What happens if valve clearance is incorrect

Setting the clearances too tight can prevent valves from completely closing or not closing for enough time , which may cause extreme heat damage and complete valve failure. In addition, proper adjustment can extend the life of the valve train.

Now if it is really a stuck valve, then the easy way to treat is a can of sea foam in the tank and another can slowly poured in the top of the carb with the engine at about rpm. Hit the valve with a brass hammer, gently, trying to close it — exhaust valves always stick in the open position. This works well, but slowly. Over time, as you spend more miles on the road, the moving parts within the engine will settle into slightly different patterns.

This resettling is normal, but also means that parts like valves need to be realigned periodically. The valves in your engine open and close through a complex, precisely timed system. They open to accept fuel into the cylinder, close to form compression and open again to release exhaust. Without an adjustment, they may not open and close efficiently, reducing your car's overall performance. Not all cars will need preventative valve adjustments in their lifetimes.

Models equipped with hydraulic systems, for example, will correct themselves. Older or less advanced models still require a manual adjustment. The maintenance schedule will depend on both the design of the car and how you drive it. In most cases, auto manufacturers are aware of this necessary maintenance. A valve adjustment after a certain mileage may be a standard part of your car's service schedule. Check your owner's manual to learn about the expected maintenance for your car's make and model.

Once your valves start to lose their proper clearance, they'll be easy to notice. Your car may have a rough time idling, especially before it has time to warm up. This rough idling is caused by the valve opening late, choking off fuel.

Stalling after a cold start is common. In other cases, you may hear a loud rattling noise as the valve knocks against the side of the shaft. Since some symptoms often disappear after the car warms up, they're easier to ignore. But ignoring these warning signs may end up costing you more through lost performance and gas mileage.

In cases where your valves close too quickly, your engine will lose compression and begin to perform poorly. This is called clearance. Too much clearance causes a rattling sound and lackluster acceleration. Driving with too much clearance leads to less overall damage than driving with tight clearance. But, it should still be taken care of quickly and before your car's performance suffers. The other potential problem is for your valves to close too slowly, which reduces the compression in the cylinder.

Driving with the valves too tight causes more damage. In severe cases, your engine may overheat and burn out a valve, which is a much more costly repair. If you notice these warning signs and don't take care of them you will almost certainly regret it. Stick to your maintenance schedule and have your valves adjusted as needed.

The experts at Greg's Garage can help you with your car maintenance needs. They never overcharge and they never cut corners. They treat all their customers fairly. If you've been putting off this important piece of maintenance for a while now, contact us to ensure your car runs smoothly for many years to come.

Here is your checklist for your next big road trip! Look at all fluids, oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, power steering and more!

Test brakes, clutch. Check your air-conditioning Pack all the essentials, water emergency kit included. Shocks and struts help stabilize the vehicle and keep tires in contact with the pavement. Without shocks, your vehicles would bounce down the road. Warning signs: Instability at highway speeds. Your vehicle never feels completely stable on the highway and is constantly moving up and down. Vehicle tips to one side in turns.

When taking a sharp turn, or an off — ramp, your vehicle leans or tips to the outside and feels wobbly. The front-end dives more than expected during hard braking. You may not notice this until you must jump hard on brakes. Rear-end squat during acceleration. Tires bouncing excessively. Increased Fuel Consumption If your motorcycle used to be as efficient as prius and now its reminding you have your truck at the pump, you might have an issue with your valves.

Valve Train Failure Poorly adjusted valves will cause wear and tear on the entire valve train. Conclusion Valve adjustments are crucial to your engines health and should not be overlooked. Share this: Twitter Facebook. This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

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Non-necessary Non-necessary. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The most serious result of incorrect valve lash adjustment is damage to the valves and related components.

Setting the clearances loosely causes parts of the valve mechanism to hammer together, damaging valves and creating a knocking or rattling sound. Setting the clearances too tight can prevent valves from completely closing or not closing for enough time , which may cause extreme heat damage and complete valve failure.

Always keep your engine valves adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications. Phillip James has worked in the engineering and technology fields since and began writing in