How can you tell if your 911 needs valve adj?
 

I am curious at what point do you know your Porsche needs a valve adjustment?

Look at your service intervals in the manual. Just guessing every 6000 miles.

Just called a Porsche mechanic and he said 15K if not tracked. If tracked they will tighten up, if driven normally, every 15K they will loosen. I should be able to hear extra sounds from the engine as the valves get loose.

^^^ yup, I do mine a bit earlier...10 to 12 k.... and often don't have to adjust all of them...some still fine.

tape the engine sound and we will tell you ..or i will;-)
Ivan

If the guides are worn you can adjust them till Hell freezes over and they won't stay adjusted.

The easiest noise that gives it away sounds like a ticking from the valve train.

I'd appreciate your opinion...sorry to hijack OP thread!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0vn81ysuzpf9k3i/IMG_2252.MOV?dl=0

Thx.

litespeed..it is actually not bad to a person not familiar..I do can hear a little noise there mainly on left side.Maybe another 5k and then do the valve adjustment.
here is mine for comparison...mind you it just started and idle is a little higher;-)
Ivan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Out_PKGkYYY

Luckily mine does not make any extra noises and does sound smooth as much as a RS engine can be called smooth.

so, you just answered your post question;-) that is the point you want to reach;-)

Ivan

Just wanted some external confirmation.

They will not tick or make any noise if tight (wont seal or hold compression). A less then perfectly smooth idle is an indication. I do mine ever other oil change and there are usually a couple that need adjusting.

Chris
89 Carrera
73 E

Has anyone used the Snapgap valve adjustment tool?

I see a few responses talking about a ticking sound indicating the need for adjustment. While it is true that a ticking noise may indicate that the valve gap is too wide and needs adjustment, the regular interval valve adjustment at 15,000 miles is needed for the opposite reason. As valve seats wear over time, the valve sits deeper and the gap gets tighter and there will be less/no ticking. A too tight adjustment can cause a valve to burn and that is why valves should always be checked/adjusted at least every 15,000 miles.

If you rely on "no ticking" or "ticking" to tell you when you need adjustment, that may be a poor measure to go by. Certainly, for example, someone whose engine has gone 15,000 miles without a valve check and is relying on "ticking" to tell them when to adjust is playing with a time bomb. By the time the next 15,000 miles rolls around, the "quiet engine" may be an engine with burnt valves.

A ticking sound is the result of a poor (too wide) adjustment or, rarely, the jam nut may have loosened which allows the valve adjustment screw to unscrew and open the gap.

The proper adjustment is a 0.10 mm gap between the foot of the adjustment screw and the valve stem. The Porsche margin of tolerance on that adjustment is +/- 0.05 mm. Thus, an adjustment is acceptable anywhere between 0.05mm and 0.15 mm. That said, at the recommended gap of 0.10 mm, you should have little to no noticeable ticking.