BLOWN Acura RSX Type S K20A2 Complete Engine Teardown! I... I Did NOT Expect This!

If this is the first teardown you are finding, there are over 20 others I've done! Lots of LS's, A viper engine, rx8 rotary, and a couple SRT8 Hemi's to name a few. Check them out here • Blown Up Engine Tear D...
My name is Eric and I own and run a full service auto salvage business called Importapart located in the Saint Louis MO area. Part of our model is dismantling and selling parts from rare and niche market engines. If you're interested in buying parts from other engines I've torn down, email us at [e-mail].
In this video I tear down a 2002-2004 Acura RSX Type S K20A2 Engine. This engine we pulled from a local self service salvage yard, sort of an atypical situation but we do get these with the intent to part out from time to time. I want to apologize for the lost audio and lack of filming showing the rods and pistons being removed. This teardown took some gnarly turns and was NOT what I expected.
As always, I appreciate all of the feedback, comments and even the criticism. This is an evolving process for me and I hope to improve as I go.
Catch you on the next one!
-Eric

[@PolkStreet44]

My milkshake brings all the rods to the yard...

[@christophertstone]

"Piston McNuggets" -- Excellent, keep them coming!

[@mrz80]

"extra inspection ports... crankcase ventilation..."

[@jokrkillah]

That's exactly what happened to mine when mine dropped a valve when I missed shift

[@MrCumstein]

It’s their new 24 piece value meal. Sounds tasty.

[@mysock351C]

@@MrCumstein You can't have the Piston McNuggets without the Miss Shift sauce. I'm pretty certain the owner actually got two packs of it with his meal, here. Either the 2-1 sauce, or maybe the 3-2 sauce. Both are quite good and always come with infinite gap plugs.

[@MultiMightyQuinn]

These videos are like brain candy. Being a different type of geek, I respect your love of the craft. I hate that the best videos result in less money for you, but watching you diagnose issues and playing the "I bet I can figure it out before I get there" game is awesome to see. Love the content, please keep sharing!

[@justsumguy2u]

When you hear old-time car guys talking about an engine that 'ate a piston', this is exactly what they mean. This has all of the signs of the classic money shift

[@Funwithhighnotes]

Definitely a money shift. That was my first thought after seeing that spark plug.

[@AcuraLvR82]

was thinking the same thing. These cars are especially prone to going into 1st instead of 3rd gear if you dont shift carefully enough.

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

@@AcuraLvR82 Yeah, sure, blame the car!

[@lagoat4]

After it ate, the burp was probably heard for several blocks!

[@dkis8730]

@@AcuraLvR82 I money shifted my a2 to about 11.5k rpms going 3-2. It took it shockingly well, all things considered. Developed a slight knock, main damage was a cam bearing that was scored. The rest of the bearings/rods/pistons/crank were perfectly fine somehow. Even had perfect compression. Still drove it to work and back for a bit. I ended up doing a k24/20 build with forged internals, cams, and valvetrain tho.

[@MultipliedByZero]

While the parts probably aren't worth much in your shop, I'd live to see a VW "W8" from an early 2000's Passat. Probably the most unique engine of the last 20 years.

[@09corvettezr1]

Humble Mechanic did a tear down of a W8 if you haven’t already seen it.

[@bojned]

@@09corvettezr1 I like how we all hang around the same channels. Humble Mechanic, Deutsche auto parts, Gears and Gasoline, Rob Dahm...

[@chubbysumo2230]

or a W12 if you can find it.

[@Flies2FLL]

+1, though as said below, it has been done. Frankly, I'd like to see him tear down a Porsche M28 from a 928 some time.

[@jonathangingerich6184]

Yes! This would be great....used to own one a few years back

[@skildude]

Not only did they ride it rough, they ran it in DGAF mode for a few miles.

[@antonoudenhoven7573]

What does dgaf means

[@nakian5316]

@@antonoudenhoven7573 don't give a f***

[@peteyv]

@@antonoudenhoven7573 Direct Gasoline Acceleration Format - it’s a rare option that comes with VTEC engines of this time. Dominic Torretto and Brian Earl Spilner were the engineers behind it. They developed it in hopes of mass producing cars that run the 1/4 mile @ 10 or less seconds.

