Tripnbeats

Im not too concerned with it but I am curious because I was talking to an X-tech from honda and he said that it would be wise when coming close to 100k miles. He said anywhere from 80-100k is a good time to think about taking the motor apart and retuning the valves... I know how to do it and Ive done it before in other cars so this one wouldnt be any diff but the procedure kinda bothers me because they say when inspecting the engine components if the vtec rockers move just by pushing them down they need to be replaced......and they arent cheap....whatta u guys think?

csmeance

valve adjustment is scheduled at 105K miles with the timing belt and water pump, or was it 125K?

Tripnbeats

no idea bro i did the pump at 60k

01tl4tl

Valve adjustment is a required maitenance on fuel injected cars, often just 2 or 3 are a little loose- which makes for a fast adjustment once you get all the stuff out of the way

the book says 60k miles if driven under severe maitenance schedule and 105 if regular schedule
Read the fine print- many of us commute or high speed or live in extreme weather== severe schedule

01tl4tl

Does vtec work now? then dont worry about that- I never read anything on here about it being a problem
Adjust the valves and enjoy the restored performance and mileage

No need to rebuild the entire engine~ just the water pump and timing belt + related accessories. at 100 the cylinders still look brand new, some seafoam cleaning will rid the system of carbon.

Tripnbeats

yea i planned on seafoam soon I def wasnt gonna rebuild the motor....vtec engages no prob to my knowledge....but a tightening is def needed i can hear it.

01tl4tl

its often a few exhaust and maybe an intake valve are the slightest bit loose, enough to make noise and cause performance loss

Its not a belt tensioner pulley noise you are hearing- right <g>

01tl4tl

IMO do a seafoam oil change before adjusting the valves- get the cams and everything clean so it gives perfect readings on the go/no go feeler guage
Crud can affect the reading and adjustment

Tripnbeats

no def not i know those noises well and the throw out bearing is shot too but thats getting done at acura wiht the clutch n tranny under warranty

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

just do it. I had mine done on my accord at 31k and it was pretty swt. The car drove differently (more power, better accel.)

Tripnbeats

very nice..... im doing it

01tl4tl

there is a diy in the garage section

Tripnbeats

i have the service manual from acura. no probs either ive done it before...not on the tl but on other cars. i just need to get the gaskets

paz840

iTrader: (2)

link? can't find it

Tripnbeats

yea i looked too couldnt find it???

SouthernBoy

It's not called tightening, it's called a valve adjustment. There are times when you actually loosen the adjustment nut, too. Also, you do not take the engine apart, just remove the valve covers to get to the rocker arms. And you are not retuning the valves.. remember, we're talking valve adjustment here (not even sure what retuning a valve would be other than perhaps grinding, polishing, and reseating).

I haven't examined my Service Manual for the valve adjustment procedure, but if it is like most other overhead cam engines, then it's not a bid deal. What I used to do what put the transmission in 4th or 5th gear (5th would be better and maybe even 6th), then with the emergency brake off, I'd rock the car just enough to force the followers to the center (flat) part of the cam lobes (not the raised part of the lobes, of course). I have never done a valve adjustment on a 4-value per cylinder engine or one with VTEC, so a read up of the manual would be in order for me first.

Good luck.. let us know what you do.

Tripnbeats

yea i didnt use the proper terminology sorry for the confusion i hope your brains dont ooze out of ur heads lol iimmmm juuusst kiiiddding!!! lol

DasTeknoViking

Only time you have to adjust the valves on a TL is if they are noisy, or if you have random misfire codes registered in the ECU- aka check engine light is on. PER Acura if your MAP reading is above 1.0V the valves have to be LOOSENED. What is actually happening is the exhaust valves are TOO tight and they are PARTIALLY staying open. This causes them to "bleed" off compression and power strokes in the engines combustion chamber, and causes misfires. I don't know how many J32/J35s I have adjusted the valves on by now.

You need to hook up a decent code reader that shows you live data list. Look at the MAP value, in perfect world is should be around .85V. The Higher the reading, the tighter the exhaust valves.

I see alot of people frown when they hear their check engine light repair is not covered by their extended warranty....

