niju321

everyone seems to say that when vtec engages, it's an obvious kick in the pants, that the engine sound changes and the car surges forward....mine definitely does not do that. so how much do you really feel it? mine doesn't seem to slack off or anything, i'm just not getting some crazy surge around the 5k mark like the above guy's face suggests i should be.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

There's more to VTEC kicking in than just RPM. Oil pressure, oil temps, etc.

You mean you NEVER feel it? Maybe the screen filter is dirty?

niju321

generally, the only times i really push the car are when i seafoam it (i've done so twice). no, i haven't really ever felt anything other than continued power. what screen filter?

fsttyms1

Do you have a intake? If your running the stock intake its not very noticeable. Are you letting the motor run to redline or letting off shortly after vtec engages? Also i see you have a 99 so yours engages much earlier than 5, yours is 3.8-low 4s if i remember right.

niju321

car is completely stock. and i don't redline it on seafoam, but while...um...demonstrating the car's power to adjacent vehicles, i have redlined it. if it's that low i'll try and notice it there.

not very noticeable--summer/when it warms up project: remove resonator

jaMezBOI

iTrader: (3)

Its alot more noticeable when you get a cold air intake.

Just floor the car and when the rpms pass, whenever it kicks in im not sure about 99's, then just listen and pay attention to the slight pull u will feel. I've had times where I barely have traction and vtec kicks in and just breaks loose and spins. I love the sound/feeling of vtec.

mlrskn06

iTrader: (2)

^^ yeah same here when i first got the car i loved that feeling but since i've had my car i've prbly hit vtec like 5 times and i've had it for a little over 2 years... but i do remember it feels amazing...

TheMegalodon

It's far more noticeable in the weak 4 cyl hondas than in our v6s in my opinion. Since the J series has reasonable midrange torque you're going to feel the most pull there. Vtec mostly sounds nice.

-Vip3r-

hell naw man.. i dunno about you. but with a type-s with intake/exhaust, once vtec kicks in you hear the car literally scream.. you can see the needle climb quicker on the RPMS and speedo. well atleast i can

01tl4tl

while its not a 50 HP shot of power it will make you feel accelleration forces into the seat

fsttyms1

Quit watching Fast and the Furious. Its not like in the movies when they flip the switch for Nitrous and tail lights start blurring and you accelerating like you just went into warp drive.

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

i took a few vids of my 99 before i sold it... mine was in the 4.25-4.4 range.

hard to judge exact without a high speed cam though.

and like said above OP... its def. not a nitrous feeling... but my motor was stock and you could Hear and Feel when mine was engaging.

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

you're low on vtec fluid.

phee

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like a bad muffler bearing

01tl4tl

with a k&N filter and removed intake resonator box you can tell exactly when it kicks in
Sound goes deep and throaty, like the sexxxy beetch she is~, sound of airflow increases, slight push into seat

do a wiki search for vtec- there are pics of what it does and how it operates in the valvetrain changes
Need to keep oil passages clean (seafoam oil before change) as that actuates and runs vtec off changes in the oil pressure with rpm and throttle position

Need clean plugs pistons valves and injectors for it to work to max effect-seafoam does all that or bg or wynns or honda stuff-
all cost more than seafoam

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

its really suppose to throw you into the back seat.

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

dont forget the turn signal fluid

spoka

iTrader: (6)

Did you purchase the TL non vtec?

LeeDan00

even when my car was stock i felt vtec pull through redline.

nayaab88

Shit, I can definately feel my Toyota when it hits v-tec, if you can't feel it then somethings definitely wrong, just invest in one of these

VoLLy

iTrader: (8)

I was wondering does the Inspire 2.5 have vtec?

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

^ I believe it does.

niju321

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

fixed

niju321

did a little more testing today, but it was a 35 zone and wet so i had to use relatively light throttle in 1st to avoid vaporizing the tires/getting a ticket...there is a slight change in noise at about 4000rpm...that's about it. i will try it on the highway and see if i get more of a kick, 01tl mentioned it's dependent on oil pressure and my testing probably didn't increase it all that much. i have replenished my vtec and turn signal fluid as well. dunno how to check the muffler bearings, what's the life span on those things? hopefully better than the transmission

jdjohn84

Hard to engage vtec with just normal city driving. Too many traffic lights and grannies getting in the way. I blew my helsinki smash rod last time I tried.

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

anything will outlast the trannies

stlswagger

VTEC is the new turbo dude so rock on! At about 5500 RPM, I become one with my seat as the incredible force of VTEC haunts my soul...

wise2k

Yup, I have a 99 and it is right around 3.8 rpms. I notice the surge and feel the energy afterwards but not so much on the sound.
It is not gonna push you against the seat but you will feel it and the speed will climb faster. If you're expecting something like a NOS shot effect or movie stunt like, then lower your expectations unless you mod it like the others have said

Costco

If you don't feel your eyeballs pushing against the back of your skull, then something is wrong with your VTEC!!!

rcb2000

so are you running the seafoam through the oil before a change or through the intake via the gas to clean the top-end of the motor?

jaMezBOI

iTrader: (3)

You wont notice the vtec pull on the highway. Once you floor it and you are in second gear, your RPMs stay above where vtec kicks in.

The best way to notice VTEC is to go to an empty road. Turn off your traction control then put it down to D1 and use gate shifting, since our tiptronic is shit and shifts 1-2 by itself. Once you have traction at about 2000RPM floor it and make sure u have ur music off. You will hear and feel when it kicks in.

PiZauL

iTrader: (1)

Make sure the vtec setting is turned on high, also should probably check the ground pressure. Now that I think about it, the firewall gasket leaks sometimes and that causes VTEC to malfunction. Plus since its kinda cold out, might need to fill the tires up with some winter air, I bet your still running summer air.

niju321

i have done all 3 seafoam methods: oil, intake and gas.

i will try this.

i've got winter air in the tires, but i think i forgot to lube the flux capacitor

arrogantbastard

What he said. The VTEC switchover is a LOT more noticeable in my RSX than my TL.

Ken1997TL

DOHC VTEC motors have a far more noticeable VTEC crossover point. The gains are a sharp spike in power and noise.

S2000, Prelude, Integra etc.

The SOHC VTEC motors are more 'tame' and tuned for a broad powerband.

rkan121

variable timing!!!!! my tl-s rocks. Is there any differnce between type s and premium????

01tl4tl

type S cars get different cams, intake and plenums for start- +35hp as a result

Seafoam noobs should repeat vac and gas in a month to get residual crud
Oil method of driving 30 minutes should include a few trips to vtec so oil flows thru the sensors and operators, vtec operates on oil pressure/pressure changers with rpm!
the vtec sliders get gummed up and wont operate,,,a problem discovered on gen3 and applies to us (afaik) so I do the extra cleaning to be safe

No need to turn off vsa or go from a stop- be rolling at 3500 rpm in 2nd gear and floor it, somewhere between 3700 and 4500 depending on year- it will go into vtec and a large increase in intake air sound is heard and a pushing feel into the seat, now go back down to 3500 and repeat until you know where yours comes on 4200 4300 etc

If it doesnt work at all, there is an electrical connector that gets seperated at trans change and has been forgotten to be reattached,,,,, ~on more than one car~

If still not sure- attend a ziner Meets in your area and have someone ride with you

niju321

makes sense....i had a tsx loaner while my car was getting a new trans, and above a certain rpm point it would really pull, even on part throttle...was hoping to get the same thing on my baby...maybe i'll put in the k&n filter and see if that helps

01tl4tl

wait- you just got a new trans?
the connector wire for vtec may not be plugged together- no kidding