Honda C35A
This engine is famous for its high reliability, but high fuel consumption.
Acura RL engines
The Acura RL is a Japanese full-size sedan business car from Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Produced in Japan from 1995 to 2012 in two generations. In the first generation, the model was a redesigned in-market Japanese version of the 3rd generation Honda Legend for the North American market. RL was the flagship of the brand. The name of the car consists of the initial letters of the phrase, literally translated as “refined luxury”.
The Acura RL was offered with 3 engines between 1995 and 2012 (3 petrol). Displacement ranges from 3.5 to 3.7 liters, power output from 208 to 305 hp. All of them use a timing belt. The longest rated lifespan belongs to the Honda J35A (about 375,000 km).
Acura RL engines by generation
| Engine | Years | Volume | Power | Fuel | Timing | Oil | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RL 1 (KA) 1995–2004 | |||||||
| Honda C35A | 1995–2004 | 3.5 L V6 | 208–225 hp | petrol | belt | 4.6 L | ~350,000 km |
| Acura RL 2 (KB) 2004–2012 | |||||||
| Honda J35A | 2004–2008 | 3.5 L V6 | 210–285 hp | petrol | belt | 4.7 L | ~375,000 km |
| Honda J37A | 2008–2012 | 3.7 L V6 | 295–305 hp | petrol | belt | 4.3 L | ~320,000 km |
Acura RL engine FAQ
What engines were used in the Acura RL?
Acura RL 1 (KA) (1995–2004): Honda C35A; Acura RL 2 (KB) (2004–2012): Honda J35A and Honda J37A.
Which Acura RL engine is the most durable?
By rated service life the most durable Acura RL engines are: Honda J35A — about 375,000 km; Honda C35A — about 350,000 km; Honda J37A — about 320,000 km. Actual lifespan depends heavily on maintenance and oil change intervals.
How much oil does the Acura RL engine take?
Engine oil capacity with filter: Honda C35A — 4.6 L (5W-30); Honda J35A — 4.7 L (5W-30); Honda J37A — 4.3 L (5W-30).
Does the Acura RL have a timing belt or chain?
Timing belt: Honda C35A, Honda J35A and Honda J37A. Belts must be replaced on schedule: on many engines a broken belt bends the valves.
Was the Acura RL available with a diesel engine?
No, all Acura RL engines in our database run on petrol.
Engine details
Honda J35A
Engine versions equipped with VCM are notorious for oil leaks from system gaskets.
Honda J37A
The engines of this family are famous for their reliability and have no weak points.
Models with the same engines
- Acura MDX 2 shared engines
- Acura TL 2 shared engines
- Acura RLX 1 shared engine
- Acura TLX 1 shared engine
- Acura TSX 1 shared engine
- Acura ZDX 1 shared engine
- Honda Odyssey 1 shared engine
- Honda Pilot 1 shared engine
- Honda Ridgeline 1 shared engine
- Saturn Vue 1 shared engine