How to: Valve adjustment on Honda d-series

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Synical DSM
    Synical DSM
    • Dec 2007
    • 4144

    How to: Valve adjustment on Honda d-series

    While I can perform a valve adjustment I am not good at write ups, so I got this from civic-eg.com. Note this is for a d series engine but some parts may apply to your vehicle. (Hydrolic lifters are usually self-adjusting.


    Originally posted by suspendedHatch
    How to perform a valve lash (clearance) adjustment on a SOHC Honda Civic, namely a 90-00 D-series and possibly others. These pics are of an OBD2 D-series in a VX.


    Your engine may not have the cbr coil packs.

    Why
    When your valves need to be adjusted some of the symptoms can be excessive valve train noise, smog fail HC, a small drop in performance, driveability, and fuel economy. If your valve lash is too tight it can cause you to wear down the cam resulting in a costly repair (not to mention lots of metal shavings circulating through your engine).

    Maintenance Schedule
    According to the manual, you should adjust the valves every 12 months or 15,000 miles. You will also need to perform a valve adjustment if you loosen the head bolts for any reason (ie mini-me or headgasket change), change the cam, or disassemble the valvetrain.

    Parts/Supplies
    Liquid Gasket ie Honda Bond
    Possibly a Valve Cover Gasket Kit
    Brake Cleaner
    Rags

    Tools (Req'd)

    Feeler Gauges .007, .008, .009. 010 (This includes most D-series engines, but some may vary so check your specs)
    10mm Jam Nut Valve Adjustment Tool

    For the feeler gauges I recommend Craftsman 40802 approx $10 from Sears. For the Valve Adjustment Tool I recommend Alltrade/Powerbuilt 648827 approx $13 from Amazon.com.

    Tools
    These are the tools I used:
    Jack
    Jack Stand
    Wheel Chock
    Impact
    Ratchets 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch drive
    Sockets 10mm short 1/4 drive, 10mm 3/8 drive, 19mm 1/2 drive, spark plug socket (small)
    Long Extensions, 3/8 & 1/2 drive
    Torque Wrenches (One capable of 80-160 inch/lbs, the other 80 ft/lbs)
    Flat Blade Screwdriver
    Cordless Drill
    Socket adapter
    Sharpee

    Torque Specs
    Wheel Lug Nuts 80ft/lbs
    Valve Cover Bolts 84inch/lbs
    Spark Plugs 156inch/lbs
    Valve Lock Nuts 13ft/lbs

    Procedure
    The engine must be stone cold. Let the car sit overnight. Note - you can't do a valve adjustment on a head before you install it on the block because torquing it down will change the thickness of the head.


    Lift the Car


    Pull the ebrake, put the car in neutral, chock a rear wheel, jack up the front end, put a jackstand under the driver's front jack point, let the car down, pop the hood.


    Remove the driver's front wheel (loosen lugs before you lift the car if you don't have an impact).

    Remove the spark plugs

    Pull the spark plug wires out of the valve cover and set them aside (mark them with a sharpee, one closest to crank pulley is #1). Removing the spark plugs makes it much easier to rotate the engine by hand.

    Remove Valve Cover

    Remove the air breather hose from the valve cover.


    Remove the core support ground wire from the valve cover.

    Remove the bolts holding down the valve cover and gently pry it up at a point that isn't critical to sealing or tap it with a rubber mallet.





    Remove the 10mm bolts holding the upper timing belt cover and remove it.

    Find TDC



    Your engine may not have the dual VTEC solenoids.

    Put a socket on the crank pulley bolt, run an extension through the access hole in your wheel well, set your ratchet to loosen, and crank the engine counterclockwise until the "UP" etching in the cam is pointing straight up indicating cylinder 1 is at tdc on its compression stroke. Watch the rocker arms as you rotate the engine. They must be completely at rest when you adjust the valve clearance. All the valves for a particular cylinder will be at rest when that cylinder is at tdc on the compression stroke.

    Cylinder #1 Valve Clearance
    Check the valve clearance on cylinder 1 (closest to crank pulley). Use your .007 feeler gauge on the intake side and the .009 on the exhaust side.


    The .007 should slide in with a slight drag on the intake side. But the .008 should not be able to fit. If it does, insert the .007, loosen the lock nut with the jam nut tool and turn the screw gently using two fingers. When you feel it contact the feeler gauge, gently pull back on the gauge. It should be locked in place. Loosen the screw just a hair until you can barely free the gauge (it should drag). Be careful not to press down on it with the jam nut tool. Now try inserting the .008 again. It should not fit (don't force it).


    Repeat this using the .009 and .010 on the exhaust side.

    Cylinder #3 Valve Clearance

    Next is #3. The firing order is 1, 3, 4, 2. Turn the crank pulley until the cam pulley turns 90 degrees counterclockwise. The "UP" etch mark will face the front of the vehicle. Check/adjust the valves.

    Cylinder #4 Valve Clearance
    Next is #4. The "UP" etch mark will face downward. Check/adjust the valves.

    Cylinder #2 Valve Clearance
    Next is #2. The "UP" etch mark will face the rear of the vehicle. Check/adjust the valves.

    Double Check

    Go through the cycle a few times until you are comfortable that each valve is consistent. Then torque the lock nuts and check it one last time.

    Reinstall the Valve Cover
    Clean the gasket mating surface. Put the upper timing belt cover in place. Put the valve cover gasket into the valve cover and apply the liquid gasket at the sharp corners where the distributor and cam pass through the valve cover. Press the valve cover in place and install the bolts in a swirl pattern starting in the center. First torque them by hand and then with the torque wrench according to the spec. If you over tighten these bolts they break very easily.

    Re-install Spark Plugs

    Reinstall the Wheel
    Hold the wheel in place and hand tighten the lug nuts so the wheel fits evenly. Then tighten them as much as possible before putting the car on the ground and torquing them to spec.

    The rest of the installation procedure is the reverse of removal.

    Reset the ECU
    On most Civics you simply unplug the battery or remove the 7.5A fuse under the hood for 5 seconds.

    Test Drive the Vehicle
    Don't wait until Monday morning to find out if you did something wrong! Make sure no oil is leaking from the valve cover and that there's no excessive valve train noise or other obvious problem.

    In most cases you'll notice the car is more peppy, the idle is smoother, and you'll pick up some mpg.
    1995 Eclipse GST - ~~~~
    ...in project mode

    1999 Eclipse GST winter beater ----
    Evo 3 16g
    3" turbo back Thermal R&D exhaust
    ECMLink
    hard upper intercooler pipe
    Tein/AGX suspension
    Other crap
    217k miles
  • Synical DSM
    Synical DSM
    • Dec 2007
    • 4144

    #2
    P.s. I do not suggest using power/air tools to remove/install spark plugs.
    1995 Eclipse GST - ~~~~
    ...in project mode

    1999 Eclipse GST winter beater ----
    Evo 3 16g
    3" turbo back Thermal R&D exhaust
    ECMLink
    hard upper intercooler pipe
    Tein/AGX suspension
    Other crap
    217k miles

    Comment

    • RichGTS
      WOBBLE
      • Apr 2008
      • 4020

      #3
      haha get the f*ckin impact gun to put your spark plugs in
      1991 Toyota Celica GT-S (frozen in time)

      2012 Volkswagen Passat

      2010 Honda Odyssey turbo. No. Jk no turbo

      Comment

      • scudweiser
        Big fat dyke.
        • Jan 2009
        • 658

        #4
        you can make a 10mm adjustment tool by welding a 10mm deep socket onto a 5/8" box wrench. ghetto baller status yo.
        I have a subaru now.

        Comment

        Working...