Hi everyone, my car just hit 100k and is due for a valve adjustment. I have a good understanding of our cars and the engine but its my baby and I'm finding myself getting nervous to try and do a valve adjustment on her by myself. Considering this would be my first attempt at a valve adjustment I was wondering if anyone in the southern oc area (Dana point, aliso Viejo, Laguna niguel) who has done it on our car and knows exactly what they are doing would mind giving me a hand. Or at least some tips on how not to screw it up. I'm in tech school and don't want to take it to a shop and just have it done because I want to learn and gain experience. Any help would be apreicated!!

 

Too bad I’m not in South OC anymore or I would offer to help. The hardest part, especially if it’s your first time, is deciding how much ‘drag’ (friction) is normal. You can only really know if someone shows you first hand how much is too much and what’s too little. So hopefully you can find someone to help you in that area. Also, a valve adjustment tool will definitely help, but is not required.

Other than that, the only tips I can offer are to watch out for tearing the spark plug gaskets when putting your valve cover back on (I tore one of mine by accident and had a spark plug tube full of oil soon after) and make sure to do the adjustment when the engine is fully cold (after sitting overnight). Good luck!

 

Thank you for the reply I've found a super detailed DIY on the valve adjustment I have the special tool to adjust the clearance. What do you mean by the drag? I've heard for example the intake side can be .21mm(tightest) to .25mm (loosest) so fall somewhere in the middle right? So the .21mm would have no drag and the .25mm would have a little bit of drag? Am I understanding this correctly?

 

I can’t remember if drag is the right term, but I’m gonna go with that for now

So using your example, if the range is .21-.25:

What I mean is, adjusting valves isn’t black and white. Say you’re aiming for .22. Well, if you adjust to where a .23 gauge doesn’t fit AT ALL then your adjustment is likely too tight for a “.22” adjustment. With a proper .22 adjustment, a .23 and a .24 will probably still fit, but they will have a lot of drag. So you have to find that sweet spot where there’s just the right amount of drag this is what is hard to describe online as to what is the ‘correct’ amount of drag. (Going back to the example of where a .23 gauge won’t fit, you may have it adjusted correctly for a .19 or .20 clearance since it’s so tight) hope that makes sense!

 

Yeah makes perfect sense and I just started on it so wish me luck hopefully I don't have to take it to a shop to fix my mistake haha

 

Good luck! You used to go to Saddleback right? I think I saw your car around last year.

 

yep finally out this year!

 

the valve adjustment went perfectly did it by myself first try only thing is i wish i had that special tool would have taken half the time haha well at least i know what im doing now

 

congrats!

 

I am about due for one too. But feel hesitant to do it my self.