Summary Reader Response Draft 1

Honda led the industry by introducing VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control), a groundbreaking innovation that provides users with many benefits through its dual-profile camshaft and lift control, despite not being the first manufacturer to introduce variable valve technology.

VTEC can increase the engine’s maximum speed, which leads to higher peak power as much as a 25% increase (Layosa, 2014). This is because as the engine revolution speed increases, the engine control unit signals a spool valve to channel oil pressure, activating a pin that will lock the other two outer rocker arms to the arm in the center. This will then force the two outer arms to react upon the center cam, leading to a longer duration, higher lift, and timing optimized for high-end horsepower, as explained by Honda themselves (VTEC®, 2022).

The implementation of VTEC achieves the balance of power and fuel economy. At lower to mid-range engine revolution per minute (RPMs), the engine can deliver improved fuel efficiency and torque for everyday driving conditions while at higher engine RPMs, it can provide higher power and performance (Why Is The Honda VTEC Engine So Popular?, n.d.). Depending on traffic conditions and demand, the driver has the option to stay within the low to mid-revolution range to gain fuel economy or go to a higher engine revolution range to gain power and performance.

With emission controls becoming increasingly stringent worldwide, exhaust emissions are also improved through the application of VTEC. The overlap between exhaust and intake valves means that exhaust gases will reenter the cylinder. By actuating VTEC at medium speeds with light engine loads like expressway travel, engine efficiency increases. The exhaust gas recirculation will therefore reduce the amount of fuel the engine requires to run the engine, improving fuel consumption (Layosa, 2014).

However, the application of VTEC in engines also includes drawbacks. This is mainly down to maintenance and issues with engine components. It is common for water pumps and thermostats to fail through mileage and over time and it is expensive to fix considering the labor effort and price of the original parts (Sapko, 2022). However, although these issues mentioned are common on Honda VTEC engines, the advantages that VTEC brings to the table far outweigh the disadvantages that come with it. With that being the case, it is no wonder that many consumers still choose Honda's VTEC engines. As long as the owner does his due diligence in maintaining the health of the engine, these issues will be minor.

In conclusion, Honda led the industry through innovation of fine-tuning and introducing their take on variable valve technology that brought about many benefits, mainly the balance between fuel economy and performance, coupled with their boldness to actively implement a technology that was not common at that time to a wide range of their vehicle lineup. This not only gave them credit for the technological advancements in vehicle power plants and a reputation for being an innovative manufacturer but also presented them with an edge over their rivals.


References

Layosa, C. (2014, July 1). What are the Effects of Changing Cam Timing on Power Output and Fuel Efficiency? Variable Valve Timing Benefits & Fuel Efficiency | MISUMI Mech Lab Blog. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://us.misumi-ec.com/blog/variable-valve-timing-benefits-fuel-efficiency/

Perkins, C. (2023, April 7). How VTEC Changed the World. Road & Track. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a43541298/how-vtec-changed-the-world/

Sapko, D. (2022, October 24). Honda VTEC Engine: Longevity, Problems, And Specs. CarAraC.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://cararac.com/blog/honda-vtec-engine-problems-durability.html

VTEC®. (2022, February 7). Honda Newsroom. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-b50efa689496a1943cdccc46490f00df-vtec

Why Is The Honda VTEC Engine So Popular? (n.d.). Vin's Automotive Group. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://vinsautogroup.com.sg/why-is-the-honda-vtec-engine-so-pooular/

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