The 1.6-liter gasoline engine Honda B16A was produced in Japan from 1989 to 2000 and was installed on sports modifications of such famous models as the Civic or Integra. It was the B16A power unit that was the first in the company to be equipped with VTEC phase control system.
Table of technical characteristics of the Honda B16A engine
| Characteristics | First generation (B16A SiR 1, B16A1) | Second generation (B16A SiR 2, B16A2 – B16A6) |
|---|---|---|
| Determined displacement, cm³ | 1595 | 1595 |
| Power system | Injector | Injector |
| Engine power, hp | 150 – 160 | 160 – 170 |
| Torque, Nm | 145 – 150 | 150 – 160 |
| Cylinder block | Aluminum R4 | Aluminum R4 |
| Cylinder head | Aluminum 16v | Aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 81 | 81 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 77.4 | 77.4 |
| Compression ratio | 10.2 | 10.2 – 10.4 |
| Engine Features | DOHC | DOHC |
| Hydrocompensators | No | No |
| Transmission timing | Belt | Belt |
| Fasor regulator | VTEC | VTEC |
| Turbocharger | No | No |
| What oil to use | 4.0 liter 5W-30 | 4.0 liter 5W-30 |
| Environmental class | Euro 2 | Euro 2/3 |
| Example service life, km | 330 000 | 320 000 |
| Engine weight, kg | 138 | 138 |
Models with this motor
The B16A motor was installed in the following car models:
| Vehicle Model | Years of manufacture |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-X 2 (EF) | 1989 – 1991 |
| Honda CR-X 3 (EG) | 1992 – 1998 |
| Honda Civic 4 (EF) | 1989 – 1991 |
| Honda Civic 5 (EG) | 1991 – 1995 |
| Honda Civic 6 (EJ) | 1995 – 2000 |
| Honda Integra 2 (DA5) | 1989 – 1993 |
Honda B16A/B16B engine build and repair
One of the most legendary Honda engines called B16 appeared in 1989 and showed crazy, for those times, data on liter power. It belonged to the well-known and revered B-series, which also included the B17, B18 and B20 engines. The cylinder block of the B16 was aluminum, 203 mm high. Inside, the crankshaft has a stroke of 77.4 mm, pistons with a diameter of 81 mm and a compression height of 30 mm. The connecting rods on the B16A are 134.3mm long. All this combined gives 1.6 liters of displacement.
The block is covered with a twin-shaft DOHC head with VTEC system.
More detailed description of the motor and all its versions can be found below.
Honda B16 uses timing belt. It is desirable to replace the timing belt every 100000 km. If the belt breaks, the motor will bend the valves, but at low revs you may get lucky.
On B16 it is necessary to perform valve adjustment every 40 thousand kilometers. Valve clearances on a cold motor: intake 0.15 mm, exhaust 0.19 mm.
Production of B16A and B16B continued until 2000, then they were replaced by K20A.
Modifications of Honda B16 engine
- B16A SiR 1 gen. – Honda’s legendary motor, with output of 100 hp from 1 liter of displacement. The diameter of the intake valves is 33 mm and the exhaust valves are 28 mm. Characteristics of camshafts B16A SiR: effective phase 230/227, lift 10.6/9.4 mm. Power output is 160 hp at 7600 rpm, torque is 150 Nm at 7000 rpm. This engine was used in Honda Civic SiR, CRX SiR and Integra.
- B16A SiR 2 gen. – Japanese version of the B16A SiR, which used other pistons under compression ratio of 10.4, a new intake camshaft with an effective phase of 240 and lift of 10.7 mm, throttle valve with a larger diameter (60 mm, instead of 58 mm on the B16A SiR) and the most important difference is the increased VTEC inscription on the valve cover. All this gave an increase of 10 hp and the power increased to 170 hp at 7800 rpm, and torque 160 Nm at 7300 rpm. The B16A SiR was used in the 2nd generation Civic SiR, CRX SiR and Integra.
- B16A1 – European motor with 150 hp at 7,600 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 7,100 rpm. It is found on the Civic and CRX.