[@saltwater8915]

yeah ... never hang with the DILIGAF crowd, close contact with them will rob your brain of IQ points

[@dkis8730]

Probably a money shift that quickly caused that carnage. Engine looked well taken care of as far as oil goes. All those small metal bits from a money shift can quickly chew through those other bearings.

[@TheIcyWizard705]

I mean clearly what happened with this engine is that the owner needed just a little bit more gravel for their driveway and decided they wanted to finish it with engine internals

[@Rick_B52]

The hammered finish on that rod turned out great! 😆

[@mrz80]

How about the distressed finish on the combustion chamber? :D

[@robertwinston2496]

Haha, Piston McNuggets!! Love it. I had a 2004 RSX-S. That engine, when well cared for, was amazing and bullet proof. Who doesn't love an 8k+ redline?

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

"This clearly happened at idle...." that one always cracks me up!!!!

[@jfan4reva]

"Aluminum Gravel", "Piston McNuggets" Lol! Gotta love these Eric-isms. Thanks for the video. Gotta go check my oil now....

[@douglasburnside]

Your camera work and editing on these videos is fantastically good.

[@I_Do_Cars]

Thank you! I try to get better each time

[@maxcactus7]

I REALLY appreciate your summary and explanation of exactly how you believe the patient died. It makes perfect sense and it serves as a great reminder to the rest of us to check & change our oil regularly! I hate seeing great engines destroyed like this, but the lessons we can learn are tremendously valuable. Thank you SO much!

[@MrBdavis99]

These engine autopsy videos are awesome. Keep 'em coming!

[@Ando2k10]

Yeah, it's sort of a "CSI: Importapart".

[@glfarwell]

I guess the value of this engine was mostly entertainment for the viewer. I thank you for your work in entertaining us!!!

[@TheTurpin1234]

Always check you oil before engaging V-Tech. that 5800-8300 rpm pull is very nice. Even if its still not fast. Like I said when I had my 09 Si, "If you don't bang it off the rev limiter ever now and then, you're not driving it right"

[@Atomdanuke]

Ivtec for k series lol

[@TheTurpin1234]

@erikkhyndman9184 I like how i spell it better. Its cooler.

[@chiefoso1428]

Stop fucking putting the H in VTEC omg

[@TheTurpin1234]

@@chiefoso1428 Its cooler that way.

[@TomPauls007]

You are so very entertaining! I need to create a special dictionary for this channel. Piston McNuggets, engine gravel, special inspection port, bearing foil, cylinder delete…. Great! Do you have an excellent sense of humor.

[@allenbeaulieu7077]

Absolutely incredible that nothing came through the block. The damage is consistent with wide open throttle rpm and it’s unbelievable that there are no big holes. Great video. Big Al.

[@patrickbritton2731]

It's one of those new 3 cylinders. Gently used, never abused, and oil changed every 3000 miles. Runs great.

[@kennethpowers8995]

FYI you don’t have to take the intake manifold off the Type S to do a starter, just the IM bracket. On the Base RSX with the A3 (EP3 Si style) manifold it’s a pain and may well be necessary in that instance, but for the A2 or K20Z powered RSX models removing the intake manifold is not necessary.

[@DaveO-te1iv]

That was an unconventional...but very effective way to knock the carbon out of a combustion chamber.

[@powerman1955]

Love it! This was WAY better than ANYTHING on TV on Saturday night And yes, your sped up air impact is now my favorite sound, no contest!

[@MasterMalrubius]

These videos are strangely addictive.

[@battosaijenkins946]

@I Do Cars, heheheh awesome video sir! You should be named Dr. Engine! 👏🙌👏

[@WilliamEly]

pew pew pew

[@frankgizzler5268]

It’s soothingly good. I sleep better

[@panemetcircenses510]

Look up lyre bird on here. There’s one that sounds just like the sped up impact. I swear that bird probably lives behind the shop.

[@CharlesVanNoland]

These have been my favorite vids to watch while drinking beer for the last few months.

[@RichEdwards]

It would be interesting to see a detailed breakdown of what’s salvageable from engine’s like this and what makes the parts that aren’t scrap.

[@elen5871]

absolutely nutty that it held that piston inside, that's probably the most damage I've ever seen that didn't leave a big ol' peephole to show its work.

