When to valve-adjust?

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

Ok, I'm pulling the my engine this weekend and I was trying to think of what I should do while it's out. I was considering a valve adjustment, but a friend said he didnt think my car needed one. I dont know when the last adjustment was performed since I've had the car only 4 months, but the engine runs very smooth and is quiet. He told me that when they start needing adjustment, they will get louder and you'll hear them.

I'd rather not mess with an adjustment if it's not necessary because it is running so good. What do you guys think?

[s_wilwerding]

First of all, why are you pulling the engine? If you're doing any sort of engine work, you're going to have to adjust the valves anyway. If I were you, I'd adjust the valves with the engine out. Adjusting the valves while the engine is in is not all that difficult, but it's a piece of cake to do with the engine out of the car. It would probably only take you half an hour to do, and then the valves would be good for another 15,000 miles.

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

Steve, I'm pulling the engine to check on the internal tstat and the engine oil cooler, so I'm not disassembling it or anything like that. I'm gonna clean some stuff up and put her back in.

My question is do you need to valve adjust if they are not making any noise? Dont they usually get looser with age?

[David E. Clark]

Whenever I purchase a "new" car, I like to have a baseline for maintenance. If the PO did not keep meticulous records, I change the oil and filter, brake fluid, transmission fluid, fuel filter, air filter, rotor, points, cap and test the plug wires (good ones are expensive). I also always adjust the valves so I know when they were done. Perhaps this is overkill, but it works for me.

Valve adjustment isn’t that difficult on P-cars. There are many, many threads on this board about valve adjustment as well as a terrific article:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_valve_adjust/911_valve_adjust.htm

The “101 Projects” book is also terrific. Just my 2 cents

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

David, I've done all of the things you mentioned, except for the brake fluid (soon, and I have the blue stuff) and valve adjust. AND I own 2 101 Projects book, 1 from the PO and 1 I bought b4 I got my Porsche I've done dozens of valve adjustments on VWs and I know it's a bit more difficult on a Porsche, so it really doesnt intimidate me. I'm just thinking that if they are currently set correctly, ie running well and quiet, is one needed and how can you tell?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

It's not like you're going to hurt the car by adjusting the valves. It's not an "intrusive" thing to do, like, say, moving all the pistons to different cylinders. Unless you totally screw up--which somebody who can drop an engine to check the oil cooler certainly isn't going it do--the valve adjustments will end up either justas they were or better.

And it isn't true that valve trains "always loosen up over time." they can itghten as well, particularly if a valve job was recently done.

Stephan

[CarreraS2]

Why not just check them?

If they each check out fine, then leave them alone. If they some need adjusting, then adjust them.

Problem solved. That'll be $50.00 please.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Isn't that assumed? Step one, check valve gap. Step two, adjust as necessary?

Stephan

[axl911]

Adjust them. You can tell when they're too loose (loud), but you can't tell when they're too tight which can lead to burned valves.

----
anthony

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

Just thought I'd follow up on this. Whilst the engine was out, I decied to adjust the valves. It's been a 4 years since I've done a valve adjustment, but it's like riding a bike They were definitely loose and needed adjustment, even though the engine was quiet. And wow it sounded even better after I'd done it! I was a little surprised to see the swivel feet adjusters as they are an add on for VWs. Took a bit of time to figure out the angle at which to try to determine the gap, but once you get that down it's a piece of cake. Tell you what tho, made me think about getting a cat-bypass pipe as that cat is really in the way doing the left side of the engine. It was also good to torque my plugs as I didnt do that when I replaced them a few weeks ago. Some actually came off easily...much too easily. Lesson learned, TORQUE YOUR SPARK PLUGS! Nuff said

[bigchillcar]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it..."

Heck, there will always be plenty of opportunity to find something to fix or routine maintenance on the p-car in the future. Why not spend the time giving her a good wash and wax...or better yet - drive!
Ryan

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

Hey! You really from Little Rock? That's where I bought my Porsche in February and drove it back to Denver Did you know the guy or the car? Got her from a guy named Jim.

By the way, I DID wash AND wax her today

[bigchillcar]

Matt,
OMG...you mean at one time there were TWO 911's in Arkansas?!

Geez...I think if it weren't for just one other friend here, I'd be the only guy on the board in Arkansas. Jim was the owner? Tell me more about the car. I don't guess you remember the street he lived on? Sure wish I'd known in advance, I'd checked her out for you in advance. I left Miami back in '95 to move to Denver, but only wound up there for about three days before returning to Florida (long story), but I promise I'd rather be there now than in Arkansas. Post some pics!
Ryan