I've owned my RA for a while now and I've noticed with the Mivec, it has different power personalities. If I drive like a grandma it'll stay in a low output mode, but if I drive hard it'll have a very noticeable difference. I'm wondering if there is a way to either keep it in high output, or to kick it into high output.

 

there are a number of different parameters that need to be satisfied for MIVEC to engage, the main ones are engine oil pressure, coolant temperature, engine RPM, and throttle position...I think even vehicle speed is one.


MIVEC only works at higher RPM and you would lose power and torque in the low end, and your idle would be terrible, if it would even idle...the idea of variable valve lift/timing is to make more power across a broader band. when the primary cam runs out of steam, that is where the MIVEC cam lobes come in to save the day, and keep the power increasing instead of falling flat. and the primary cam gives you a smooth idle, and cruise at lower rpm.


I've never actually tried engaging MIVEC full-time...I asked hackish about it a long time ago, and he doesn't recommend it...the people who designed the engine made it the way it is for a reason...

 

Fair enough, although that doesn't sound like what happens with my car; instead of MIVEC activating at a certain RPM, it affects the entire RPM band and has different levels of output depending mostly on what RPM I shift at. I'll have to look into it further.

 

different shift points will put you at a different point in the power band in the next gear...also your power band changes from gear to gear because of differences in airflow, and thus load is different from gear to gear as well, and ignition timing and air fuel ratio depends heavily on load vs RPM...is there a problem with the car? or were you just asking?

 

I was just asking, nothing wrong with the car. Thanks for the info.