Acura TLX Engine Replacement in Phoenix
A sedan that launched with a direct-injection K24, the first of its kind in an Acura, and added a J35 V6 alongside it.
The Acura TLX replaced both the TSX and the TL in 2015, and it launched with two engine options that span two different families. The four-cylinder cars use the K24C4, a direct-injection version of the K24 that was new to the Acura sedan line. The V6 cars use the J35Y6, the same 3.5-litre unit found in the contemporaneous Pilot.
The K24C4 is the more interesting engine from a sourcing perspective. Direct injection means a different fuel rail, different injectors and different engine management than the port-injected K24 variants in the TSX and Accord. A "K24" from a TSX is not a direct replacement for a TLX K24C4 without addressing the fuel system.
Drivetrain adds another variable. The TLX was offered in both front-wheel drive and SH-AWD configurations, and the all-wheel-drive cars have additional transfer case and driveshaft hardware. The engine itself is the same between the two, but the surrounding components differ.
Direct injection changes what "a K24" means
The TLX K24C4 uses direct injection, which means a different fuel rail, different injectors and different engine management than the port-injected K24 variants in the TSX and Accord. A "K24" from a TSX is not a direct replacement for a TLX K24C4 without addressing the fuel system.
The V6 option is the J35Y6, the same 3.5-litre unit found in the contemporaneous Pilot. SH-AWD models add transfer case and driveshaft hardware that the front-wheel-drive cars do not have, even though the engine itself is the same between the two.
Where Acura TLX orders go wrong
- The K24C4 uses direct injection and is not interchangeable with port-injected K24 variants from the TSX or Accord without fuel system work.
- The J35Y6 V6 is a different engine from the J35Z series used in earlier Hondas; confirm the specific variant.
- SH-AWD models have additional drivetrain hardware that front-wheel-drive TLXs do not have.
None of this needs to be worked out on your own. The Engine Finder asks for the year, model and trim and does the identification from there. The engine code field is optional precisely because most people do not have it.
Check availability for your Acura TLX
Year, trim and ZIP is enough to start. If you have the VIN it removes the guesswork entirely.
Common questions
Is the TLX K24 the same as the TSX K24?
No. The TLX uses the K24C4, which is a direct-injection engine. The TSX used the K24A2 and K24Z3, which are port-injected. They share a displacement and a family name but differ in fuel system, intake and engine management. A TSX K24 will not run correctly in a TLX without addressing those systems.
Does the TLX have a V6 option?
Yes. The TLX was offered with a 3.5-litre J35Y6 V6 alongside the four-cylinder K24C4. The V6 cars are identified by the engine option at purchase and by the badge on the trunk. If you are unsure, the stamped code on the engine settles it.
Related pages
- K24 EngineThe 2.4 K-series from the Accord, CR-V, Element and TSX.
- J35 EngineThe 3.5 Honda V6 from the Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline.
- Acura TSXThe most sought-after K24 variant, and what that means for buying one.
- Honda AccordFour-cylinder and V6 Accords use entirely different engines.
- Acura EnginesAcura engine families and the Honda blocks they share.
- Repair or Replace Your EngineWhether to spend anything at all, before deciding what to spend it on.
Find the right engine for your vehicle
Tell us the year, model and trim. We identify the engine your vehicle takes and come back with current availability and pricing.