From 1998 to 2012, Honda’s J35A 3.5-liter V6 engine was manufactured at a facility in the United States and fitted to several of the company’s main models, including vehicles sold under the Acura brand. The VCM cylinder deactivation system was initially installed in this modified unit.
Honda engineers created a new 3.5-liter J35A engine in 1998 based on the J32 engine. It was built around a six-cylinder, 235mm-high V-block. The block featured a forged crankshaft with a compression height of 30 mm and a piston stroke of 93 mm. The diameter of the cylinder was 89 mm. The design also included lightweight connecting rods that measured 158.5 mm in length. The J35A engine’s design also includes a system for adjusting valve timing and VTEC valve lift, as well as a single camshaft (SOHC) in the cylinder head with four valves per cylinder.
Internal combustion engines J25A, J30A, J32A, and J37A are also part of the J-series.
The engine was mounted on:
- Acura MDX 1 (YD1) in 2000 – 2006;
- Acura RL 2 (KB) in 2004 – 2008;
- Acura TL 3 (UA6) in 2007 – 2008;
- Honda Legend 4 (KB) in 2004 – 2008;
- Honda Odyssey 2 USA (RL) in 1998 – 2004;
- Honda Odyssey 3 USA (RL3) in 2004 – 2010;
- Honda Pilot 1 (YF) in 2002 – 2008;
- Honda Ridgeline 1 (YK) in 2004 – 2008.
Specifications
| Production years | 1998-2012 |
| Displacement, cc | 3471 |
| Fuel system | injector |
| Power output, hp | 210 (J35A1) 240 – 265 (J35A3, J35A4, J35A5, J35A6, J35A9) 245 (J35A7 with VCM) 285 (J35A8) |
| Torque output, Nm | 310 (J35A1) 330 – 340 (J35A3, J35A4, J35A5, J35A6, J35A9) 325 (J35A7 with VCM) 350 (J35A8) |
| Cylinder block | aluminum V6 |
| Block head | aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 89 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 93 |
| Compression ratio | 9.4 (J35A1) 10.0 (J35A3, J35A4, J35A5, J35A6, J35A9) 10.0 (J35A7 with VCM) 11.0 (J35A8) |
| Features | SOHC |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | belt |
| Phase regulator | VTEC |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 4.7 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 3/4 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Honda Pilot 2004) — city — highway — combined |
13.8 10.7 12.4 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~375 000 |
| Weight, kg | 205 |
Disadvantages of the Honda J35A engine
Oil leaks from system gaskets are a well-known problem for engine models with VCM;
The engine speed floats at idle due to throttle or injector contamination; a drop in the lubrication level here causes the camshaft cams to wear very quickly;
Keep an eye on the timing belt’s condition; it runs 90,000 kilometers, and when it breaks, the valve bends. Misadjusted valves are frequently the cause of unstable engine operation.