motors have a couple of other advantages over USDM motors. First of all, they are often in better condition. In my quest for a B18C for my CRX, I looked at several USDM GSR motors. And they were all GARBAGE! We're talking about compression numbers like 150, 230, 180, 190. Why is this? Because they were all in cars that some kid crashed. And these cars were probably beaten to death over the course of tens of thousands of miles and poorly maintained ('Poorly maintained? Wait a minute! I changed my oil every 8000 miles with four quarts of Wolf's Head and a fresh Car And Driver filter from Target. So don't give me this 'poorly maintained' crap!). On the other hand, Hondas are not as popular in Japan among people who would likely trash them.

The other thing to consider is price. JDM motors have a reputation for being expensive. But the truth of the matter is that they are cheaper than USDM motors. At least in California.


[Modified by StorminMatt, 2:57 AM 1/15/2003]

 

whats wrong with changing the oil every 8,000 miles...? or waiting til the oil gets about half way down..then topping it off...fresh oil is fresh oil...

LOL...JK


[Modified by 10K2HVN, 7:53 PM 1/14/2003]

 

I think any engine can end up being garbage, Im sure both USDM and JDM have had there fair share. I was mainly concerned with the likelyhood of getting a JDM engine thats been "on the shelf" for too long.

Keep the replies coming, Id like to get some additional info/opinions/experiences regarding this topic.

 

Japan has one of the strictest emmisions in the world thanks to laws passed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). I believe Japan ranks second to Germany. This is probably one reason why cars are recycled every so many years.

It is also notable, driving in Japan is considered more a luxury than a necessity. The public transportation is excellent, and people simply don't drive nearly as much as we do. This is all because of close ties of the LDP to the contruction industry.

Another incentive for the Japanese to drive less is the way employment works. In employment applications they ask how far away you live because the company compensates for the cost of transportation... ie the subway/bus etc.

hth



[Modified by tilt, 12:14 AM 1/15/2003]

 

def. a luxury, its not cheap to drive. driving school alone costs an arm and a leg, not to mention the highway (not called the Freeway for obvious reasons)

 

Japanese drivers also do less mileage per year due to the size of their country, my last JDM integra was a 1994 SiVTEC, i bought it in 1999 with only 22k KM on the clock, the car was like brand new, my current jdm teg had only 38k km on the clock when i bought it and its also 1994, my neighbour has a SiR CRX (1990) with only 56K KM on the clock. Plus you guys pay ridiculous prices for JDM engines, i see JDM B18Cs (Not ITR engines) on ebay going for $2500-3000) i can pick a 1996 JDM B18C up for around $700 with 6 month guarantee from an official approved JDM engine importer!

 

Where do you live, thats a great price.

 

mugenracer, I think want to be your best friend.

 

I hear that. When's your birthday, what's your favorite color. Co you want to come over and play video games?

 

Yeah, cuz the kiddies here cream over the gaydm stuff.

My 'jdm' motor came with what resembled chocolate milk in the oil pan. Everything under the valve cover was covered in coked oil. 2 of the 4 pistons had tremendous carbon deposits on it. Oh, and it has a Spoon ventulli plate on it. My friend's motor was immaculate. Others were so-so. They're crap shoots.

Next time around I'm sourcing a motor here.

 

what about going to the warehouse where the motors are stored (probably for years) and picking one out yourself. is that possible? i've heard horror stories about kids (well, kid. i really only heard one story) getting seized engines (well, engine. i really....you get the idea) shipped to them....and it wasn't hard to tell they were in a **** poor condition as soon as they arrived (ie. chocolate syrup looking oil). probably wouldn't have been his first pick had he been there. then again, there probably aren't too many warehouses in illinois like that, right?

 

As long as the engine is not sitting upside down it should not hurt anything form just sitting (indoor that is). A freind of mine got a CRX that had been sitting next to a barn for about 4 years. The cyl walls were ok (no corrosion/rust). It needed a new HG and it is still running to this day over 200K on the bottom end. Hondas engines are built to last.

 

yups, "SHAKEN" (registration) will cost as much as getting a new car in Japan thats why they get rid of it after 3 years. A new car in Japan comes with three years shaken (registration). There after it is extended every two years. a 2 litre engine's approximate extended SHAKEN will be 100,000 yen almost $1,000 depending on the exchange rate.

 

This is turning out to be a pretty informative thread. Someone mentioned the engine being ok, as long as it is not upside down? Anyone else share this sentiment? I have read that for storing an engine long term, it is reccomended to crank it over a few times occasionally (prevent piston rings from siezing).

Just want to say thanks to all that contributed, I think everyone gave some useful info on this thread.

 

good thread

 

I just put a sohc zc from nippon in my 90 hb. The timing belt had been changed. That tells me that it had to have more than 90k on it. I dont really know though. Either way I changed it for a fresh one. Everything was really clean, both externally and internally. Its always a gamble.

 

How much would a h22 cost...everything i need to do a complete swap...94 accord ex, i would like to do it all myself but is it relaly difficult, im kind of a beginner but i understand all the basics and with a manual i can do just bout anything.