The Three Most Frequent Honda K24 Engine Issues. The Honda K24 engine is part of the well-known K-series engine family. Despite their inception in 2001, Honda K engines are still in production today. It’s a long-lasting engine designed to replace the phenomenally popular Honda B-series engines. The Honda K24 is extremely dependable, but it is still susceptible to a few typical faults, which we will discuss in this post.
3 Common Honda K24 Issues
Among the most common issues with the K24 are:
- Crankshaft seal in the front
- Exhaust cam lobes deteriorate (“galling”).
- Tensioner for the timing chain
We’ll go over each of these issues in detail below. It’s worth noting that just because we’ve labeled certain issues as prevalent doesn’t mean they’ll affect every K24. Furthermore, the K24 engine, like any other engine, is susceptible to various potential defects and failures.
Before we get into the challenges, we’ll go over all of the different K24 engines. Many of the Honda K24 engines are affected by the usual issues we address. Some versions, however, may be more or less vulnerable to the difficulties. Nonetheless, all K24 types are dependable engines that should easily last 200,000 miles or more.
Variations on the K24 Engine
The K24 is powered by the following engines:
- K24A1, K24A2, K24A3, K24A4, K24A8
- K24W, K24W4, K24V5, K24V7, K24W7
- K24Y1, K24Y2
- K24Z1, K24Z2, K24Z3, K24Z4, K24Z5, K24Z6, K24Z7
As you can see, the Honda K24 comes in a variety of configurations. Given that the engine has been in production since 2001, it makes logical. Numerous variances are caused by emissions regulations. It’s also because of the large range of Honda and Acura vehicles that use the engine, each with a distinct power objective. The K24 is found in vehicles like as the CR-V, Accord, Odyssey, Element, and Civic Si. It’s also present in Acura models like the ILX, TSX, and TLX.
Honda K24 Common Issues
Each of the three frequent concerns mentioned above will be discussed in detail in the sections that follow. Again, these are problems that affect many engines in the K24 engine family. Yet, because there have been so many engines over such a long period of time, it is hard to include every single engine in a single post.
1) Oil Leaks from the Front Crankshaft Seal on the Honda K24
The front main seal is another name for the front crankshaft seal. The front crank seal on the Honda K24 is in charge of sealing the end of the crankshaft with the timing cover. In general, it’s a fairly straightforward component. A front main seal is simply a seal that prevents oil from flowing out the front of the crankshaft. The rubber seal, on the other hand, is known to wear out with age and miles. If this issue arises, it will most likely be after 120,000 miles. Some older K24s with little mileage may leak sooner because age can be just as difficult on seals as mileage.
It’s worth noting that the K24 features a rear main crankshaft seal. Likewise with the front main seal, the rear main seal can develop leaks with time. However, the rear main seal on the K24 appears to be less frequent than the front main seal. As a result, for the sake of this piece, we’re only concerned with the front.
Signs of a K24 Front Crank Seal Oil Leak
Among the signs of a leaky K24 front main seal are:
- There is a visible oil leak.
- Engine oil is low.
- The odor of smoking or burning oil
The initial symptom is the most noticeable. But, keep in mind that there are numerous different seals and gaskets in an engine that may leak. As a result, a visible leak does not always indicate a problem with the front main seal. If the K24 front main seal is leaking badly enough, you may find that you’re using more oil than usual. Honda K24 crankshaft seals produce fewer smoking or burning odors. The oil frequently falls down before it can burn off.
Cost of K24 Front Main Seal Replacement
Fortunately, Hondas are often inexpensive to repair, and the front main seal on the K24 is no exception. Depending on your precise K24 variant, the part is expected to cost between $10 and $30. Nowadays, $10 hardly buys a McDonald’s dinner, so this should be good news for the do-it-yourself folks. It’s a pretty low-cost repair. The job is simple and may be completed in a few hours by intermediate DIYers.
We appreciate, however, that not everyone wants to do their own car repairs. The damage from a leaky K24 front seal isn’t too bad. Some labor prices may vary depending on your location and the year/model of your vehicle. Still, a replacement at a repair facility should cost between $200 and $400. That seems reasonable to us. Nevertheless, we come from the BMW world, where practically any oil leak will cost $1,000 or more to repair.
Related : The Three Most Frequent Honda K20 Engine Issues
2) Exhaust Camshaft Lobes on K24 (Galling)
Camshafts, also known as camshafts, are located in the cylinder head and are responsible for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves. Cam lobes regulate the intake and exhaust valve lift. It’s difficult to explain in words, so instead, we’ll point you to this video if you want to understand more about cam lobes. With the K24, exhaust cam lobe galling is a pretty prevalent and well-documented problem. Excessive friction between the K24 cam lobes causes galling. It may cause the material to weld or attach to the point of contact where the excess friction occurs. It may also cause surface cracking or roughening.
While this problem could impact any Honda K24 engine variant, it appears to be most common on the K24A1 and K24A4. It can also be aggravated by thin oil or bad oil in general. We may be exaggerating when we say that exhaust camshaft galling is a prevalent problem. It is possible, however. We believed it was also worth mentioning because it is one of the more expensive repairs. Most people will not encounter this problem, but if they do, prepare to go more than 100,000 miles.
