Valve Clearances

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darquinn2006

Advanced Member
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537
Hey lads :D

Have a quick question for yous!

I want to get the valve clearances done on my car

Is there any need to bring it to a honda specialist or can my normal mechanic do it...... mates rates etc :lol:

Are our cars any different to do than other ones and is there anything he should know before he starts???

Thanks, Darren!
 
C&S Evo7

C&S Evo7

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any competent mechanic can do it,

BUT it needs to be STONE COLD before you start so car should be either dropped off the night before doing first job in the morning or last thing at night, even starting for a small time to get on a ramp etc will create too much heat to get it accurate and at 8800rpm it needs to be spot on.

The GO-NO GO method with the feeler blades should be employed.

ie.- tighten so the feeler guage goes in but the next size up will not go in.
 
The Lum

The Lum

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548
As a bit of a noob I have seen this mentioned in previous threads but I am curious as to what it is and what benefits are had from doing it?
 
C&S Evo7

C&S Evo7

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it is the gap between the cam and follower, normally they are hydraulic(non adjustable), on engines that are high rpm they are usually mechanical (they can be adjusted) as the hydraulic ones sometimes cant keep up with the revs

if the gap is too big they become noisy and you will lose power as the cam does not open the valve far enough.

it should be done as part of the 25k service (i think) so once every couple of years.
 
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cpoh

Advanced Member
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371
C&S Evo7 said:
it should be done as part of the 25k service (i think) so once every couple of years.
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That was my thinking too. I spoke to a couple of Irelands honda "tuners", TDP and Jstoneracing and both told me that there was no real point doing the valve clearances as they never really go out of tolerance. I didnt know what to make of that to be honest.

I ended up getting my mate to do mine and lent him a hand. If you are getting a local mechanic to do the work make sure he is interested in cars and treats the k20 like the high performance engine it is. Go to the wrong mechanic and he could enp up treating it like a 1.4L civic and leave them way out thinking it wont make any difference.
 
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darquinn2006

Advanced Member
Messages
537
Yea same thing happened to me, i rang a few and they said there was no need to do them at all :xconfused:

My mate is a very good mechanic, hes looked after all my cars id rather him doing it than some stranger!

Thank for all your replies lads :D
 
C&S Evo7

C&S Evo7

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yeh something like that will take an hour or so, the problem with honda dealers will do this as a quick drive in job on a sat morn which is odd as its honda that say it should be stone cold.
 
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Kinli

Advanced Member
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271
C&S Evo7 said:
yeh something like that will take an hour or so, the problem with honda dealers will do this as a quick drive in job on a sat morn which is odd as its honda that say it should be stone cold.
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It can be done on a hot engine if the stock valvetrain has got a hot lash spec (which it obviously has).
Some cams / valve combinations don't even have a specific cold lash, only a hot lash is given and some guidelines of what the cold lash could be to achieve the hot lash.
 
C&S Evo7

C&S Evo7

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so what is hot lash spec for a k20? i have never noticed it in the manual.

According to Honda UK it should be done stone cold so thats how i would do it and how i (and many others) would recommend it done.
 
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darquinn2006

Advanced Member
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537
C&S Evo7 said:
so what is hot lash spec for a k20? i have never noticed it in the manual.

According to Honda UK it should be done stone cold so thats how i would do it and how i (and many others) would recommend it done.
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Yous two have me lost now lads :lol:

Have not got a clue what yous are talking about :xconfused:
 
C&S Evo7

C&S Evo7

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what kinli is saying is that Honda must have a setting to enable them to make the adjustment while the engine is hot.

essentially i am asking what it is, as its not something i have ever heard of (i disagree to making the adjustment in this way as a variation in temperture will make a difference to how much the metal components expand, as i understand it that is exactly why Honda specifically say set them when the engine is stone cold.)
 
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Kinli

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271
C&S Evo7 said:
what kinli is saying is that Honda must have a setting to enable them to make the adjustment while the engine is hot.

essentially i am asking what it is, as its not something i have ever heard of (i disagree to making the adjustment in this way as a variation in temperture will make a difference to how much the metal components expand, as i understand it that is exactly why Honda specifically say set them when the engine is stone cold.)
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I don't know what the specs are, but if you think about it, the engine is hot when running, and cold when not, so which specs are more important? ;)

With aftermarket cams / valvetrains, the cold lash doesn't always give the right desired hot lash, that's why some cam manufacturers deliver hot lash specs. Usually you install the cams, adjust the cold lash to something that hopefully will be close to the hot lash. Then you run them in by idling @ about 2000 for 20min and then quickly pop the valve cover off to check the hot lash. You can then wait for the engine to cool down and readjust the valves when cold, or do it right there and then if you are quick enough and can take the heat. ;)

With OEM stuff it's easier as honda has measured the valvetrain when cold and when hot and as the components are the same all the time, they know how the parts react when hot vs. cold.

anyway, I'm just nitpicking, sorry.. :p
 
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Blairh22

Active Member
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darquinn2006 said:
Yea same thing happened to me, i rang a few and they said there was no need to do them at all :xconfused:
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It definitely should be checked, as said, every two years or so (or 20 - 25k miles). It may never need to be changed.

However, having an Accord Type R previouslly, the H22a7 definitely needed the valve clearances done every know and then. I had an issue with mine for ages, couldn't figure out what was wrong (20bhp loss in power) and as soon as the valve clearances were done it was back up to 215bhp!

Don't think it is as necessary for a K20a but still worth checking :)
 
gregb

gregb

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967
Let me know if you get it done,i`d be interested to see if you notice any difference :wink: .

Will you be at the Tuning Factory meet in Sept?
 
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kazmo

Advanced Member
Messages
822
What is the gap setting for our DC5's as i need to do mine soon...

It's a facelift, if that makes any difference...

:xcheers:
 
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