History

The Honda A-series engines succeeded the earlier EZ, ES, BS and ET engines in the Honda Accord and Prelude. There were several variations, ranging from the 1.6 liter A16A to the 2.0 liter A20A. All A-series engines have iron blocks with single overhead camshaft aluminum heads. They came in both carbureted

Carburetor

A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....

 and fuel-injected

Fuel injection

Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....

 configurations.

Technology and advancement

The A-series engines don't have the VTEC

VTEC

VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...

 system. The later models of the A20A3 and A20A4 used a dual-stage runner intake manifold design, 4-2-1 headers

Exhaust manifold

In automotive engineering, an exhaust manifold collects the exhaust gases from multiple cylinders into one pipe. The word manifold comes from the Old English word manigfeald and refers to the folding together of multiple inputs and outputs.In contrast, an inlet manifold is the part of an engine...

, and a more advanced electronic distributor. The Programmed fuel injection

Programmed fuel injection

Programmed Fuel Injection, or PGMFI/PGM-FI, is an electronic fuel injection system initially developed by Honda more than 20 years ago. This system has been applied to Honda motorcycles, Formula One racing cars, and automobiles.-History:...

 engines were equipped with partial OBD-0 engine computers.

Aftermarket

The aftermarket

Aftermarket (automotive)

The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...

 has produced various parts for the Accord and Prelude A series engine. Most upgrades and modifications to the A-series engines are of the do-it-yourself variety, with one of the more popular being a turbo

Turbocharger

A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...

 setup.

A16A1

The A16A1 was a carburated 1.6 liter engine used in 1986-1989 Accords and Vigors outside the North American market. This engine was known as the EZ in 1984 and 1985, non-US Accords.

Specifications

• Carbureted
• Displacement: 1598 cc
• Bore: 80 mm (3.1 in)
• Stroke: 79.5 mm (3.1 in)
• Power:
  • 88 hp @ 6000 rpm
  • 91 ft.lbf torque @ 3500 rpm

A18A

The A18A engine was the 1.8 liter engine found in 1984-1987 Honda Prelude in the US. Outside North America, it was also available in the 1986-1989 Accords. It was known as the ET1 in the 1984 and 1985 non-US Accords.

Specifications

• Carbureted
• Displacement: 1829 cc
• Bore: 80 mm (3.1 in)
• Stroke: 91 mm (3.6 in)
• Power:
  • 110 hp @ 5800 rpm
  • 112 ft.lbf @ 3500 rpm

A20A

The A20A was available in both carbureted and fuel-injected versions. It has a SOHC 12-valve NON-CVCC

CVCC

CVCC is a trademark by the Honda Motor Company for an engine with reduced automotive emissions, which stood for "Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion". This technology allowed Honda's cars to meet United States emission standards in the 1970s without a catalytic converter...

 cylinder head, with two intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder. They were found in both Accords and Preludes during the 1980s.

A20A1 & A20A2

The A20A1 and A20A2 were the carbureted versions of the A20A engines. It was available in the 1984-1987 Honda Preludes as well as the 1982-1989 Accord DX and LX. They are the same engine, the only difference between them being that the A20A2 has no emissions components

Automobile emissions control

Vehicle emissions control is the study and practice of reducing the motor vehicle emissions -- emissions produced by motor vehicles, especially internal combustion engines....

, so it has a slightly higher power output.

Specifications

• Exhaust: 4-1 Cast Manifold
• Induction: Carbureted 2bbl Keihin ( Feedback Carb )
• Displacement: 1955 cc
• Bore: 82.7 mm (3.3 in)
• Stroke: 91 mm (3.6 in)
• Power (A20A1):
  • 98 hp
  • 109 ft.lbf at 3500 rpm

A20A3 and A20A4

The A20A3 and A20A4 were the fuel injected versions of the A20A engines. They were run by Honda's PGM-FI system on a partial OBD-0 computer. The A20A4 gives a slightly higher power output because of not having emissions components. The A20A3 was offered in the 1984-1987 Honda Prelude 2.0Si, the 1989 Honda Accord SE-i, and the 1986-1989 Honda Accord LX-i.

Specifications

• PGM-FI
• Displacement: 1955 cc
• Bore:82.7 mm (3.3 in)
• Stroke:91 mm (3.6 in)
• Power:
  • 1984-1987: 110 hp @ 5500 rpm & 114 ft.lbf @ 4500 rpm (12 valve)
  • 1988-1989: 120 hp @ 5500 rpm & 122 ft.lbf @ 4000 rpm (12 valve)