[@sandman93449dm]

back in the 60s and 70's and early 80's my friends and I in Cali would change an engine and transmission in the driveway...or make a paint booth out of 2x4's and plastic and shoot a complete paint job on any car...we were either catching waves or working on cars.....change a starter..oil...points...plugs..condenser...head gaskets...just about anything...new manifolds..hoses..radiators...you name it..we did it...we never took our car to a mechanic..never.....big Holley 4 barrels...intake manifolds...lake pipes...springs..shocks...brakes..all of it...cause we could......all that good stuff....those were the days...now, at 74 I open the hood of my Range Rover and simply scratch my head...still have tools...funny how they don't fit any part on that Jag engine LOL...these are great videos....super entertaining...

[@7KidsSpanoMan]

I hate to see you take any financial hits but these are by far my favorite tear downs. It is always interesting to see the inside of a block where C4 may have detonated.

[@blakestone75]

Yeah, but as he said at the start, the car was at the salvage yard, but it wasnt wrecked. There's not many reasons for a K20 honda to be in that state except for... Engine be ded. He anticipated this and bought it anyway. maybe for the lulz.

[@TheMadTube]

That’s a money shift there. Went to downshift from 5-4 and grabbed 2 by mistake. That poor K-series experienced jet turbine speeds for a *very* brief time.

[@spyderlogan4992]

I'm not an expert, but that sounds like a very plausible explanation of the root cause. Thanks~!

[@volvo09]

Don't think so. These are known high oil burners. I have one, and had another from brand new... the oil usage really can catch you off guard... When you BEAT THE F out of these engines they use a lot of oil. I've gone a few k miles and used much oil, but take a 1k mile trip through some fun roads, revving out lots of twists and turns, and you can find yourself suddenly low on oil. Anyone buying a car with this engine and not checking the oil while revving the piss out of it day by day, they will run it low on oil, and when it's being driven hard that only happens under load, or high rpm. Thus the heated and spun lower end bearings, i'm guessing from a few weeks of ripping through gears to the 8200 rpm redline as the engine sucked in air. The oil pump also looked new, so someone was hunting low oil pressure or a knock before it KO'd.

[@jodybradshaw3988]

I know next to nothing of engines, yet your videos fascinate me. Well done sir.

[@TestECull]

22:26 I'm thinking oil starvation lead to a spun rod bearing, which when the engine was pushed hard made it shatter a slug. That cracked the cylinder and let cooland FLOOD the case, the still running engine mixed shrapnel and coolant with oil, and voila: One K20 served medium well with a side of homemade anti-sieze!

[@ritchie9601]

Nah, that’s not anti-seize, that’s seize and shake right there!

[@robertslegers257]

I think it was that Carquest oil filter. If they had used a Fram the engine would still be running.

[@TestECull]

@@robertslegers257 nah FRAM bombs kill engines all the time. Worst filter you can buy.

[@bigguy2683]

I'm much older than you but have developed considerable respect for you. My engine experience consists of rebuilding 396s. This little engine is cute and looks strong. But, you know, I see the hot shots daily in their little Hondas or whatever....very small displacement just driven to the max etc. I hear them too....someone should tell people who drive ridiculous little 4 cylinder cars that if you take the exhaust off a lawn mower it will be loud. Loud means nothing except you have identified yourself as a fool to all within earshot.

[@davidschofl3908]

In Germany it is 3 am and I am happy to watch your video right now

[@duanedragon2]

Pro Tip: A 19mm Ingersoll Rand PowerSocket makes Honda crank bolts easy to remove.

[@mikemena2976]

Before my power tool days, I had to use the special crank pulley tool with jack stand and two phone books.

[@ranga2050]

I had a conrod detonate when its bearing spun due to someone putting the caps on backwards during a rebuild in an EJ20. All the bits stayed in the block, the head was completely undamaged... But I had a four piece rod. Sometimes they... fail in impressively spectacular ways and then just..... stay inside...

[@atubebuff]

Newb question but having a spun bearing will give enough clearance slop for the piston to make contact with the valves?

[@ranga2050]

@@atubebuff Not always, but it can do, depending on how knackered it is, and the type of engine.

[@daveayres8273]

I appreciate your efforts with this site. I 've learned a lot about the engines of the last twenty years through your teardowns. I've been away from engine building for the last 30 years. A lot has changed but now these recent engines are not a mystery to me anymore..

