H23A vs. H22A with Dyno overlay - Honda Prelude Forum

Zimmlude · 12-26-2002, 10:30 PM

Hello,

I have been looking for these for a long time to compare the two engines across the powerband and see where each excells. Here are the specs on the two engines. I pulled these plots and specs from ntpog.com:

H22A4
Model: 1998 Base, 5 Speed, H22A 2.2L VTEC
Max Power: 162
Max Torque: 136

Mods:
UR Underdrive pulley, AEM CAI,GReddy PE Exhaust, NGK Copper spark plugs

H23A1
Model: 1996 Si, 5-Speed, H23 2.3L
Max Power: 142
Max Torque: 140

Mods:
Iceman Intake, DC Sports Header, Custom Dual Exhaust, AEM True-Time Cam Gear

Here are the two plots:

Horsepower:

Torque:

Each engine should be obvious which one is which.

From what I see the benifits of the H22 don't come into play until sfter 5500 rpm and you never see as much torque as the H23. As far as the difference in mods I think that they are close enough to give at least semi-accurate results.

Discussion?

ancient · 12-26-2002, 10:44 PM

Are you racing in rpm ranges of 1-5500? nope......

h22a wins...... thanks come again.

Si4WS · 12-26-2002, 10:46 PM

This has been posted before I think. There was a good thread on it too. I think for ultimate power in an NA application the H22 is the better choice due to its higher compression and higher factory redline. On the other hand in a boosted Lude I would go for the H23 due to its lower compression and less monsters to find in the turbo application working with VTEC.

otime12 · 12-26-2002, 11:01 PM

you cant really compare, they are 2 different styles of driving....
in ANY race h22 will win. At ANY race weather from 0, 30mph or 100mph, h22 driver will always stay around 5000+ rpms and beat the H23.

2 totally different styles of driving, so the low end h23 advantage doesnt really matter because WE NEVER STAY DOWN THERE FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILISECONDS..

Satan_SRV · 12-26-2002, 11:08 PM

Seems like a nobrainer to me...

Ignoring VTEC, H22 and H23 are basically the same engine, and the H23 and non-vtec lobes are likely also very similar. The compression is 9.8 vs. 10.0, basically the same.

So the advantage goes to the H23 because it has a longer stroke which creates more torque, and displacement for hp...

But the H22a has VTEC, which makes all the difference...

Zimmlude · 12-26-2002, 11:08 PM

Well I wanted to conpare something more than just racing. I wanted to see how each acted on regular city driving when you rarely spend time ABOVE 5500 rpm. I absolutly love the lowend torque in the H23. If you refer to my post inthe general disscussion forum I have an idea to make my H23 into a beast. JDM H22A 10.6:1 CR pistons in the H23 block yeilds 11.8:1 or about a 20 whp increase and no sacrifice in torque to be seen. But that is beside the point, These graphs tell me that during most of my driving time (spent below 5500 rpm) I will see more benefits from the H23.

L-U-R-C-H · 12-27-2002, 01:31 PM

In my thinking when in a race are you under 5500 rpm? Just think about it!

mario24601 · 12-27-2002, 01:38 PM

they are BOTH great engines!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonik_Fury · 12-27-2002, 02:02 PM

I'm not bashing the h23a at all here, BUT, does it seem to you guys that the only ones trying to prove that the h23a is a equal, or better engine are Si owners. You will never here a VTEC owner saying ,"Man, I wish I had an Si!". Think about the h22a: floating wrist pins, underpiston oil squirters, a redline over 7000rpm, and the engine actually pulls hard ALL the way to redline. You can't argue with a 35hp advantage.

mario24601 · 12-27-2002, 03:04 PM

true...so if you want to really drive hard, get the VTEC, if you dont race or like to drive REALLY hard, get the Si, I have had both, I like both...they are just different!

Zimmlude · 12-27-2002, 03:10 PM

Good point mario. It completely depends on how you drive your car. Me personally, I spend 98% of my time under 5500 rpm so the Si works great for me. I would like to get more HP out of the engine though for those times when I do need to go fast, hence my thoughts on replacing the pistons.

The only reason I posted this up is that I have been looking for a good overlay for some time and no one could give one for two cars with similar mods.

luder94si · 12-27-2002, 06:04 PM

But which one would you rather have in an autocross should be the real question (since a prelude is NOT a straight-line speed machine)....personally I'd rather have my Si

ME · 12-27-2002, 07:21 PM

Is the H23 torquier yes. Is the H22 funner to drive yes.

Take any engine and short shift it and you'll severely cripple its acceleration. So the whole "below 5500 rpm" argument pointless, the nature of street driving requires you to short shift. When you race or drive a car hard that's when the power matters. And there the H22 wins hands down.

MR.CLIFFORD · 12-27-2002, 09:14 PM

Those are some nice overlays

Si4WS · 12-27-2002, 09:19 PM

Well I don't know of anyone who can keep their car above 5500rpms at all times. Unless you slip the clutch on the launch you will need that usless torque under 5500rpms.

Brady92/4WS · 12-27-2002, 09:33 PM

vtec doesnt engage until 19mph (or 13mph i forget

) so you really cant launch in vtec, so you do need torque, but of course i want a vtec, and would much rather have...

Fast&furiuslude · 12-27-2002, 11:30 PM

When i had a h23 i always said the h23 is close to the vtec if not a drivers race but now that ive actually driven a h22 vtec and own one its like night and day b/w the motors.

Zimmlude · 12-28-2002, 03:01 AM

Well I hope I am able to get the best of both worlds. If I suceed I will gain around 20 whp and more torque and maintain my torque curve. I am not knocking the H22 in the slightest, on the contrary I think it is a wonderful engine. I just prefer to have a less high strung motor. I like the power and torque to come in nice and low so it isn't so out of reach at times. I like being able to be running in 5th at 60 mph and punch the gas peadle and get somewhere.

Jape · 12-28-2002, 03:04 AM

another h23 vs h22 thread huh...

well the only thing I want to add is that IMHO the VTEC is *NOT* funner to drive. I test drove a 5th Gen for hours and I really didnt think it had much oompf to it, shifting at 8k of course. On paper the VTEC is faster than my car by half a second which I can accept.

and the h22 guys saying they wish they had an h23... for turbo applications, absolutely.

other than that, we're beating the crap outta a dead horse here.

the h22 is faster than the h23. one slow engine is faster than another slow engine. whoop-de-do. go run to a wrx forum and tell them the h22 is a fast engine.

XKALIE · 12-28-2002, 10:16 AM

Is still in love with his SI, and has taken out many Vtec's