Honda H22 2.2 engine

Honda H22 engine characteristics

The H22 engine manufactured by Honda Motor Company is an example of advanced technology that combines high power and efficiency. Let’s consider the main technical characteristics of this unit.

The H22 engine was developed and produced by Honda Motor Company from 1991 to 2001. It was installed on such models as Honda Accord Type R/Euro R, Honda Prelude and Honda Torneo.

Design and materials

The cylinder block of the H22 engine is made of aluminum, which provides not only light weight but also high strength. This four-cylinder inline engine is equipped with four valves per cylinder.

Technical Parameters

Power and torque

The H22 engine is available in several versions, each with different power and torque figures:

• Power: from 185 hp at 6,800 rpm to 220 hp at 7,200 rpm
• Torque: from 212 Nm at 5250 rpm to 222 Nm at 6700 rpm

Fuel and consumption

The engine runs on 95-98 octane fuel. Fuel consumption for the Honda Prelude 5 is 13.6 l/100 km in the city, 7.7 l/100 km on the highway and 9.9 l/100 km in the mixed cycle.

Performance characteristics

• Oil consumption: up to 500 grams per 1000 km
• Recommended oil: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, 15W-40, 15W-50
• Oil volume in the engine: 4.8 liters
• Oil change interval: 10000 km (better 5000 km to maintain optimal engine condition)

Tuning and durability

The H22 engine is known for its high potential for tuning, which can significantly increase power without significant loss in durability. In practice, this unit demonstrates the ability to overcome more than 200 thousand kilometers with proper maintenance.

Faults and repair of the Honda H22 engine

In September 1991, the production of Honda Prelude 4 generation began, which received a new sporty series of H engines, including H22 and H23. The H22 engine is a 4-cylinder aluminum cylinder block with FRM-coated cylinder walls and a height of 219.5 mm. Until 1997, all H22A engines had a closed block, from 1997 to 2001 – open block. Inside the block there is a crankshaft with a stroke of 90.7 mm and balancer shafts.

The length of connecting rods is 143 mm, piston diameter is 87 mm, and their compression height is 31 mm. This results in a displacement of 2.2 liters.

The H22A head is twin-shaft with 4 valves per cylinder and, as this is a sporty motor, it uses the well-known VTEC valve timing and valve lift system, which comes into play from 5800 rpm. Camshaft specifications for each model can be found just below. The diameter of the intake valves is 35 mm, and the exhaust valves are 30 mm.

Adjustment of valves on H22A is necessary every 40-50 thousand kilometers. Valve clearances (cold engine): inlet 0.15-0.19 mm, exhaust 0.17-0.21 mm.

Until 1997, these engines were equipped with 345 cc injectors, then they were replaced by 290 cc. All versions used a 60 mm throttle plate, except for the H22A red top.

Based on the H22A, a stroker version of the 2.3 liter H23A was produced.

Also in parallel with the H-series, a technically related F-series motor was produced, which included the F18, F20, F22 and F23.

The production of this motor was discontinued in 2001, and instead of it on fast Accords began to install K20A and K24A.

Modifications of Honda H22 engine

1. H22A – a range of JDM Honda versions, found with red or black valve cover.
   – The H22A with red cap (red-headed) is the meanest variant, which was put on the Prelude Type S/SiR S-Spec and Accord Euro R. It develops 220 hp at 7,200 rpm and 221 Nm at 6,500 rpm. It features humped pistons with an enlarged displacer, which increases the compression ratio to 11. Also, the red H22A uses its own intake manifold, 62.5 mm throttle body, light porting of the cylinder-head, its own exhaust manifold and 57 mm exhaust pipe. The camshafts on this motor are as follows: phase 306/310, lift 11.91/11.12 mm.
   The H22A Euro R engine from the Accord has a different intake manifold.
   – The H22A with black cap (blackhead) is the typical variant found on the Prelude Si, Prelude SiR and Accord SiR. This engine develops 190 hp at 6800 rpm and 206 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm. The second version has 200 hp at 6800 rpm, 219 Nm of torque at 5500 rpm.
   The black-headed H22A has camshafts with 288/308 phase, 11.38/10.54 mm lift. Such motors are equipped with pistons with a small displacer, respectively, the compression ratio is reduced to 10.6. Compared to the red H22A, here are used other intake and exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipe 51 mm.
2. H22A1 Black top – used camshafts as on JDM H22A Black top, compression ratio is reduced to 10. Power is 190 hp at 6800 rpm, torque is 214 Nm at 5500 rpm. It is found on North American Prelude SR-V, Prelude VTi-R.
3. H22A2 Black top – found on the European Prelude 4th generation. The camshafts are similar to H22A1, output is 185 hp at 6800 rpm, torque is 215 Nm at 5300 rpm
4. H22A3 Black top is a rare, almost nowhere to be found version for the Prelude 4. Technically similar to H22A2.
5. H22A4 Black top is an open block version of the H22A1 for the Prelude 5th generation, with a new control box. Power output 200 hp at 7000 rpm, torque 212 Nm at 5250 rpm.
6. H22A5 Black top – H22A2 version for the 5th Prelude VTi and Prelude VTi-S with a new control unit. Power 185 hp at 7000 rpm, torque 206 Nm at 5300 rpm.
7. H22A7 Red top – motor for European Accord Type-R, analog of H22A Red top from Euro R, but with a different exhaust manifold. Its head blow-by is slightly better than that of H22A from Type S. Power output is 212 hp at 7200 rpm, torque is 222 Nm at 6700 rpm.
8. H22A8 Red top – analog H22A7 for the European Prelude VTi and Prelude VTi-S. This motor was equipped with a head from H22A2 with camshafts from Type S. Power is 200 hp at 7200 rpm, torque is 212 Nm at 5250 rpm.
9. H22Z1 Black top – analog H22A4 for the Australian market with a different control unit, installed on Prelude VTi-R. Power output 200 hp at 7000 rpm, torque 212 Nm at 5250 rpm.