[@deepsouth5154]

Back in my salad days, I was directly behind an Andrews cammed 1050 motor Kawasaki with an open Kerker header. As I was easing around he missed the 3-4 shift. The blast of parts leaving the pipe was no less than that of a shotgun. There were pieces stuck in my visor. The motor? Number 3 plug could not be removed.

[@elen5871]

like it's just incredible, that piston straight up went Dealey Plaza inside of there and the block managed to soak up enough of the damage that like, the first sign of damage was just a lil bit of aluminum in the head.

[@I_Do_Cars]

I am amazed myself!

[@goodeggproductions]

It was cool to see this engine torn down. I owned an 03 RSX-S for 13 years and put 197,000 miles on it before I sold it. It never broke. And I was getting 31 mpg at the end. Granted, I didn't beat it up daily, but it was the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. It was on the ORIGINAL clutch when I sold it. The only things that ever needed to be replaced was a window motor, the master/slave clutch cylinder, and the A/C compressor. Oh... and I once ran it for about 500 miles 4 quarts low on oil. Honda made an amazing, bulletproof motor with the K20A2. I'd love to know the story on what the owner was doing on the regular to Thanos snap a piston.

[@justinoden6853]

My son’s RSX type S just went through a K20 A2. I’m sure he was dogging it a bit too much and it ran dry. Just did a k swap, and now I’m going to show him this video. Thanks 🙏

[@Cartier_specialist]

That fluid that came out of that engine when you flipped it upside down was death fluid obviously.

[@patrickmoodabe9728]

Seriously dude - hit Milwaukee up! I suspect you’ve singlehandedly raised their sales by 1%. There’s a wonderfully morbid curiosity as to how these once functioning & probably loved engines met their demise. Your diagnosis & experience are fantastic learning moments. You shouldn’t be surprised by your popularity. Good job 🤙🤙🤙

[@theoldeagle22]

Thank you for videos. I have adult onset Muscular dystrophy and it’s limits me. Your videos help me during a recovery period, it took my mind off my pain. Thank you

[@nononsenseBennett]

Impressive bottom end on that engine.

[@FrogOff420]

It’s fairly easy to get the starter out from underneath tbh. I’ve never pulled an intake on one. You can just pull the knock sensor out, get a flex head ratchet with a deep 14 and spin the top bolt right out.

[@SmallMartingale]

I laughed pretty hard at this one, you're really getting good at the commentary 👍

[@martyketelaar5277]

Yup, definitely a metal pan and not an oil pan; close to the 5.3L but not quite. Great video Eric; keep them coming!!!

[@zarkondamean]

If I were still young, I'd be temped to beg you to let me work with you! I've learned so much watching your tear downs.

[@peterbennett4754]

You’re definitely the best engine take down fella, you got the good noises of bolt removal fast forward, but you know what happened to the engine 👌

[@SmallMartingale]

What a novel idea they had adding all those little satellite pistons! Now that's innovation that excites

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

"The right tool for the job, is the one you have." My channel lives by that mantra.

[@jamesparks2242]

Your tear down procedures are better than Snowman Ray's ASSEMBLY procedures. You, Hickock. 45 and Gentry Trucking are the only videos I watch anymore. You make me glad I retired 7 yrs. ago. Guess the days of doing a one day in frame overhaul on an Accord engine are gone. You and Hickock. 45 should do a teardown video together. When you reach the point of it not coming apart he could break out the Barret .50 caliber and help you. Everytime you say glitter I think of the New York Dolls. Guess that ages me. Thanks.

[@ericecklund676]

I have a K24 in my Honda Accord, and it's always a blast watching you tear down one of the K engines. Looks like someone ignored where his redline was supposed to be. Great video!

[@ChrisR]

The satellite piston pieces are for the remote rods......

[@matthewmurphy8981]

Piston mcnuggets. Hilarious! Your sense of humor is a great compliment to your engine teardown expertise and commentary. That poor motor was severely hooned.

[@minilogoguy18]

Lisle makes a socket just for the crank pulley bolts, it takes it off as if it were a lug nut. We all use them at the dealer. No one uses the pulley holder.

