Fuel economy & valve lash (1998 Honda Civic)

[Baltothewolf]

On the insights, it actually makes a difference. I have adjusted the valves on a couple extremely loud cars, and they got a noticeable power increase, and got a massive noise decrease. If you haven't adjusted your valves for more than 100,000 miles definitely do it!

[Egriffy]

Ah, ok. Preformed a valve lash adjustment last during my last tune up as good maintenance practice. Also to .009 & .011. No noticeable mpg inncrease that I can attribute to this which had me curious about the other end of the "within spec" spectrum. Thanks

[cowmeat]

On the insights, it actually makes a difference. I have adjusted the valves on a couple extremely loud cars, and they got a noticeable power increase, and got a massive noise decrease. If you haven't adjusted your valves for more than 100,000 miles definitely do it!

Video or it didn't happen, Balto!

Mine has like 115k miles now and I was thinking about adjusting the valves, but I'd love watching somebody else do it first. Have you taken any pics or video yet?

[2009Toyotoad]

Its been a while since I owned or serviced my 92'Civic CX, but that first valve adjustment at 30K miles was a modest improvement. Intake valve on cylinder 1 was way out of spec at that time. (too much gap)So once adjusted the car was perkier on hard acceleration. I don't recall ever needing much adjustment after the first 30K service. I do recall replacing the valve cover spark plug gaskets/seals a couple of times on cylinder 3 and 4. Wait was it 2 and 3. I can't remember now. I read somewhere, that you should tried to get the gap within 90%+ on all cylinders of the closest to specs on intake valves. Not sure on exhaust. Supposedly, doing so assures the vortec or swirl effect is more "efficient" The author was a California Smog 90 certification holder.... I think the title was "How to fix, repair, and maintain your Honda." It was a good read, that I gave away shortly after trading the car.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

Video or it didn't happen, Balto!

Mine has like 115k miles now and I was thinking about adjusting the valves, but I'd love watching somebody else do it first. Have you taken any pics or video yet?

Nah, I haven't tbh. Considering I work in a shop now, I don't think my fellow co-workers would appreciate me showing people how to do the work. On top of that, it's kinda messy. I'll see what I can do, but I doubt I'll be able to take pics or right a tutorial.

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

On the insights, it actually makes a difference. I have adjusted the valves on a couple extremely loud cars, and they got a noticeable power increase, and got a massive noise decrease. If you haven't adjusted your valves for more than 100,000 miles definitely do it!

Maybe next time it needs a timing belt. They are not louder than my ear expects and I'd rather leave well enough alone

[cosmick]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

On the insights, it actually makes a difference. I have adjusted the valves on a couple extremely loud cars, and they got a noticeable power increase, and got a massive noise decrease. If you haven't adjusted your valves for more than 100,000 miles definitely do it!

Even on a 500 HP V8, lash is no more than 10 HP gain or loss, and even in a 200 HP vehicle, you can't feel 10 HP. So it was just the placebo effect. That's why chassis dynamometers are so popular. That way you can know for fact how many horses are making it to the road. Dyno sheets, before and after, on video, including videoing the lash change, or it didn't happen. It's this little thing called scientific procedure.