Symptoms of K24 Exhaust Cam Galling
The following are the primary signs of K24 exhaust cam galling:
- Clicking noise coming from the valve cover location
- Power decline
The camshafts are located within the cylinder head, which is located above the engine valve cover. If the issue is severe enough, you will be able to hear the friction as audible clicking or tapping sounds from the valve cover area. Also, if the galling and wear is severe enough, the K24 engine may lose power. This happens when the wear is severe enough that the valve lift is compromised.
Cost of K24 Exhaust Cam Replacement
Galling on the exhaust cam lobes of the K24 necessitates the replacement of the exhaust camshaft. It is also time consuming to complete. The exhaust camshaft will set you back a few hundred dollars. Yet, if they’re in there working on the engine anyhow, the DIY crowd might contemplate an upgrade. For example, these K24A2 drop in intake and exhaust cams may be an excellent option. It’s a little costly, but the performance gains and superior quality may be worth it. Changing the Honda K24 exhaust cam should only be attempted by skilled or patient do-it-yourselfers.
Expect to pay between $800 and $1500 for a camshaft replacement at a repair shop. It’s a little costly, but it’s not too horrible. Remember, this isn’t a frequent issue, and most K24 engines won’t encounter it.
3) Timing Chain Tensioner Issues on the Honda K24
Prior to the K-series engines, Honda used timing belts almost exclusively. The K20 and K24, on the other hand, switched to timing chains. The setup is nearly identical between timing chains. The distinction is that one utilizes a chain and the other a belt. Chains are often more durable and require less frequent repair. It’s fairly uncommon for a timing chain to last the whole life of a car.
Timing chains are connected to the crankshaft and camshaft and, as the name implies, control valve timing. The K24 timing chain is excellent in general. The timing chain tensioner, on the other hand, contains a weak link. The tensioner is in charge of maintaining tension on the exhaust side of the timing chain to keep it from slapping around. The spring within the timing chain tensioner is the major point of failure.
No K24 is immune to timing chain tensioner issues. However, it appears to be mostly a problem with early K24 engines. It’s also more common on K24s that have had their camshafts and valve springs adjusted.
Symptoms of K24 Timing Chain Tensioner Failure
The following are symptoms of faulty K24 timing chain tensioners:
- Rumbling/rattling noise
- Engine light on
- Trouble begin
- Internal engine failure
When the tensioner breaks, the timing chain accumulates too much slack and is unable to control valve timing appropriately. This can lead to a slew of other issues with the K24. When the chain becomes too slack, you will most likely hear a rattling or rumbling noise. Because of incorrect timing, the check engine light may appear. This can also lead to problems starting the car or the K24 stalling.
Not to alarm everyone, but this is unlikely. Yet, if left for an extended period of time, internal harm may result. If the timing is too off, the intake and exhaust valves may come into contact with the pistons. That’s a formula for disaster, and in many situations will result in engine replacement. Although unlikely, it is possible.
Cost of K24 Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement
Depending on the year and model, the components could cost between $100 and $400. Since they’re in there, some people prefer to replace the complete K24 timing chain. Others simply change the tensioner. Nonetheless, it’s a labor-intensive but not overly difficult task. Skilled do-it-yourselfers will still find it a lengthy fix, but it should be pretty simple. Those with less expertise should be patient, as it may take a whole weekend out in the garage.
This job might cost between $700 and $1200 in a repair shop. The dealership may even charge you more, therefore we recommend that you find a competent independent repair shop. According to the books, replacing the timing chain and/or tensioner will take between 6 and 10 hours.
Honda K24 Dependability
We’re including this section to be as clear as possible about K24 reliability. Some of the issues listed above may only impact a subset of Honda K24 engines. In that aspect, calling them common may not necessarily be accurate. As a result, we attempt to utilize phrases like “most prevalent K24 difficulties.” It’s impossible to say how many Hondas were affected by the problems.
Yet we may tell what we do know about K24 dependability. One, it’s a wonderful engine overall, very reliable, and should easily go 200,000 – 300,000 miles. In that long of a lifespan, almost all engines will have a problem or a few problems. Engines use a variety of wear and tear components that deteriorate with age and mileage. Part K24 dependability is determined by the luck of the draw. Such factors include maintenance history and driving style.
There are numerous aspects that contribute to dependability. K24 maintenance is one of the aspects over which you have control. Maintain your engine properly, and the K24 should run smoothly for the rest of its life. And it has a long life span.
K24 Summary of Common Issues
This may seem repeating, but the K24 is a truly wonderful and dependable engine. It has a long history and may be found in a variety of Honda and Acura models. Front main seal oil leaks, exhaust cam galling, and timing chain tensioner failure are the three most common issues. Certain K24 variants may be more or less prone to these issues. They’re also not necessarily common difficulties, but rather three of the more common ones on the K24.
Maintain your Honda K24 properly, and you should have a relatively trouble-free 200,000+ mile lifespan. Generally, expect to encounter a few glitches along the way, especially as the engine ages. Yet, the K24 is expected to be a dependable and enjoyable engine for a long time.