[@ikocheratcr]

Love the style and "terminology": "piston mcnuggets", "aluminum gravel", "vomit fluid". And yes, no grocery store music or BS. Raw as it is. Keep em coming. Subscribed two videos ago :)

[@jeflarremore7170]

Moon rocks. I'm impressed it stayed in the engine. If I was an engineer, that would be my goal for catastrophic failure. Keep it contained. Engine is ruined, but hey, no flying parts. Amazing. Waiting for the day you find change from the the seat in the engine.

[@AcuraLvR82]

The k20a2 and k20z1 have a very strong block design which is why it didnt completely blow through the outside. And unlike the k20z3 and k24's, they do not have the balance shaft driven oil pump which is prone to failure. Its certainly not easy to crack a cylinder on any of these motors, but happens a lot if forced induction and not properly tuned. The high rpm oil starvation theory may be correct, but its also possible a misshift resulting in insano rpms may have done it too.

[@troyrosenbaugh9935]

Dude, that's insanity, 8k explosion. How is the block a survivor. Wow. Great tear down!

[@YUHJKT]

Excellent diagnostics doctor. I agree. This wasn't suicide. This was murder. A case of neglect, starvation and blunt force trauma. I'm sure that the previous owner will walk free from this carnage and most likely hasn't learned his lesson. What a shame.

[@keything8487]

lotta new words in this video !!.......i cant imagine the sound it made when it let loose........regardless, very therapeutic to watch, and yes we like the space laser sounds.

[@GeoSeanKeffer]

Look at all that engine confetti! This engine was partying hard!!

[@crazyperson5222]

Watching this while waiting for a player with a slow ass pc or xbox to fast travel when on an adventure in forza horizon 4....the wait time was long enough for me to watch this video...I hate cross play with people that have old slow p.o.s. computers or a console with a upgraded slow ass hdd. But youtube videos like this help kill wait times when playing with those slow players.

[@alinepeed7167]

Like you, I'm also surprised this was not a FORD case. OH! I believe I have managed to watch almost all of your videos (some more than once) over the course of the last six weeks. This is car gore, and from it I have learned why I need to check the oil in my '03 Ford Escort ZX2 with the 2.0 L 4-cylinder. She's all I've got, and I'm going to do all I can to make sure she doesn't end up like what I've seen.

[@kardy81]

Another one, that produced "piston confetti"... Impressive!

[@cb2536]

I like how you use few words when many people would use many words.

[@NatSoc14888]

I'm driving an 02 RSX type S still...bought it when it had 64 miles on it...putting a fuel pump in this weekend

[@jimdemarco1217]

From guys who do lots of K series starters, while the stealership may tell you the intake has to come off to replace the starter, it does not. Another reason an honest independent is a better value.

[@johnjunge6989]

Sweet, I think it's the 1st split cyl wall you've had! I agree, we always called it " driver abuse"!!

[@2405jacko]

"How are they gonna put that piston back together" That line made my day.

[@okamison]

I've done what you speak of in regards to the starter motor , it is NOT fun doing it with the manifold on . Patience is key!

[@wisidwongwudthianun2784]

I like your tear down the AcuraRSK. never see something like this before. Thank a lot.

[@ElwinWay]

For a real cool desk ornament, you could clean up all the pieces of piston and then set them in clear resin for an 'exploded view' paper weight :D

[@peterblacklin9174]

It seems you are talking to me, giving just me, a personal guided tour. These video are masterpieces. Thank you.

[@Ender_Wiggin03]

Used to like these cars years ago, never seen a K-Series torn apart. This one ate it pretty hard.

[@natsunakusunagi9214]

im gonna comw back to this video for when i do my first teardown on my own motor

[@goldenboi7685]

I recommend taking a bore-scope camera with you to the yard and pull the plugs to have a look before you buy.

[@darylmorse]

Great video, especially your witty commentary. I'm not so sure that the spun bearing is a reason for the rod bolt to be loose. Even without a bearing, if the rod bolt is torqued, it should never come loose. How it came loose is something that will remain a mystery...

[@giannihuertas9910]

“Reynolds bearing foil” this one sent me 🤣

[@paulhudson231]

I bet that engine made quite a bang when the piston disintegrated. Another great video and more evidence on why you should keep up on your PM.

[@IncertusetNescio]

It's like someone fed the intake of piston 3 a hand grenade with what's found all over the inside. Always impressive when that happens. Gotta sound like one too, followed by something resembling a rock tumbler immediately after.