ALSO replace the crush gaskets between the lower and upper intake manifold. They corrode and cause intake leaks.

My advice, don't touch it. There is NO power to be gained unless the valves are too tight- which will cause compression bleed. Its ALWAYS the exhaust valves too, never seen the intakes needing any adjustment- I do check em thou.

T Ho

What does fuel injection have to do with valve adjustment? Nothing.

01tl4tl

ha! carbed cars are able to run with the valves out of clearance much easier than a finely tuned fuel injected motor- which uses sensors and technolgy to adjust fuel flow and timing on the fly
Think of the chevy 350 you loosen the valve with engine running, then tighten to a certain tone!! pretty liberal spec there~

On the old datsun 280Z cars- every 7500 miles we had to adjust the valves- per the book -Bimmers same thing
Acura suggest they be `inspected`at the 105 (earlier if severe service)- that means adjusted as needed when found, since you would adjust it if not in spec.

for the acura tech: do you suggest a normal bump remote starter switch to turn the engine over?

T Ho

Nonetheless, either can be made to run well, or like ass, with valve adjustments, or the lack thereof. Solid lifter Chevy's called for inspect/adjust every few thousand miles, and they came with a spec- .020-.026" usually. The "adjust to tone" is a backyard tuning technique that can work, but if you want the car running at its best, you do it right.

The fact that Acura can have a solid-follower valvetrain go 100k+ miles without needing adjustment makes the requirement less necessary than the older engines, not more. Try that interval with an old 30-30 cammed 327, and you'll be digging the valves out of the seats on teardown- if it lasts that long.

Just my opinion, of course. It's a testament to the precision engineering that goes into the Honda engines.

I don't mess with the solids anymore in the old Chevy- I've moved on to hydraulic rollers. Set it, forget it (well, unless you miss a shift at the strip...)

DasTeknoViking

I do not recommend remote starters on TLs... I seen 3 cars in the shop with burned out MICU units. Might be just a fluke as those things are always going bad for weird problems on the 3rd gen TLs.

Tripnbeats

ive had no problems installing remote starters on any TL, I do remote starter alarm combo units without issues it just takes a long time u need to be a lil fingered woman to get ur hands n fingers up under the dash to do this shit. it sucks.

Tripnbeats

I have the honda diagnostic tool and the snapon modis which do I use?

rbf351

i've done valve adjustments on both type of Honda engines (SOHC and DOHC VTEC), you don't actually touch the VTEC mechanism.

basically all you need to adjust the valves are a feeler gauge, and an open ended wrench with a screw driver or special tool if you feel like spending the cash

here are the clearances

intake - 0.20-0.24mm
exhaust - 0.28-0.32mm

one last thing is you need to make sure the piston is in the correct position(TDC) while you adjust each set of valves

Tripnbeats

yea i think the manual specifies u TDC each head before you touch the valves for cool ok so the vtec mechanism is ok most of the time then?

01tl4tl

what I meant: older 60-70s- chevy engines and their valve adjustments.

No tech here can say that a valve adjsutment on the TL at 100k is a bad idea- sure they are good TILL then, and then its time for a check and adjust as directed by the book. Keep everything in spec and the delicate sensors and programs work their best!

My question on remote BUMP starter use during valve adjustment-
that is a mechanics tool that allows you to bump the starter in small increments to turn the engine over to the next valve on TDC--rather than using the key and overshoot...

Not asking about remote start units that let you sit in the house while the car warms up

rbf351

the VTEC mechanism is nothing more than a free floating rocker arm that gets locked to the intake rockers by a pin via oil pressure. there is actually nothing to adjust.

Tripnbeats

oh that i know but in the service manual it says if they move freely and you can push it down with your finger it needs to be replaced. i dont know if thats just to get the customer to spend more money or if they tell u that for really worn out pieces. the tech at acura told me my engine is super clean and i have nothing to worry about but def it will need adjustment at 100k....and hes not telling me that to make money hes telling me this as a side note....i dont talk to the guy through the service manager or anything i talk to the dude on a more personal level

rbf351

what the manual says is true, when you take off the valve cover you'll see what they mean if you have an actual issue

Tripnbeats

cool... guys thanks for the advice n help