Lift your hood and take a good look at your L66 engine

[BobbyP]

Look closely at the L66 engine and you'll see no compromises. No plastic intakes or valve covers are used. Precision manufactured aluminum castings. All the parts that require precision is manufactured in Japan and assembled in America or Japan.

For some reason the L66 VUE's entire power train was manufactured in Japan. This could be main reason why the L66 is such a smooth, reliable engine. No corners were cut.

[mellissam]

Look closely at the L66 engine and you'll see no compromises. No plastic intakes or valve covers are used. Precision manufactured aluminum castings. All the parts that require precision is manufactured in Japan and assembled in America or Japan.

For some reason the L66 VUE's entire power train was manufactured in Japan. This could be main reason why the L66 is such a smooth, reliable engine. No corners were cut.

Your in love with your engine, aren't you? :yes:

[burnout]

Your in love with your engine, aren't you? :yes:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c20/burnout8488/hondatec.jpg

:yes: :yes: :yes:

[OceanVue]

Now that is just too damn funny!

[BobbyP]

Your in love with your engine, aren't you? :yes:

It's a great piece of work. It's a nice piece of engineering. Nothing compromised. I've had leaking valve covers in the 80's because they were stamped steel. I really don't like composite valve covers because I believe heat, plastic, and oil products don't mix. My SC went it's whole life without leaking any oil. I'm a fan of cast aluminum covers.

[mwhite]

It's a great piece of work. It's a nice piece of engineering. Nothing compromised. I've had leaking valve covers in the 80's because they were stamped steel. I really don't like composite valve covers because I believe heat, plastic, and oil products don't mix. My SC went it's whole life without leaking any oil. I'm a fan of cast aluminum covers.

Live with a 4.6 Ford T-bird that cracked 2 plastic intake manifolds,the"updated" replacement was half plastic,half aluminum! Front was aluminum to "help" support altenator,but cracked at the back just like our first one! Chevy 5.3 in my truck is plastic also,but I believe you can hit it with a hammer and not do any damage! Just the difference between GM and Ford!! I love our L66 also!:yes:

[Schultzy]

All the parts that require precision is manufactured in Japan and assembled in America or Japan.

Thats the unfortunate part :hmm:

[binkybaby]

Yes, precision built like a Swiss watch, tuned like one of Jade Puget's guitars, strong and yet frugal.......the J35 is all that. It is such a sight to behold under the Binkymobile's hood that when i wash her i also clean and armor-all under the hood too. And yes i have noticed no plastic valve covers or intakes......yes indeed, what a piece of work it is. Of course performance mods and dress up parts will make a great thing even better.....:yes:

[Tom92SCm]

Here's a compromise- aluminum intake manifolds like to heat soak, raising the incoming air temp, reducing available power. Plastic intake manifolds, on the other hand, don't heat soak.

[BobbyP]

Here's a compromise- aluminum intake manifolds like to heat soak, raising the incoming air temp, reducing available power. Plastic intake manifolds, on the other hand, don't heat soak.

Considering the fuel efficiency and power output of the L66 this is not a problem. Honda now has versions of this engine as high as 300hp now. For an engine to run properly the intake should be regulated at a constant temperature. I can't see a plastic intake doing this job very well.

The main reason a manufacturer uses plastic is cost. They're cheaper. Plastic castings require very little machining to be used. The aluminum intake requires more labor to make, but will last the life of the car.

I'm certain the plastics and composites have been improved over the years. I've seen horror stories from owners of the Chrysler 2.7L V6, and Ford engines with failed plastic intakes, and leaking/cracked valve covers. Ive heard of problems with water pump impellers being made of plastic. I wonder if GM has started using them also?

If given the choice I would take the aluminum intakes and valve covers over the plastic ones.

Would I buy a Japanese car just to get the superior manufactured engine? Probably not. I guess it's loyalty.

Saturn owners have for years has never had class leading power plants. The current lineup of Saturns and GM 3.6L has been their finest overall offering to date.

[kodak_jack]

It's a great piece of work. It's a nice piece of engineering. Nothing compromised. I've had leaking valve covers in the 80's because they were stamped steel. I really don't like composite valve covers because I believe heat, plastic, and oil products don't mix. My SC went it's whole life without leaking any oil. I'm a fan of cast aluminum covers.

Plastic parts with Form-A-Gasket gaskets are what killed the GM V-6's. I'm still skeptical of the new GM 3.5 V-6. The only thing that tempers that fear for 07 buyers is the extended drivetrain warranty. If they didn't throw that in, I think they'd be in even deeper doo doo.

[1saxman]

And why not a polymer impeller on the water pump? Sounds like a good idea to me if they have the right plastic. The main problem with aluminum impellers is failure from pitting and corrosion caused by cavitation and old, acidic coolant.

[BobbyP]

And why not a polymer impeller on the water pump? Sounds like a good idea to me if they have the right plastic. The main problem with aluminum impellers is failure from pitting and corrosion caused by cavitation and old, acidic coolant.

I feel better with a metallic impeller than a plastic one in the hot coolant. I've never had a problem with metal impellers on water pumps. Bearing failure has been the only reason I've changed a pump in the past.

Possibly owners that never change their coolant on a regular basis have problems with metallic impellers. Many fleets monitor the acid levels in their coolants and change it before engine damage occurs.