Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine Specs, Problems & Reliability

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine

Here in this post, I have gathered information about the Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine from its official website, including its specifications, Problems, and Reliability.

We believe in providing reliable information to our readers, therefore we prefer to obtain information on the Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine from authentic sources.

This article, which has been updated, has all the information you require about the Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine.

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine

The Honda Odyssey first debuted with the J35 gasoline V6 engine in 1998.

The J32A, a 3.2-litre member of the J-series engine family, served as the basis for the development of the new 3.5-litre, six-cylinder J35A.

Over the following years, the engine found its way into a wide variety of large and heavy Honda sedans, SUVs, pickups, and Acura vehicles.

The J35 has seen several revisions over the years, and the latest J35Y version is a big improvement over its forerunner in terms of efficiency, power, and pollution levels.

ManufacturerAnna engine plant
Also calledHonda J35
Production1999-present
Cylinder block alloyAluminum
ConfigurationV6
ValvetrainSOHC
4 valves per cylinder
Piston stroke, mm (inch)93 (3.66)
Cylinder bore, mm (inch)89 (3.50)
Compression ratio9.4
10.0
10.5
11.0
11.2
11.5
Displacement3471 cc (211.8 cu in)
Power output154 kW (210 HP) at 5,200 rpm
176 kW (240 HP) at 5,400 rpm
178 kW (243 HP) at 5,300 rpm
179 kW (244 HP) at 5,750 rpm
182 kW (248 HP) at 5,800 rpm
182 kW (248 HP) at 5,750 rpm
186 kW (253 HP) at 5,700 rpm
194 kW (265 HP) at 5,800 rpm
200 kW (272 HP) at 6,200 rpm
205 kW (280 HP) at 6,200 rpm
210 kW (286 HP) at 6,200 rpm
213 kW (290 HP) at 6,200 rpm
228 kW (310 HP) at 6,500 rpm
Redline
HP per liter81
82
83
Fuel typeGasoline
Weight, kg (lbs)250 (550)
Fuel consumption, L/100 km (mpg)
-City
-Highway
-Combined
Honda Pilot 3
14.3 (16.5)
8.2 (28.5)
10.4 (22.5)
Turbocharger Naturally aspirated
Oil consumption , L/1000 km
(qt. per miles)
up to 0.5
(1 qt. per 1200 miles)
Recommended engine oil5W-30 (<2003)
5W-40 (<2003)
10W-30 (<2003)
10W-40 (<2003)
5W-20 (2003-2013)
5W-30 (2003-2013)
5W-20 (2013+)
Engine oil capacity, L (qt.)4.7 (5.0)- <2003
4.3 (4.5)- 2003-2013
5.4 (5.7) – 2013+
Oil change interval, km (miles)5,000-10,000
(3,000-6,000)
Normal engine operating temperature, °C (F)
Engine lifespan, km (miles)
-Official information
-Real

300,000+ (180,000)
Tuning, HP
-Max HP
-No lifespan loss
400+

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine Problems 

Variable Cylinder Management Difficulties in a 3.5-litre V6

Considering the wide variety of J35 engines, there is, as we’ve said, a lot to sort through.

Concerns about the VCM technology in Honda’s 3.5-litre V-6 engine are just as contentious. The VCM disables half the engine’s cylinders at light loads to save fuel (3 cylinders).

In theory, this is a fantastic innovation. To reduce pollutants and save fuel when it is not necessary to use full power, three cylinders can be disabled. There seems to be no downside to that.

However, several accounts of VCM system failures and defects have been reported. The J35 VCM gaskets are a common source of oil leaks.

Leaks from the Honda 3.5 VCM unit near the alternator would be disastrous. Oil leaking on the alternator isn’t wonderful news, but it’s not a significant deal if found early.

It appears that the VCM is also to blame for some incidents of excessive oil usage. The problem of excessive oil consumption in models manufactured between 2008 and 2013 prompted a class action lawsuit in 2013.

The early 2005–2007 J35A7 engine was not included; nonetheless, problems have been reported with such VCM systems.

