Honda 2.0 i-VTEC K20 Engine Specs, Problems And Reliability

The 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine is a modern four-cylinder two-liter in-line gasoline engine manufactured by Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

This type of engine is installed in many modern Honda car models. At the moment, this engine is the most high-performance and perfect serial “heart” of the Honda brand.

The new engines have changed not only the volume, but also the design. For example, the crankshaft began to rotate clockwise, and in the timing drive the chain changed the belt.

Also, all engines use the i-VTEC system. It is implemented on the intake or on both camshafts.

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Honda 2.0 i-VTEC K20 Engine Specifications

As already mentioned, the unit is installed in cars with front-wheel drive. The compression ratio of this engine family varies from model to model.

The volume is 2.0 liters, the number of valves is 16. The power depends on the car intended for installing the engine. The “strangled” version develops 150 hp.

While the analogue for active and confident driving is 220 liters. With. The maximum torque remains virtually unchanged and ranges from 179 Nm to 206 Nm.

The declared maximum is reached at different speeds: from 4000 rpm to 7000 rpm. The electronically limited 8500 rpm is the maximum speed at which the two-liter 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine is capable of operating.

The technical characteristics of this unit are considered to be the most perfect among competitors.

ProductionHonda Motor Company
Engine brandK20
Release years2001-2013
Block materialaluminum
Supply systeminjector
Type ofin-line
Number of cylindersfour
Valves per cylinderfour
Piston stroke, mm86
Cylinder diameter, mm86
Compression ratio9.8-11.7
Engine volume, cc1998
Engine power, hp / rpm150-220/6000-8000
Torque, Nm/rpm190-215/4500-6100
Fuel95
Environmental regulationsup to Euro 5
Engine weight, kg184
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km
– city
– highway
– mixed.


10.3

6.2
7.4
Oil consumption, g/1000 km up to 1000
Engine oil0W-20

5W-20


5W-30
How much oil is in the engine4.2
When replacing pour, l4.0
Oil change is carried out, km 10000
(better than 5000)
Operating temperature of the engine, hail.
Engine resource, thousand km
– according to the plant
 – in practice



300+
Tuning
– potential
– without loss of resource


400+

n.a.
The 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine was installedHonda Accord
Honda Civic
Honda CRV
Honda Stream
Honda Integra/Acura RSX
Honda Stepwgn

Acura CSX

Honda 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine modifications

  1. K20A – A sports engine produced since 2001, the output of the engine is 215 hp. at 8000 rpm, installed camshafts with intake parameters 244 (8.84) / 280 (12.65) / 245 (9.68), exhaust 240 (8.59) / 278 (12.14) / 244 (8.74), double valve springs, compression ratio 11.5. This engine uses balancer shafts. In 2007, the K20A engine was upgraded, the intake manifold changed, the throttle valve increased to 64 mm (it was 62 mm), the cylinder head (intake, exhaust) was modified, reinforced connecting rods were installed, the compression ratio increased to 11.7, the inclusion of the VTEC system was shifted 200 rpm down and it now starts at 5800 rpm. The exhaust manifold 4-2-1 and the exhaust as a whole have been changed and improved, the pipe diameter has remained the same (54 mm). What did it all give? The power of the upgraded engine has increased to 220 hp. at 8000 rpm, torque increased from 206 Nm at 7000 rpm to 215 Nm at 6100 rpm. Cut-off shifted to 8600 rpm. Such an engine was installed on the Japanese Civic Type R FD2.
  2. K20A1 – Civilian version of K20A, piston for a low compression ratio of 9.8 was replaced, quiet camshafts were installed, intake / exhaust channels of a smaller diameter, power 155 hp. There is a engine on a Honda Stream.
  3. K20A2 – A sporty 201-horsepower engine, with a different short intake manifold, there are oil nozzles, a different crankshaft, different connecting rods and pistons. And also, evil camshafts with intake parameters 238 (7.36) / 278 (12.42) / 240 (7.82), issue 240 (7.14) / 280 (11.12) / 242 (7.72) were used. The engine spins up to 7900 rpm. The compression ratio is increased to 11, iVTEC turns on at 5800 rpm. (6000 rpm for Civic Type-R).
  4. K20A3 – A civilian engine with an i-VTEC system for adjusting the valve timing on the intake shaft. VTEC shifting is set to 2200 rpm. At the inlet is a two-stage manifold that switches to 4600 rpm. Compression ratio 9.8, power 160 forces. Found on RSX and Civic.
  5. K20A4 / K20A5 / K20A6 – The same civilian engine, compression ratio 9.8, power 150/152/155 hp. Differences in VTEC.
  6. K20Z1 – Sports high-revving engine for Type-S versions, modified by K20A2, intake / exhaust changes, shafts a little meaner, i-VTEC turns on after 5800 rpm. Power 210 hp at 7800 rpm, torque 194 Nm at 6200 rpm.
  7. K20Z2 – Simple engine , compression ratio 9.8, power 155 hp at 6000 rpm, torque 188 Nm at 4500 rpm.
  8. K20Z3 – Sports version with a full i-VTEC that switches to 5800 rpm. Also used an electronic throttle, modified camshafts, modified intake / exhaust, compression ratio 11, power 197 hp. at 7800 rpm, torque 188 Nm at 6200 rpm. The engine was installed on a Honda Civic Si.
  9. K20Z4 – Similar to K20Z3 modification, different camshafts, iVTEC turns on 400 rpm earlier, at 5400 rpm. Power 201 hp at 7800 rpm, torque 193 Nm at 6800 rpm. Found on European Honda Civic Type R.
  10. K20C1 – Is a turbocharged engine for the Civic Type R. The engine is equipped with direct fuel injection, VTEC system on the intake and exhaust shafts, modified intake channels and a turbine that blows 1.4 bar. Pistons for 9.8 compression, forged connecting rods and a lightweight crankshaft were also used. Engine power Type R – 310 hp at 6500 rpm, torque 400 Nm at 2500-4500 rpm. The cutoff is set to 7000 rpm.
  11. K20C2 – Naturally aspirated engine for a regular Civic. It uses direct fuel injection with i-VTEC on both camshafts. The engine uses a light crankshaft, new pistons for a compression ratio of 10.8, a modified cylinder head, with different combustion chambers. The power of this engine is 158 hp. at 6500 rpm, torque 187 Nm at 4200 rpm.

