Honda K24 2.4L Engine

The K24 is Honda’s 2.4-litre workhorse — Accord, CR-V, Element, TSX, Civic Si and Crosstour. It has a deserved reputation for lasting, and most of them do. But there are two things that catch buyers out: a cold-start rattle that sounds terrifying and is actually cheap, and a mid-life change to direct injection that makes two engines of the same size completely incompatible.

The cold-start rattle: VTC actuator

If a K24 rattles loudly for about two seconds when you start it cold and then goes quiet, that is almost always the VTC actuator — the variable timing control unit on the end of the intake camshaft.

When the car sits overnight, oil drains out of the VTC system. On start-up the actuator is briefly empty, so it clatters until oil pressure fills it. The noise is alarming out of proportion to the fault.

Why it matters when buying used

• It is not a reason to reject an engine. Plenty of good K24s rattle on cold start. It is a bolt-on part, not a rebuild.
• But it is a reason to negotiate. If the engine you are looking at came out of an affected year and the actuator was never done, factor it into your price.
• Test it properly. The engine has to sit at least six hours for the oil to drain out of the system. A warm engine will not rattle, so a quick start tells you nothing.
• Do not confuse it with a timing chain. A chain rattle usually persists and changes with revs. The VTC rattle stops dead once oil pressure comes up.

The injection split: the real interchange trap

This is the one that costs people money.

The earlier K24A and K24Z engines are port injected. The later K24W “Earth Dreams” engines, from around 2013, are mostly direct injected — the K24W1 in the 2013–2017 Accord and the K24W9 in the 2015–2019 CR-V both run direct injection at 11.1:1 compression.

A 2012 Accord engine and a 2013 Accord engine are both “2.4 litre Honda” and they do not interchange. Different fuel system, different heads, different compression, different management.

If your car is 2013 or newer, do not buy on displacement alone. Match the engine code.

The three K24 families

Family	Roughly	Injection	Compression
K24A / K24A1–A8	2002–2011	Port	9.6–10.5:1
K24Z / K24Y	2007–2015	Port	9.7–11.0:1
K24W / K24V (Earth Dreams)	2013 onward	Direct on most US models	10.1–11.6:1

All are 2.4-litre DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC units with a timing chain, not a belt, so there is no belt service interval to worry about. The K24A series also has piston oil squirters, and the K24A2 in the Acura TSX got stronger rods and better intake and exhaust flow.

Common US engine codes

Code	Vehicle	Years	Power
K24A1	CR-V	2002–2006	160 hp
K24A4	Accord / Element / Odyssey	2003–2006	160 hp
K24A2	Acura TSX	2004–2008	197–205 hp
K24A8	Accord / Element	2006–2011	166 hp
K24Z1	CR-V	2007–2009	166 hp
K24Z2 / K24Z3	Accord	2008–2012	177 / 190 hp
K24Z4	CR-V	2008–2012	161 hp
K24Z6	CR-V	2010–2011	180 hp
K24Z7	Civic Si / CR-V / Acura ILX	2012–2015	185–205 hp
K24W1	Accord — direct injection	2013–2017	185–189 hp
K24W9	CR-V — direct injection	2015–2019	185 hp
K24W7	Acura TLX — direct injection	2015–2020	206 hp

How to identify your K24

On most modern Hondas the engine is identified by the 6th digit of the VIN — not the 8th digit as on domestic vehicles. On older Hondas it can be the 8th. Our listings always state which digit applies to that specific unit.

The engine code itself is stamped on the block, usually on the front face near the transmission flange. That code — K24Z3, K24W1 and so on — is the definitive answer.

Text your VIN to +1 (361) 470-5276 and we will tell you the exact code, whether it is port or direct injected, and every unit that interchanges with it. No charge.

Which vehicles use the K24

Vehicle	Years
Honda Accord	2003–2017
Honda CR-V	2002–2019
Honda Element	2003–2011
Honda Civic Si	2012–2015
Honda Crosstour	2012–2015
Acura TSX	2004–2014
Acura ILX	2013–2022
Acura TLX	2015–2020

Browse stock: used Honda engines · used Acura engines · used Honda transmissions.

Which years to buy

• K24A and K24Z are the safe, simple buys. Port injected, no carbon build-up worries, well understood and widely available. The 2003–2012 Accord and CR-V engines are the sweet spot for value.
• 2008–2012 Accord and 2012–2013 CR-V: excellent engines, just confirm the VTC actuator status.
• K24W, 2013 onward: more power and better economy, but direct injection brings intake valve carbon build-up over time, and these only interchange with other direct-injected K24s.
• Higher-output codes such as K24A2, K24Z3 and K24Z7 use higher compression. They are not a straight swap into a lower-compression application.

Used vs remanufactured K24

Used K24 prices

Our Honda engines start at $770, with K24 units priced by code and mileage. Every listing shows the mileage read off the donor odometer rather than estimated, and we send photos of the actual unit before it ships.

Live prices: used Honda engines.

What is included

Engines ship as tested assemblies. You transfer your own intake, sensors, accessories and flywheel or flexplate from the old engine. Each listing states what is attached to that unit.

If the donor came from an affected year, consider replacing the VTC actuator while the engine is out. It is a straightforward job on the bench and awkward in the car.

Shipping and warranty

Every engine is compression tested and photographed on the pallet before dispatch. Preparation takes 3 to 5 business days, then 2 to 4 days in transit on insured freight. Shipping is free to any address in all 50 states, residential included.

Standard warranty is 6 months, extendable to 3 years, with 7-day returns and free return shipping. Full terms: engine warranty policy · shipping policy · returns.

Frequently asked questions

More buying guides: all used engine guides · Honda 1.5L turbo · Toyota 2AR-FE 2.5L