I finally got my new valve adjustment tool that I have been waiting for ever since my car got stolen and recovered. Valve adjustment was going very smoothly until I got to cyl. 4 and one of the intake valve's lock nut was missing.

It seems really bad, but the motor was running fine before the attempted theft although I could hear a ticking due to the out of spec valve on cyl 4. I stuck a magnet in the area and the lock nut is not in the head. Visually, everything looks ok.

I think I'm lucky as it seems as though no damage was done and there aren't any weird sounds from the motor, but is there anywhere else that lock nut could've gone? I'm just assuming that it was taken off and carelessly not put back.

When I receive that valve tappet set from Acura and I adjust the valves to spec, if everything runs smoothly should I check anything else?

 

It may have dropped down one of the oil galleys and ended up in the oil pan. If you have the time, and a spare pan gasket, it might be worth it to drop your pan and check. There shouldn't be any real problem if it made it all the way to the bottom of the pan, unless it gets stuck in the oil pickup, but even then the pickup has a screen that should prevent it from being sucked into the pump. I would drop the pan and look for it, then do the valve adjustment, and if everything runs fine then don't worry about it.

 

welp i'll tell ya this ..it cant be good ,most likely the nut fell down the oil galley i would pull the oil pan and check in their asap you been lucky so far

 

if i do an oil change, wouldn't the nut just drain out?

it's so small... maybe i should just purchase some magnetic drain plugs?

 

not really id drop the pan if it gets sucked up your motor is toast bread..kinda like playing russian rulet

 

I say just do it right... Just header bolts (easier if its a 2 piece) and the 10mm oil pan bolts. Shouldnt take u more 45 mins. That way... if its not in the oil pan.. you can go hunting for it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h22 civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not really id drop the pan if it gets sucked up your motor is toast bread..kinda like playing russian rulet </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sucked through the pickup screen? I don't think so.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Legion &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Sucked through the pickup screen? I don't think so.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's what i was thinking. i'm going to drop the oil pan, take a look and if it's not there, i'm not going to worry about it. i do want to add the magnetic plugs anyway so maybe that'll be my added security.