- B16A2 is the engine for the Civic. It uses camshafts with an effective phase of 224/220, lift of 10.47/9.6 mm. Compression ratio is 10.2, power is 160 hp at 7600 rpm, torque is 150 Nm at 7500 rpm.
- B16A3 – motor for Honda Del Sol. Compression ratio 10.4, power 160 hp at 7600 rpm, torque 150 Nm at 7500 rpm.
- B16A5 – fitted to Civic SiR with automatic transmission. Power 170 hp at 7800 rpm, torque 150 Nm at 7300 rpm.
- B16A6 – Civic engine for the Middle East and South Africa. Power 160 hp at 7,800 rpm, 150 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm.
- B16B – To get even more power from the 1.6-liter displacement, Honda engineers took the 170-horsepower B16A SiR II and tweaked it to perfection. For starters, they took a 212mm-high B18 cylinder block and installed a custom crankshaft, 10.8 compression ratio pistons and 142.4mm-long lightweight connecting rods. In addition, the intake ducts were ported, and new plugs, reinforced springs for intake and exhaust valves and lightweight intake valves with a thin stem (diameter remained the same – 33 mm) were installed. The exhaust system has increased in diameter to 57 mm. The camshafts on the Type-R are as follows: effective phase 243/235, lift 11.5/10.5 mm. All these manipulations with the engine increased power to 185 hp at 8200 rpm, torque increased to 160 Nm at 7500 rpm, and the cutoff is set at 8400 rpm.
Honda B16A engine problems and disadvantages
This motor has no diseases or design flaws, it is a very reliable and durable powertrain. But time does not stand still, and even the newest engine has managed to roll hundreds of thousands of kilometers, which means that anything can break down at any time. Service your B16A on time, use normal oil, normal gasoline and everything will drive like an old engine should.
Significant Disadvantages:
- HBT. At a mileage of more than 150,000 km often punctures the cylinder head gasket.
- G timing belt. The service life of the belt is about 100 000 km, with its breakage there is a high probability of damage to the valves.
- The absence of hydrocompensators. The valves need to be adjusted every 40,000 km.
Honda B16A engine tuning
B16A Evil Atmo
The easiest tuning for this 160 hp engine (and any B16) is to buy a cold intake, a 4-1 B18C 98 Spec R (or other tuning) exhaust manifold and a straight-through exhaust on a 63 mm pipe. This will give a boost of up to 175-180 hp. Add a Skunk2/Type R intake manifold, Type R camshafts, cut gears, lightweight intake valves from Type R, pistons from the same, do porting as well, buy a Hondata and tune your motor. The result will be 200+ hp. Add a Toda lightweight flywheel, 70mm throttle, 340 cc injectors, ACL liners, ARP connecting rod bolts and cylinder head studs, Skunk2 Stage 2 camshafts, and bronze guides, titanium plates, valve springs and valves from Supertech. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to put pistons under 12 compression ratio, 7 gauge plugs and tune the motor. This will increase the power for 220 hp.
You can get even more power by installing this modified B16A head on a B20 block. With proper tuning this will give 250+ hp.
A stock B16 cylinder head and B20 block + intake/exhaust will give about 220hp.
B16A Turbo
You can put a turbo on a stock B16A or B16B and get extra power. For example, you need a TD05 turbo with manifold and intercooler, you need an oil drain and oil supply to the turbo, you need a westgate, blowoff, piping, Walbro 255 pump, AEM fuel rail and fuel regulator, 550 cc injectors, Skunk2 manifold, Type R camshafts with split gears, 63mm pipe exhaust, wideband lambda probe, Hondata brain. The stock bottom holds about 300 hp at the wheels, sometimes a little more, but it is better not to push to the limit and buy forging under compression ratio ~9. Besides forging you will need to buy H-beam connecting rods, strengthen the block, buy ACL liners, ARP connecting rod bolts and studs. You also need a complete rework of the cylinder head, but it is too expensive and are engaged in such work units.
MOTOR RATING: 5