3-stage VTEC

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Three-stage VTEC is a multi-stage implementation of Honda's VTEC and VTEC-E (colloquially known as dual VTEC) technology, implemented in some of the company's D series engines from 1995 to the present day, allowing the engine to achieve both fuel efficiency and power. VTEC-E (for "Efficiency") is a form of VTEC that closes off one intake valve at low RPMs to give good economy at low power levels, while "VTEC" is a mode that allows for greater power at high RPMs, while giving relatively efficient performance at "normal" operating speeds. "Three-stage VTEC" gives both types in one engine, at the cost of greater complexity and expense.

Contents

Stage 1 – 12-valve VTEC-E

VTEC-E (economy) was designed to achieve better fuel economy, at the cost of performance. The engine operates in "12-valve mode", where one intake valve per cylinder in the 16-valve engine remains mostly closed to attain lean burn. The lean burn mode gets the air to fuel ratio above the 14.7:1 stoichiometric ratio and thus enables extra fuel saving. This works similarly to the principle which gave the Buick "Nailhead" V8 its reputation for high torque (in that case, the engine had notably small intake valves, giving good torque, but limiting peak power). In an engine running at lower RPMs, a smaller intake valve area forces a given volume of air to flow into the chamber faster; this causes the fuel to atomize better, and therefore burn far more efficiently. An average of 30 km/L (70.6 mpgUS) can be achieved while in lean burn at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). [1]

Stage 2 – 16 valve

At about 2500RPM and further the engine is able to switch to the 16-valve mode, which is usual to the classic engines. The first VTEC solenoid is opened and directs the oil to the sliding pin that connects the rocker arms of the intake valves with the first intake valve's lobe. Thus all the two intake valves are moving at the normal profile of that lobe. The engine's performance is usual to the non-VTEC engines. This mode is suitable for mid-range RPMs.

Stage 3 – 16-valve VTEC

From ~5200 RPM to the rev limiter, the engine's high-lift VTEC cam lobe is engaged. A higher lift lowers restriction even more, giving the highest airflow. If one built a non-VTEC engine to make the maximum power, the trade-off would be very low efficiency at low RPMs in order to get the most flow possible at high RPMs. A three-stage allows the engine to run in "economy", "standard", and "high power" modes, while a VTEC only gives "standard" and "high power", and a VTEC-E only gives "economy" and "standard". [2]

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  2. Compression: This stroke begins at B.D.C, or just at the end of the suction stroke, and ends at T.D.C. In this stroke the piston compresses the air-fuel mixture in preparation for ignition during the power stroke (below). Both the intake and exhaust valves are closed during this stage.
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The Bourke engine was an attempt by Russell Bourke, in the 1920s, to improve the two-stroke internal combustion engine. Despite finishing his design and building several working engines, the onset of World War II, lack of test results, and the poor health of his wife compounded to prevent his engine from ever coming successfully to market. The main claimed virtues of the design are that it has only two moving parts, is lightweight, has two power pulses per revolution, and does not need oil mixed into the fuel.

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The Toyota KR engine family is a straight-3 piston engine, designed by Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota. The 1KR series uses aluminium engine blocks and chain driven DOHC cylinder heads. It uses multi-point fuel injection, and has 4 valves per cylinder. Some versions have VVT-i variable valve timing. The engine is exceptionally light: 69 kg (152 lb) with all ancillaries. This is due to the nature of the applications and weight of city cars.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Civic (seventh generation)</span> Motor vehicle

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References

  1. Kong-Ngai Wong. "VTEC". asia.vtec.net.
  2. Wong, K. N. (May 2000). "D15B 1.5l SOHC VTEC". asia.vtec.net. Retrieved 24 January 2019.