valve adjusting???

I've heard this is crucial with honda engines. can someone explain what a valve adjustment actually is? how often it needs to be done and around how much it costs? thanks!

[Rice-Rocketeer]

Valve adjusting is crucial with any engine. Basically what you do is rotate the crank pulley so that the crankshaft lines up with little timing marks on your engine. What this does raise piston #1 and #4 up to TDC. Then remove the valve cover and using the nuts on the rocker shafts, you adjust them to increase or decrease the space between the cam lobe and contact point on the rocker arm. This is called the "lash". If th space is too big or too small, you get clacking valves and increased rocker wear.

You need to get spacers to stick in the lash to measure the gap. For my car it's 0.007 to 0.009 inches for intake and 0.009 to 0.011 inches for exhuast. But they differ from engine to engine.

thanks for the explanation rice... it sounds like its a little bit more work then i can do at my apt. does anyone know how often it should be done and how much it would cost to bring it somewhere

[89ssgti]

not all engines need to have their valves adjusted,if you have hydrolic lifter,you shouldn't need it,except if there is a screw right next to it the intervals depends from car to car,but where
I worked before at the dealer,it was every 25 000km in the recomended service to be done

[Rice-Rocketeer]

For hondas the interval is every 15K.

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by 89ssgti
not all engines need to have their valves adjusted,if you have hydrolic lifter,you shouldn't need it,except if there is a screw right next to it the intervals depends from car to car,but where
I worked before at the dealer,it was every 25 000km in the recomended service to be done

Only race cars have solid lifters - every modern passenger car uses hydraulic lifters or some equivalent. They do need to be adjusted on a regular basis for maximum fuel economy and horsepower.

My '98 Prelude SH recommends every 30,000 miles. Older cars should be adjusted about once per year for optimum performance.

I called honda and they said it was $75.00US to get the valves adjusted. I'm sure i could get it done cheaper elsewhere but I think i would trust honda more then some mom and pop garage.

[rybred]

Originally posted by 95vteclude
I called honda and they said it was $75.00US to get the valves adjusted. I'm sure i could get it done cheaper elsewhere but I think i would trust honda more then some mom and pop garage.

i just got mine done for $50 cad... never go to honda unless u want to spend more than you have to!

[DRxCIVIC]

what happens if you don't adjust ur values? will n e thing be damage? and what are the results of adjusting ur values?

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by DRxCIVIC
what happens if you don't adjust ur values? will n e thing be damage? and what are the results of adjusting ur values?

If they get really out of whack, you'll start to damage the cams, followers and valve tips - but you'll probably hear the engine making a clattering noise before it gets too bad.

Usually, you'll just loose power and mileage with poorly adjusted valves. Emissions might suffer a bit too.

[Vj93Civ]

New person here, w/ major problems. Got a 93 Civic about a few months ago has a few problems so I read some post and replies from other people here on the site and the more I read I think or feel all the problems pertain to my car. Since this my first time owning a honda, I am more confused.

Problems: Low gas mileage, low acceleration, very low, when on a hill I think the car is going backwards while everyone goes forward, loss of oil, no leaks on ground, loud noise when acceleration, I installed an intake, now I have to take it out, I knew it would be a bit more noise but that thing is giving me a headache, will reinstall stock quiet box until the problem is solved, but I need help. please help.....

Note: please don't recommend take it to the mechanic....

[Evil Result]

Vj id suspect you need to check your cylinder compression because if your loosing oil, Gas milage, and power your probley suffereing from blow-by.

How much or how often do you need to add oil? What kind of loud noise... a bang, clatter, or knock?

how many miles are on the engine? did you get it from a dealer or somebody else?

[SaabJohan]

Originally Posted by fritz_269

Only race cars have solid lifters - every modern passenger car uses hydraulic lifters or some equivalent. They do need to be adjusted on a regular basis for maximum fuel economy and horsepower.

My '98 Prelude SH recommends every 30,000 miles. Older cars should be adjusted about once per year for optimum performance.

All new engines do not use hydraulic lifters.

Hydraulic lifters doesn't need to be adjusted, if the clearence is wrong that usually means that they are damaged or dirty and have started to leak oil.

[Vj93Civ]

Originally Posted by Evil Result

Vj id suspect you need to check your cylinder compression because if your loosing oil, Gas milage, and power your probley suffereing from blow-by.

How much or how often do you need to add oil? What kind of loud noise... a bang, clatter, or knock?

how many miles are on the engine? did you get it from a dealer or somebody else?

Thanks for the reply

Before the oil light came on about every 100 miles or so, the noise is a clatter, this morning I tried driving the car wouldn't go pass 60mph. (that's a down hill) the check engine light comes on more that ever (duhhhh!! I suppose, but what to check exactly). The clattering noise was more than ever. Car has about 170+K miles bought used from owner who I belived drove car from TX to NY back and forth like it's cool.

When you say check cylinder compression what exactly do you mean, I have never done work inside the engine but willing to venture.

[Evil Result]

Cylinder compression is the PSI in the combustion chamber during compression.... the car manufacturer has fugures and tolerences of how much pressure there should be... you can get this checked at the shop.

Now the clatter could be caused by one thing that i can think of and that might bet the piston slaping the side of the cylonder wall which could mean that your piston rings are shot and need to be replaced.... now i would figure that its had alot of highway miles... but i guess that depends how hard the car was driven in its life.