Summary Reader Response Draft 2

The web page "What is Honda VTEC and how it works" (Alex Hevesey, 2023) introduces the concept of VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Electronic Lift Control), which is mainly used by Japanese automotive maker, Honda. VTEC makes use of rocker arms and camshaft to control the output power of the engine. Principally, at low RPMs, the rocker arms are engaged with the camshaft lobes which are of a less aggressive profile, in this case of the article, two of the three rocker arms are engaged to the camshaft. Higher engine revolutions per minute (RPMs) would see all three rocker arms on each cylinder fully engaged and performing at their peaked potential. VTEC was essentially made with the idea of maximizing mileage (Km/L) while still ensuring the vehicle is able to eke out every bit of performance that is available in the engine through the action of the rocker arms and camshafts. 


Honda led the industry by introducing VTEC, 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.


With the dual-profile camshaft and lift control, 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 the dual-profile camshaft and lift control in VTEC achieves the balance of power and fuel economy. At lower to mid-range 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 should there be any issues considering the labor-intensive work and price of the original Honda parts (Sapko, 2022) as it involves removing the engine from the vehicle to be able to reach and access it. While VTEC solenoids in the engines rarely break down, it is common for VTEC to not engage properly. This is due to VTEC mainly utilizing electronics to actuate which is prone to issues occurring if wires are faulty or when terminal connections are loose (VTEC Troubleshooting - Tricks Of The Trade, 2010). It is common knowledge that in vehicle maintenance, handling electronics is often more expensive and tedious as compared to mechanical parts as it requires specialized expertise and expensive electronic components for replacement.


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. https://us.misumi-ec.com/blog/variable-valve-timing-benefits-fuel-efficiency/

Perkins, C. (2023, April 7). How VTEC Changed the World. Road & Track. 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. https://cararac.com/blog/honda-vtec-engine-problems-durability.html

VTEC®. (2022, February 7). Honda Newsroom. 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. https://vinsautogroup.com.sg/why-is-the-honda-vtec-engine-so-pooular/

VTEC Troubleshooting - Tricks Of The Trade. (2010, November 1). MotorTrend. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/impp-1012-vtec-troubleshooting-tricks-of-trade/





 

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