Honda Odyssey Used Engines

Every Odyssey from 1999 onward uses a version of the Honda J35 V6, and the differences between them are in the cylinder-deactivation hardware rather than the bottom end. The 1995-1998 van is a different vehicle entirely with a four-cylinder engine from the Accord. From 2005 most Odysseys carry Variable Cylinder Management, which shuts down three cylinders at cruise, and that system is the single most important thing to establish before you buy, because a VCM engine and a non-VCM engine of the same displacement are not interchangeable without the matching management.

Honda Odyssey Used Engines — engine options by generation

How to pick the right one

Model year decides it, and the three lines that matter are 1998 to 1999 (four-cylinder to V6), 2004 to 2005 (VCM arrives) and 2017 to 2018 (port injection to direct injection). None of those cross. Within the VCM years the J35A7 and the J35Z8 differ in how many cylinders they can drop and in the engine management that commands it, so match the year rather than the displacement. If your van is a 2018 or later, the J35Y6 is a direct-injection engine with a different fuel system and a different front cover and nothing earlier will fit. Send the VIN and we check the engine code against the build record.

What usually fails on these engines

Variable Cylinder Management is the Odyssey story. Running three cylinders cold glazes the rings on the deactivated bank, which shows as oil consumption and then as misfires on cylinders one, two and three - usually between 90,000 and 140,000 miles. The front and rear motor mounts, which are hydraulic and part of the same system, fail alongside it and produce a shudder that owners read as a transmission fault. A well-chosen replacement is one from a van where the system was disabled or where the rings were done. The other item is the timing belt, which is an interference engine on a 100,000-mile interval, so fit a belt, water pump and tensioner with any J35 you buy. We compression and leak-down test every unit and record the cylinder-by-cylinder numbers.

What ships with every unit

• Compression and leak-down tested before it is listed, with the test sheet in the box.
• VIN matched fitment — send us your VIN and we confirm the engine code against your vehicle before the order ships.
• Written warranty on every engine, with labour coverage available.
• Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, shipped on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.

Related reading: Honda K24 2.4L engine guide, all engine guides.

Honda Odyssey used engines - frequently asked questions

Which engines did the Honda Odyssey use?

Across 1995 to today the Honda Odyssey was built with F22B6 2.2L I4, F23A7 2.3L I4, J35A1 / J35A4 3.5L V6, J35A7 3.5L V6, J35Z8 3.5L V6 and J35Y6 3.5L V6. The table above lists which one belongs to each generation, with the engine family and VIN character that identifies it.

How do I know which engine is in my Honda Odyssey?

The eighth character of the VIN encodes the engine on almost every US vehicle, and that is the only reliable way to settle it - two cars of the same year and trim can carry different engines. Send us the VIN and we check the engine code against your vehicle before anything ships.

Will an engine from a different year fit my Honda Odyssey?

Model year decides it, and the three lines that matter are 1998 to 1999 (four-cylinder to V6), 2004 to 2005 (VCM arrives) and 2017 to 2018 (port injection to direct injection). None of those cross.

What usually fails on these engines?

Variable Cylinder Management is the Odyssey story. Running three cylinders cold glazes the rings on the deactivated bank, which shows as oil consumption and then as misfires on cylinders one, two and three - usually between 90,000 and 140,000 miles.

What comes with a used Honda Odyssey engine?

Every engine is compression and leak-down tested before it is listed and the test sheet ships in the box. Fitment is VIN matched before the order goes out, every engine carries a written warranty with labour coverage available, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.