AB16A2T

My first post for the B16A2 tech section is: How to adjust your valve lash.

To protect myself and Honda-Techˇ¦s owners, here is the disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER: Neither myself nor Honda-Techˇ¦s owners are responsible for any damage sustained to your vehicle during the course of your valve adjustment etc.

This will be a long post. So please bear with me.

Very important!!! The stock radio may contain a coded anti-theft circuit. Obtain the code BEFORE disconnection the battery.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

2. The valves should be checked and adjusted ONLY when the engine is cold, if the engine has been running, allow to cool below 100°F or 38°C before beginning your adjustments.

3. The valves must be checked and adjusted for each cylinder in the TDC position of the compression stroke.

4. Remove the cylinder head cover and the upper timing belt cover.

5. Rotate the crankshaft in a counterclockwise direction until the painted white notch Top Dead Center (TDC) mark on the crankshaft pulley is aligned with the pointer on the engine cover, and the UP mark on the camshaft sprocket is facing up. The No. 1 Cylinder is at TDC/compression stroke in this position

6. With the cylinder at TDC on the compression stroke, check the valve clearance by inserting the correct size feeler gauge between the rocker and the valve tip of the valves for that cylinder. (Valve Clearances are usually listed on a small sticker located either on the hood, or in front of the radiator and A/C fans on the top of the bumper support)

7. Hold the rocker arm against the camshaft and use a feeler gauge to check the clearance at the valve stem; intake valve clearance (This is the numbers given to me for my year B16A2, which is a 1999 US Civic SI model, but should apply to all years from 96-00.) should be 0.010 in (0.26mm), exhaust valve clearance should be 0.012 in. (0.30mm). The service limit for both intake and exhaust valves is plus or minus 0.0008in. (0.02mm)

8. To check the intake valves proceed as follows:

a. Using a 0.009in. (0.24mm) feeler gauge, see if the gauge will slide between the valve tip and the rocker
b. If the 0.009in (0.24mm) feeler gauge does not fit between the rocker and the valve tip, then adjust the valve. If the feeler gauge did fit, then try inserting a 0.011in (0.28mm) feeler gauge
c. If the 0.011in (0.28mm feeler gauge can be inserted between the rocker and the valve tip, then adjust the valve. If the feeler gauge cannot be inserted, then the valve adjustment for that valve is within the range specified.

9. The valve adjustment specification for the intake valve is 0.010in (0.26mm). To adjust an intake valve proceed as follows:

a. Loosen the lock-nut and turn the adjusting screw counterclockwise to loosen the adjustment screw
b. Hold the rocker arm against the camshaft and insert a 0.010in (0.26mm) feeler gauge between the rocker and valve tip.
c. Hold the lock-nut and turn the adjusting screw until a very light resistance is felt. The feeler gauge should be able to be moved with a slight amount of drag
d. While holding the adjustment screw in place, tighten the lock-nut then recheck the clearance.

10. To check the exhaust valve clearance proceed as follows:

a. Using a 0.011 (0.28mm) feeler gauge, see if the gauge will slide between the valve tip and the rocker
b. If the 0.011 (0.28mm) feeler gauge does not fit between the rocker and the valve tip, then adjust the valve. If the feeler gauge did fit, then try inserting a 0.013. (0.33mm) feeler gauge.
c. If the 0.013. (0.33mm) feeler gauge can be inserted between the rocker and the valve tip, then adjust the valve. If the feeler gauge cannot be inserted, then the valve adjustment for that valve is within the range specified.

11. The valve adjustment specification for the exhaust valve is 0.012. (0.30mm). To adjust an exhaust valve, proceed as follows:

a. Loosen the lock-nut and turn the adjusting screw counterclockwise to loosen the adjustment screw
b. Hold the rocker arm against the camshaft and insert a 0.012in. (0.30mm) feeler gauge between the rocker and the valve tip.
c. Hold the lock-nut and turn the adjusting screw until a very light resistance is felt. The feller gauge should be able to be moved with a slight amount of drag
d. While holding the adjustment screw in place, tighten the lock-nut and then recheck the clearance.

12. Repeat the checking procedure for each valve and adjust the clearance of any valve found to be out of adjustment

13. Once all of the valves for a cylinder have been checked, the crankshaft must be rotated counterclockwise to check the valves of another cylinder.

14. When rotating the crankshaft counterclockwise, the adjustment order is cylinder No.1, cylinder No.3, cylinder No.4, and then cylinder No.2.

15. Rotate the crankshaft counterclockwise 180° to bring the next cylinder to be checked is in the TDC/compression position.

16. Refer to the following information to verify the cylinder to be checked is in the TDC/compression position.

a. At TDC/compression for the No.1 cylinder, the camshaft sprocket UP mark should be pointed straight up, and the TDC marks align with the edge of the cylinder head
b. At TDC/compression for the No.3 cylinder, the camshaft sprocket UP mark should be horizontal, and pointed to the left.
c. At TDC/compression for the No.4 cylinder, the camshaft sprocket UP mark should be pointed straight down, and the TDC mark should align with the edge of the cylinder head.
d. At TDC/compression for the No.2 cylinder, the camshaft sprocket UP mark should be horizontal, and pointed to the right.

17. After checking the valves, check and if necessary, retighten the crankshaft pulley bolt in a clockwise direction to 181 ft. lbs (24.5Nm. ??Not completely sure on the metric measurement for the torque wrench)

18. Thoroughly clean the cylinder head cover gasket and make sure it is fully seated into the head cover. Apply a liquid gasket sealant to the corners of the half circle portions of the gasket.

19. Install the cylinder head and timing belt covers, tightening the fasteners evenly to 86 inch pounds (9.8Nm).

20. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Enter the radio security code.


Edited for grammer ETC.

Also please any comments or suggestions are welcome.


[Modified by AresB16A2Turbo, 1:47 PM 2/23/2003]


[Modified by AresB16A2Turbo, 1:51 PM 2/23/2003]

keebler65

added it to my notepad

thanks for your work

Nine

ditto

AB16A2T

You are quite welcome, their should be one of these a week, look for them every sunday or so around 2 or 3 pm, if not sunday than monday mornings.

ULTRA911

i thought it was .006-.007in for intake, & .007-.008in for exhaust.

AB16A2T

The clearances are taken from the helms manual, and are for B16A2's specifically.

AB16A2T

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poo flinger

AB16A2T

Wow, nice addition to my post, I hope C-Speed doesn't get mad for you linking to it though.

boostin b16

what will next weeks installment be on?
great work!

AB16A2T

Not sure yet, but look for it this coming sunday or monday.

AB16A2T

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