Inlet valve guides Honda S2000 F20C F22C

Applicable Honda engines

This set fits the inlet side of the naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines of the Honda S2000 roadster: F20C1, F20C3 and F20CVTEC in 2.0 litres, F22C1 in 2.2 litres, on both AP1 and AP2 cars.

Each cylinder head has 8 inlet valves, so 8 guides. On the F20C1, Honda only lists for this job the oversize part 12010-PCX-000, with a 5.5 mm valve stem and a factory stem-to-guide clearance of 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

FERREA and SUPERTECH inlet valve guides

Every inlet valve rides on its stem inside a bronze guide pressed into the head. It keeps the valve lined up with its seat, pulls some of the heat out of the stem into the aluminium and acts as the support of the stem seal. Once it wears, the valve leans over and seals badly; oil is drawn into the chamber, blue smoke follows and compression fades.

In the FERREA catalogue the copper-based bronze comes from American material and receives a heat treatment developed by the brand: better heat removal, resistance to high temperatures, slower wear, a better-lubricated stem. Accurate CNC machining accepts titanium and stainless valves. SUPERTECH chooses manganese bronze, which, the brand explains, removes heat considerably faster than the stock sintered guides do. One set provides 8 guides with a 5.5 mm bore, covering the full inlet side of a head, and is normally paired with uprated valves.

Valve guide technical specifications

Valve guide installation

Technical guide

Our brands

	FERREA has been based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 1978. It designs racing valves, guides, springs and stem seals, built at its Florida and Argentine plants.
	SUPERTECH settled in San Jose, California, over thirty years ago. Its specialty is competition valve train hardware: guides, valves, springs and titanium retainers, developed with engine builders.

Standard or oversize?

FERREA offers the standard size, with or without the original centring. SUPERTECH publishes no size: its outside diameter is 11.065 mm.

Manganese bronze

Copper alloyed with manganese, aluminium, iron and traces of zinc makes up this bronze. It is hard and stands up to repeated rubbing and corrosion, which suits loaded bushes; a valve guide is one, with the stem rubbing it on every movement.

When valve guides must be replaced

• Oil being used up through the inlet-side stems
• Uprated valves put on an already worn head
• Track or circuit head to be put back in shape
• Valve train renewed from end to end

Vehicle compatibility

OEM reference (inlet valve guide): 12010-PCX-000 (F20C1, oversize)

Remember the exhaust guides and valve stem seals

For new guides, plan new stem seals: SUPERTECH lists the VS-H5.5-I on the inlet side.