There is evidence that variable cylinder management contributes to issues with engine mounts, torque converters, and spark plugs, in addition to oil consumption.

However, issues do not appear to be as widespread in the latest Honda 3.5 V6 Earth Dreams engine (J35Y). Still, there are many who choose to use workarounds or turn off the feature altogether.

Our impression is that this issue is being exaggerated on the web. However, 3.5L V6 owners should be aware that this is still an issue.

Breakdown of the Timing Belt in a Honda 3.5-liter V6 Engine

Now that we’ve covered VCM, we can move on to the next topics more quickly.

The timing belts on a Honda 3.5-liter V6 aren’t a major source of failure.

Check the manual for your particular J35 engine to be sure the recommended service period of 8 years or 100,000 miles holds true. The J35 timing belt appears to be free of significant defects.

But it’s a crucial part of regular maintenance, so it’s smart to check in on it now and again. Interference power is provided by the 3.5-litre V6.

As a result, the paths taken by the valves and the pistons coincide to some degree. The power and efficiency of interference engines are often higher.

However, the valves and pistons can collide if the timing belt fails or slips excessively. The news is not good.

Valve bending is a common consequence of this phenomenon. The Honda 3.5 V6 may take more hits. Both the initial cost and the labour to fix bent valves are substantial.

The timing belt on a Honda J35 isn’t broken; rather, it’s just a typical wear item that needs to be replaced periodically.

After 6–8 years or 75,000–100,000 miles, the belt should be checked. It’s probably best to stick with the suggested course of action, even if everything seems fine.

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine Reliability

Is the Honda 3.5 V6 engine dependable? Reliability-wise, we rate the engine higher than average.

In reality, the J35 3.5L engine has very few serious issues outside of the VCM issues. Camshaft issues do arise, although they may be due to a lack of regular maintenance more often than not.

Without that, there wasn’t much to talk about. Carbon buildup is a disadvantage of direct injection, although timing belts are merely an essential piece of maintenance equipment.

And like any engine, the Honda 3.5 V6 benefits greatly from regular servicing to ensure years of trouble-free operation.

Maintaining regular oil and fluid changes and attending to issues when they arise is something we always advise. We can’t guarantee 100% accuracy because some of it depends on chance.

If you take good care of your 3.5L J35 engine, it should provide years of dependable service. The Honda 3.5 V6 engine often lasts well beyond 200,000 miles without significant breakdowns.

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine Review 

Honda’s 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y V6 engine has been in use on a wide range of Honda and Acura cars since 1998. The engine is known for being reliable, powerful, and smooth, but also has a few common problems. For a full review, please check this YouTube video Here.

Honda 3.5L J35A/J35Z/J35Y Engine

How much HP does a 3.5 VTEC engine have?

Maximum horsepower is 280 at 6000 rpm (SAE net), while peak torque is 260 lb-ft at 4700 rpm (SAE net).

Delivering the fuel-air combination directly to the combustion chamber improves efficiency and power production, and piston-crown cooling allows for a greater compression ratio to be set.

How many miles will a Honda 3.5 V-6 last?

Regular and thorough maintenance can alleviate or prevent many of these issues.

Tuning Pro advises using high-quality oils, replacing fluids at the appropriate intervals, and addressing problems as soon as they arise.

Without much maintenance, J35 engines have routinely surpassed 200,000 miles.

How can I make my j35 faster?

Head porting could potentially increase efficiency. Use J32A2 components such as heads, pistons, and an intake and exhaust system in place of your current units.

If this happens, your J35 will be reduced to only its short block. The combined effect of all these performance upgrades is an extra 320–330 horsepower at the flywheel.

Do J-series engines have VTEC?

The SOHC 4-valve designs included in the J-series engines all use gasoline and have VTEC variable valve timing.

Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology is a distinctive feature of a few J-family engine variants.

Under light loads, the system uses VCM to turn off a bank of cylinders, turning the V6 engine into a straight-three engine. 

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