Since 2001, the company’s Japanese plant has been producing the 1.5-liter Honda L15A engine, which powers the company’s well-known compact models like the Jazz, Fried, and City. The L15A unit is available in three different configurations: 8-valve i-DSI, 16-valve VTEC, and iVTEC.
At first, the layout and eight spark plugs of the L15A were identical to those of the L13A. An “upgrade” version with the iVTEC system eventually surfaced. The number of candles dropped to standard, but the candles themselves turned into iridium (better spark, longer service life), freeing up space on the camshaft for VTEC cams, which had previously been obstructed by the candles. The new engine added 20 horsepower. These motors have long been found under Honda’s hoods.
Internal combustion engines (L13A, L13B, and L15B) are also part of the L-series.
The engine was mounted on:
- Honda City 4 (GD) in 2002 – 2008; City 5 (GM) in 2008 – 2014; City 6 (GM4) in 2014 – 2017;
- Honda Freed 1 (GB) in 2008 – 2016;
- Honda Fit 1 (GD) in 2001 – 2007; Fit 2 (GE) in 2007 – 2014; Fit 3 (GP) in 2013 – 2017;
- Honda Jazz 1 (GD) in 2002 – 2008; Jazz 2 (GG) in 2008 – 2015; Jazz 3 (GK) in 2015 – 2017.
Specifications
| Production years | since 2001 |
| Displacement, cc | 1497 |
| Fuel system | injector |
| Power output, hp | 90 (L15A2 i-DSI 8v) 110 (L15A1 VTEC 16v) 120 (L15A7 i-VTEC 16v) |
| Torque output, Nm | 131 (L15A2 i-DSI 8v) 143 (L15A1 VTEC 16v) 145 (L15A7 i-VTEC 16v) |
| Cylinder block | aluminum R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 8v (L15A2 i-DSI 8v) aluminum 16v (L15A1 VTEC 16v) aluminum 16v (L15A7 i-VTEC 16v) |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 73 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 89.4 |
| Compression ratio | 10.8 (L15A2 i-DSI 8v) 10.4 (L15A1 VTEC 16v) 10.4 (L15A7 i-VTEC 16v) |
| Features | SOHC |
| Hydraulic lifters | no |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | no (L15A2 i-DSI 8v) VTEC (L15A1 VTEC 16v) i-VTEC (L15A7 i-VTEC 16v) |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 3.6 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4/5/6 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Honda Jazz 2012) — city — highway — combined |
7.2 4.9 5.9 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~275 000 |
| Weight, kg | 100 |
Disadvantages of the Honda L15A engine
This series’ power units are thought to be extremely dependable and faultless;
However, the layout of the dense engine compartment makes motor maintenance extremely difficult; owners of i-DSI frequently neglect to replace all eight spark plugs;
Expensive ignition coils are destroyed by excessive spark plug use; hydraulic lifters are absent, and valve clearances must be changed every 50,000 kilometers.
L15A Engine Repair Parts List
| Full name of the part | Part code |
| Valve cap inlet Honda color code “white” (12210-P45-G01) Elring (Inlet 5,5 x 11/13×10 /ACM PR color code “white”) | 130.560 |
| Oil scraper cap (exhaust. 5,5 x 11/13×10 HONDA /ACM. Black spring) | 130.860 |
| Valve stem seals (130.860+130.560) (set 16 things (130.860+130.560) Black spring = exhaust, White spring = inlet) | 084.300 |
| Basic liners Honda L13A/L15A/LDA (13328-PWA-004/3) Taiho | M468A STD |
| Connecting rod bushings Honda L13A/L15A/LDA (13281-PWA-004/3) Taiho | R468A STD |
| Semi-rings persistent Honda B16A Taiho (change to T468A) | T461A-STD |
| Semi-rings persistent Honda L13A/L15A/LDA (13331-PR3-004/3) Taiho (= T461A) | T468A-STD |
| Oil filter Ford/Honda h=87.0 d=66.0 Champion (change to COF102126S) | F126 /606 |
| Stop light 12V 21/5W W3x16Q, four pin (for Japanese) (Osram 7515, Philips 12066) Monark (12 V 21/5W W3x16q 7515) | 091 612 154 |
| Stop light 12V W5W 2,1×9,5D (Osram 2825, Philips 12961) Monark (12V 5W W2,1 x 9,5d) | 091 712 033 |
| Mini fuses set 6 things (5A-15A) Monark (FK1-MINI 6ST/PC) | 099 837 975 |