Honda 2.0 i-VTEC K20 Malfunctions and Problems

  1. Engine knock: Most often, this problem is caused by exhaust camshaft wear, this is a disease of the 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine, nothing unusual. Solution: buy a new camshaft. Another reason for engine knocking is misaligned valves.
  2. Oil leaks: A common problem is the front crankshaft oil seal is leaking. Replacement solves all issues.
  3. Swim speed: In most cases, this problem is solved by banal cleaning of the throttle and idle valve.
  4. Vibration of the 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine: Check the engine mounts, on heavily traveled internal combustion engines, it is possible that the timing chain is stretched.
  5. Gas equipment: Do not, under any circumstances, install HBO. There are cases when the valves crumbled after only 50,000 km of operation on gas. In a word: if someone wants to drive on “blue fuel”, then he must choose another car. Repairs are very expensive and labor intensive. To put the head in order, you will have to replace several expensive elements. And it is not at all necessary that after the repair everything will work as it should.
    Symptoms: uneven operation, noise (knocking) at idle, one of the cylinders does not work, there is no compression.
  6. Camshaft: A batch of K20AX engines (where X is a number from 1 to 6, the problem mainly concerns A6) had a manufacturing defect: after 100-150 thousand km, signs of wear appeared on the cams of the shaft that controlled the intake valves (less often the exhaust valves). The good news is that in many instances the repair was carried out under warranty. Otherwise, you will have to pay at least $500.
    Symptoms: noisy operation (knocking) at idle, the so-called “slaps” of valves during spinning up, the “Check Engine” light is on.
  7. Increased oil consumption: The problem mainly concerns the 200 and 201-horsepower version of the engine used in the Civic Type-R. The maximum torque is available only at 5900 rpm, which means that the engine often has to be turned to the red sector. In such a situation, oil loss is quite normal and does not indicate any malfunction. The only thing that can be done is to regularly check the oil level and top up if necessary. The manufacturer recommends using 5W-30 or 10W-40 oil.
    Symptoms: low oil level, loud engine operation.

In addition, the first engines had problems with local overheating of the 4th cylinder, since 2003 the problem has been solved.

The engine itself is good, but it loves high-quality gasoline and good oil, under these conditions it drives for a long time and reliably, the 2.0 i-VTEC K20A resource is about 300,000 km or more.

Sports versions lend themselves well to tuning and are bought by the right people, such engines are usually more tired, keep this in mind when buying.

Honda 2.0 i-VTEC K20 Diagnostics

It is worth noting the diagnostic system that the 2.0 i-VTEC K20A engine is equipped with. Characteristics and work process consists of the following items:

  1. The electronic control unit (ECU) is equipped with a built-in self-diagnosis system that continuously monitors the engine condition based on signals from various sensors. In the event of a malfunction, the system identifies it and alerts the driver by activating the Check Engine indicator on the instrument panel. In this case, the corresponding diagnostic code of the ISO 15031-6 standard and manufacturer’s codes are written directly to the computer memory.
  2. In order to read diagnostic codes, you need to connect a special scanner to the DLC connector. There is the possibility of deleting codes and reading Freeze Frame data using a scanner. The diagnostic connector is made according to the SAE standard, and pin No. 7 is made according to the international ISO standard. This output has support for information exchange via K-LINE.
  3. When writing most of the codes, an algorithm consisting of two stages is used. It is used in such a way that at the first manifestation of a malfunction, its code is temporarily recorded in the memory of the computer. If this malfunction reappears during the next operating cycle, then in this case the Check Engine indicator is activated.
  4. Driving test No. 2 is carried out in the same way and with the same driving mode, but the prerequisite is that the ignition must be switched off between cycles.
    If any malfunction occurs, the conditions under which it arose are recorded in the memory of the computer (Freeze Frame).

Conclusion

It’s a pity that exhaust gas regulations supplanted the 2.0 i-VTEC K20 engine. This is truly one of the best naturally aspirated gasoline engines in its class.

If you have an early years Honda Accord VII , then check its service history (camshaft replacement). Don’t forget to check the oil level regularly.

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