[@nothanks7285]

Cool video dude! I watched all 25 minutes and was thoroughly entertained & learned a lot. I'm in the middle of replacing everying on the serpentine belt in my K20A3. AC compressor, water pump, alternator, power steering pump AND the tensioner pulley.... I'm doing the motor mount &thermostat while I'm at it too.

[@markfrost8745]

Ahhh, that's mild. Race team I was a part of was at Watkins Glen. The cars were Integra TypeRs. One driver was heading up the esses in fourth gear and was about to shift into fifth at 9,000 rpm redline. Nope, third gear. B18C5 ventilated cylinders two and three. Piston three, pretty much intact, but beat to hell. Piston two? Non-existent. Aluminum powder everywhere. We had to get the engine out ASAP and the spare in. My part was to get the exhaust off. Wanted to remove as an entire assembly, so removed header bolts and then disconnected the hangers. When the exhaust hit the ground, a lot of rattling. Looked in hole that connects to header, aluminum powder present. So now the exhaust must be broken down into sections and cleaned. Got to the 'muffler' and tip, aluminum powder was actually falling out of the exhaust tip. Now we knew what can happen to a B18C5 at 12,000 rpm.

[@bleachstain9785]

“Idk what you’d call that, it’s all the fluids that’d normally go in an engine” Back when I was a kid, we’d mix every drink at McDonald’s in a single cup. We called that drink, a suicide. Very apt name, and by sheer coincidence a truthful one for both these scenarios.

[@Airsoftforall]

You should put all your piston gravel in a bucket and keep track how many different "pistons" are in the bucket and then do a guess the amount!

[@ningen1980]

Holy chowdered block, Batman! As if I didn't show my age enough. I do enjoy the OG Space Invaders impact gun speedup.

[@adampopour8491]

When that VTEC hit next level

[@trainfixer1981]

I love watching Adam Sandler tear down engines! cyber bulling jokes aside, I really enjoy your channel, keep up the great work!

[@ratdude747]

You found a boat anchor! Lesson: if pulling a motor to reusue/rebuild, pull the plugs! EricTheCarGuy had a parts car (2001 Civic) go south where the rod snapped but no hole and no lock... made for an "interesting" misfire diagnosis video. OOPS!

[@wolfman9999999]

Piston mcnuggets. LOL. That needs to be your trademark label for shattered pistons

[@Yankee7000]

Just when I was wondering …”no desk mementoes lately….”…

[@NICK-uy3nl]

You have to over-fill the crankcase of these engines with 2-3 extra quarts of oil just to make sure you don't starve the oil pump at sustained higher RPMs or swap the oil pan with higher capacity one

[@jimdemarco1217]

The rod bearings do not create tension on the rod cap bolts, as they have to turn freely.

[@allenl9031]

Reminiscent of PFI Speed, Boosted Boiz videos. Except no turbo. 👍

[@dennisdavila8874]

I have a 2008 si. K20z3. I’m not sure if this applies to the type s/ 01-05 si, but I have replaced my starter about 4 times (diagnostic problems) all without removing the intake. I did so by simply removing the upper radiator support. It made it a hell of a lot easier.

[@jeffwhite9001]

That baby was pulling some revs when it let go lol

[@alanrlocklear]

Nice K20 teardown. I know you're probably tired of hearing this but I'm dying to see an LS teardown in a future video.

[@crxdelsolsir]

Rounded piston remnants point to the possibility this engine kept going even with the debris and rounded them in the process of being eroded with the still operating engine for a long period. Likely the engine kept operating even after the catastrophic failure driven all the way home.

[@12345.......]

That isn't carnage, that is art

[@Duken4evr29]

Sounds like a good diagnoses to me - obscene RPM and low oil level. Given the condition of the #3 rod and extremely well done nature of the "Piston McNuggets" the only thing I can add is the mechanical clattering from #3 did not dissuade the cruel and heartless driver from continuing to mash the gas pedal to the floor. In the words of the great mechanical philosopher Corporal Hicks from Aliens to Ripley after she blew up the armored personnel carrier's drivetrain "...you're just grinding metal. Ease down, ease down!" All of life can be explained by Aliens movie quotes if one tries hard enough - LMAO...