Technical Information RSX VTEC and

VTC
Heads
The K20A3 intake ports are smaller and have specially shaped aluminum cutouts in the port floor to enhance
turbulence. This probably helps low end torque at the expense of top end power.

The VTEC mechanism differ significantly between the K20A2 and A3 head. The K20A3 uses only two cam lobe
profiles on the inlet.

Under 2200 rpm, this engine is a effectively a 12 valve engine, and over 2200 rpm it is a 16 valve. There is no VTEC
mechanism on the K20A3 exhaust valves.

Basically, this head does not breath well compared to the K20A2. It seems designed for low end torque, emissions
and economy.
The K20A2 head uses three cams per pair of inlet valves on both the exhaust and inlet. The low lift cams on this head
are probably very similar to the high lift cams on the K20A3. The high lift cams engage at 5800 rpm and disengage at
5600 rpm.
Intakes
The K20A3 uses plastic dual length intake runners similar to the GSR The short runners provide an additional 5-10 ft.
lb of torque between 3000-5000 rpm. The short runners contribute to top end power from 5000-7000 rpm.

The switch to short runners is made at 4700 on increasing revs and back to long runners at 4500 on descending revs.
The throttle body is 60 mm in diameter. The long runner is 38mm in diameter by 540 mm. This is quite narrow and
provides a high intake velocity, peaking torque at 4000 rpm. The short runners measure 40 by 270 mm.

In this dyno chart, the long runners were locked on and tested against their normal operation. 10-15 ft/lb of torque
was lost. If only the short runners were used a loss in high end power would be seen.
The K20A2 Type S (Integra) and Civic Si share the same intake design with 42mm by 210mm runners and a 62 mm
throttle body. Completely aluminum this manifold heats the incoming air by contact with a metal gasket to the head
and by transmitting heat from the hot radiator air. Gains are to be made by cooling this manifold. Two options are to
us the Hondata intake gasket and to ceramic coat the intake. This manifold seems to breath very well.

VTC
Unlike VTEC operation VTC operates continuously throughout all engine speeds and throttle positions. The intake
cam can be advanced by as much as 50 degrees. Advancing the cam at part throttle generates an EGR effect where
some exhaust gas enters the intake. This helps the RSX attain LEV (low emissions vehicle) status.
Oil pressure fed to either side of the lobes in cam advance mechanism allows the ECU to continuously advance or
retard the cam to meet either emissions or power requirements. As far as power is concerned this allows Honda to
optimize torque across the entire rev range. For the technically minded, this is a complex rapidly acting closed loop
feedback system.