Problems and disadvantages of Honda H22A engines

• Oil burn. It is a common thing for such engines, most likely oil rings and caps are stuck. But there is a high chance that the cylinders have taken the form of an oval and then the replacement of rings will not save, then you need to liner the cylinder block or buy a new one.
• Oil leaks. Usually flow VTEC gasket, oil cooler gasket, camshaft plug and oil pressure sensor.
• Antifreeze leaks. Check the fuel valve, it’s probably the problem.
• Stupid H22A. Sometimes, because of the trampler, because of the timing belt tensioner, because of the lambda, because of unadjusted valves, and because of the detonation sensor and temperature sensors, the H22A is slow to respond to the gas pedal. This is a popular problem. Check all of these carefully.

To keep problems to a minimum, this engine should be serviced regularly, keep an eye on its condition, and use good oil. Otherwise, a low resource awaits you. In 99% of cases, these are old and worn out motors, which are poured what they can, serviced as cheaply as possible and driven for all the money.

Honda H22A engine tuning

An evil atmospheric

It would seem that 200-220 hp from a 2.2-liter motor is a lot, but there is no limit to perfection and you can properly spin this 4-cylinder motor. It does not matter what H22A to take as a basis, all the same will be changed shafts and will be made sawing the cylinder head, even if it is a red-headed H22 with factory porting. You can easily take a blackhead and get similar results.

First you need to overhaul the motor and fix all the existing problems, then you can install a H22A Euro R manifold, cold intake, bigger throttle (68-70mm), 4-2-1 manifold and exhaust system on 63mm pipe. That’s enough to revitalize the old X22 and make it drive more fun. You don’t need to go any further than that, you’ll be well spent, but any modern 2 liter turbo engine on a robot will be faster.

Next you need to do porting, even for the Red top, because the factory one is done without much fanaticism. You can leave the intake and exhaust valve diameters stock – 35/30mm. You need to remove the balancer shafts and plug the oil supply. It would be a good idea to buy Type S pistons for 11 compression ratio, lightweight connecting rods (you can leave stock) and valves, bronze guides, titanium plates, Skunk2 PRO2 camshafts, cut gears, Skunk2 springs, 360 cc injectors and Hondata. After tuning you will get about 250hp on the motor.

You can go further, increase the degree to 14, increase displacement, put throttles, methanol, evil shafts and spin 9000+, but it is very expensive and easier to buy another car.

H22A Turbo

In a gusseted block, with forged pistons under compression ratio 9, with H-beam connecting rods like Eagle, with tuning connecting rod and main liners, without balancer shafts, you can blow a Garrett T04e turbo under 350 engine horses at 1 bar. But you will need such things as a manifold under the turbo, intercooler, block-off HKS, studs ARP, pump Walbro 255, three-row radiator, tuning fuel rail with injectors 680 cc, fuel regulator, piping, exhaust on 76 mm pipe, wideband lambda, DAD and Hondata. By porting the cylinder head you can bring the head to a better condition, with valves, guides and springs.

If there is no money to strengthen the bottom, and inflate want, then inflate in the stock, up to 300 hp the motor should withstand.

MOTOR RATING: 4