Valve adjustment frequency
 

I have been doing a valve adjustment every two years (= 6000 miles). They never seem to need much adjustment, the novelty has definitely worn off, it is time consuming (even with Island's special tool), and I am thinking of moving to doing it every three years (9000 miles). Since the factory recommendation is (I think) every 15K miles, I cannot imagine this would do any harm - would it?
How often do most of you do a valve adjustment?

I asked this particular question a year ago. The general consensus seemed to be that time (within reason) did not change the valve setting significantly.

I do mine every other year as I drive around 6k every year. 12k intervals are at least slightly below factory recommendations. I can´t imagine you would have a problem with 9k every third years.

But then I am novice around here..;)

I can't see how the passage of time could in any way affect valve settings.

6K miles between valve adjusts on an 88 is ridiculously short and a waste of time, IMO.

Even 9K is very conservative.

I do them whenever my car starts to run like crap. ;) Just kidding. About every 12k miles for me.

I do it once a year on my 81.

On an '85... oh .... I do it about every 45K miles (now at 178K)...not kidding.

Recently did it and a few were tight, a few were loose. I did one side three times and the gap bobbled around tight/loose. It may have improved mpg ~5% which dropped off when mechanic did it last time.

I'm the guy who let the plugs go for 5 year/40K miles (hey the gap was not too bad) and had one break off in egnine. Needed to easy-out it.

Passing Californai smog all the while.

Don't do as I do but some interest data points.

Praise the Lord. One less thing to do this year. Still have to do brake & transmission fluid anyway.

What about on super early cars like my 2.0?

praise the lord and pass the rattlesnakes.

15K or earlier if they get ticky, like after a particularly hard run or track day.

I ring the pi$$ out of mine on a daily basis and autocross every month or so. I adjust the valves on my '78 every third oil change or about 9,000 miles which is about every 10 months.

Has anyone tried this "Backside" valve method as discussed in this Pelican article. http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_backside_valveadjust/911_backside_valveadjust.htm

Mr Walker Sir, how often would you adjust a track only car?

Yes. And it works. And afterwards, you walk away knowing it's right. After 3 mixed attempts at the 'standard' way last summer - is it too tight? - is it too loose? - I finally did the backside method. Now I don't have to worry about it. Kudos to racer2.7!!!!

Ian

well, if you were trying to be the fastest and every 10th of a second counted, i would do it before each race day. if you're just having fun, then less frequently. depends on how much you flog it and how often.

I guess this gives me a good excuse then. It's been about 3k miles including about 20 track days.

Wayne's book says 6000 on earlier cars and 10,000 on SCs and Carreras...

I just did mine and the huge sheath of records that came with it indicates it was done once, at 30K miles. It's now almost to 60K.

All the exhaust valves were loose and half of the intake valves. I used the standard adjustment method, the special gauge and set them all using the 'trapped feeler gauge method'. I have yet to fire it up and see if I notice any difference.

It was really tricky for the first two, then progressively easier for the rest. I didn't use the 'backside method' because in my case, with most of the valves being loose it would have been pointless. Plus, it occured to me that even with the backside method, you are going to have to slip an .004 feeler in there to set the clearance if it's outside of go-no go spec - right?

Regards,

Just did my 70, 2.2 yesterday after 10,000 miles and only two needed a minor adjustment, and yeah I used the old method. I could have probably safely gone 20,000. I'll try the go/no-go next time. I just wish that the folks that design the tight spaces had to actually work on them...