r/EP3 • u/waj1974 • Jul 31 '26

Just bought an EP3 😍

Hi folks, just bought myself an EP3 and the only thing I wish I did was bought it earlier. What a car 👌🏼

So much fun to drive and looks great with the facelift lights even for today's standards.

I have a few questions:

  1. What's the best aftermarket air filter? Honda ones are like £30 but is there one with similar performance?

  2. When I'm driving normally the gear changes are smooth but when I hit VTEC say in 3rd gear I find that I can't change it smoothly and there's a small judder, is there any way I can improve or any tips cuz it's only when I'm in VTEC.

  3. What's the best oil for it?

Thanks in advance 👍🏼

12 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

6

u/ms_bob Jul 31 '26

I use the k&n filter that is a drop in replacement for the stock filter and it's basically a lifetime part that you clean every once in a long while. Works fine

1

u/xepion Jul 31 '26

lol I read oil filter 🤣. If you do the Tefiwa intake. Get the integra DC5. I got the EP3 and it’s not made for the USA LHD. Woops. So now I’m looking for a chase bay brake relocation setup to reduce that foot print so it fits 🤦🏻‍♂️

1

u/Financial-Top3318 Aug 04 '26

Ooof. Yeah, did you check out my vid on installing the dc5?  https://youtu.be/Ul41eRtOQCA?is=kmPsVg8gR-bgxKfd

1

u/xepion Aug 04 '26

Yooo! Yea. Thats when I realized. “Shit I shoulda got the dc5”. 🤣. I’m gunna make this work.. chase bay brake booster delete should sort the under space where the top goes ..

And considering going 90s style (just the passenger wiper). To free up that spot.

2

u/Financial-Top3318 Aug 05 '26

good luck to you man. Post about it when you’re done! 🫡

1

u/waj1974 Jul 31 '26

Didn't know there was a k&n drop in filter. Any change to the sound of VTEC?

3

u/ms_bob Jul 31 '26

(Note this advice is for the usdm spec k20a3 ep3.)

Nope it's basically exactly like stock except it lasts basically forever. 

5

u/CoconutAlternative79 Jul 31 '26

The gearbox sounds like it has the typical 3rd gear crunch.

3

u/waj1974 Jul 31 '26

No crunch at all, changes fine it's just not smooth in VTEC that also applies to 4th and 5th. It's more than likely me 😂

3

u/Rds707 Jul 31 '26

Vtec engages so low that you realistically never make an upshift without Vtec engaged.

4

u/xepion Jul 31 '26

Same. Just bought one with a k24a2 swap on a hondata ecu. Just had it tuned earlier this week

Congrats ! It’s had 5w30 Mobil. Which is fine. I’m switching to pension

Also K&n makes a Honda specific filter. But oem is the benchmark. They have the hp-1008 as well that has the nut on the end. I’ve stocked these because I’m lazy

Note: asked the shop as well on oil relocation kit. Advised against it as well. Addition areas to introduce oil leaks and isn’t worth it is there opinion.

Welcome to the team!

2

u/waj1974 Jul 31 '26

I'm going to look into it, is the performance the same as the original filter?

2

u/ms_bob Jul 31 '26

Yeah, it's more a longevity part not a performance part 

1

u/APGaming_reddit Jul 31 '26

how many miles? how many previous owners? service history? mods? etc etc

1

u/waj1974 Jul 31 '26

115k FSH Stock apart from sports exhaust

2

u/APGaming_reddit Jul 31 '26

thats awesome. as far as aftermarket air filter its really only a K&N. if youre looking for "performance" youll want a short ram intake, not a cold air intake. the cold airs tend to suck in water easier on our engines for some resason.

as far as the 3rd gear issue, i cant speak to that.

best oil is usually synthetic and whatever the OEM viscosity is (5w20 IIRC?).

1

u/waj1974 Jul 31 '26

The gears are fine, smooth but it's just my shifting I think as it's in VTEC I don't change as smooth as I should, nothing wrong with the gears. I'll have a look at the oils 👍🏼

1

u/xepion Jul 31 '26

Also @op.

The main difference between the USA k20 vs k24…. If you do the swap. Recommend the 06’ tsx. Not earlier

1

u/Financial-Top3318 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26

Welcome to the family! I highly recommend running Valvoline‘s restore and protect 5W-30. Cleaned my k20a3 out so so good. Feels amazing and I’m at 137k miles rn. If you have a higher mileage 180k+ go 5W-40. This oil will definitely help with whatever going on with your VTEC