Does anyone know if there are any real mechanical differences between the F20c engines made between 2000-2003 vs the 2004+ ones? i.e. if Honda upgraded the retainers to AP2 ones?

I've only noticed the spark plug covers were different, but that's about it (because I've never opened up the engine up myself to compare)

2000-2003 (has "H DOHC/VTEC)


2004+ (has HONDA DOHC/VTEC)

 

In europe the only difference we have found is the vtec cross over is smoother.
There are no mechnical difference we have found.
Though I'm confident the +04 cars have the later valve retainers on.

 

uhhh the 00-03 (AP1) are 2.0 liters while the 04-08 (AP2) are 2.2 liters...major difference...red line dropped from 9k to 8k but the AP2 gaines some torque...as to the mechanical differences i'm not knowledgeable on that...one more thing, the 06-08 AP2's have drive by wire instead of a cable throttle

 

I meant the 2.0L engine that Honda kept making for Japan, Europe, etc. even after US/Canada got the 2.2L engine.

Wanted to see if I should "upgrade" my retainers to AP2 ones, since those are stronger.

In any case, I did feel that the VTEC engagement was a bit smoother on my 2004 AP1 than the USDM AP1s that I've driven. However, my comparison wasn't back-to-back and I thought it wasn't anything real. Any thoughts on how the VTEC engagement got smoother?

 

Honda changed the map slightly
To stop people binning it went VTEC suddenly cam in on a corner

 

he's talking about outside the US, where the 04-05 motors were still 2.0L

nice try though!

 

Yes, for Europe is still 2.0lt.

 

The last strong hold of the F20C

 

With US cars, the F20C got an ECU programming upgrade for MY02, so MY02-03 cars run a little leaner and make a little more power than MY00-01 cars. The ECU reprogramming also accounts for the smoother transition into VTEC in the later cars.