Does anyone have the proper settings for the valves for the 1986 Honda Accord LXI 2.0 FI? I am told that on my hatchback the specs that were sent from the factory were incorrect and proper figures were released later. Problem is, I can't find the proper figures and my local Honda dealer doesn't know what I am talking about.

Anyone have any ideas about this?

Thank You
Jack

 

Whoever told you that gave you the wrong info. The factory specs are what you should use. You can verify them over at 3geez.com in the FAQ or HowTo section I'm sure. Or make a post, I'm sure someone has the valve lash memorized lol.

 

He is 100% correct.

 

The books shows .12-17mm for the Intake and .25-.30mm for the Exhaust.

That would explain why the Honda dealer I spoke with earlier sounded confounded when I mentioned that the specs in the book were supposed to be wrong. She said they had been adjusting valves in those cars for the 20 years she had worked there and had always used book specs.

I know you can use the metal feeler gauge as well as a plastic dealio. Where do you get the plastic ones that compensate for temperature?

Thanks much!
Jack

 

I didn't know they made plastic ones. I always set my valve lash with the metal feelers. You are supposed to set your valve lash COLD. There is enough play in the tolerances that you shouldn't have to worry about any temp changes as long as the car has been sitting for at least 6+ hours. I just always do valve adjusts in the morning.

 

Awesome. I will give it a go in one of the next couple of mornings.

Thanks
Jack

 

This is the email I received from the Honda Tech on the subject. I also have a call into the actual Honda Library (I called Marysville, Ohio when I first heard this and they promised to research and contact me back.)

"OK I just verified with the master tech. Back in 1986 all the Honda Accord and Prelude Camshafts were machined incorrectly. Instead of Honda producing a recall to replace over a million camshafts American Honda sent out an "unwritten notice" to all the Honda Dealers that in order to adjust valves correctly that the intake should be adjust at .20mm and exhaust at .32mm.

This notice never hit public service bulletins, service news, or the Internet. So keep these adjustments close because its somewhat tough to find them. Also if u have a family member or friend with an 86-87 Prelude or 86-89 Accord Fuel Injected the valve lash adjustments are the same, .20mm IN .32mm EX"

SO there ya go, is that weird or what? I am still waiting for the call from Honda themselves.

I think it is worth looking into because it does sound like something that would happen.

Thanks
Jack

 

That is very weird. The problem that I see though is that it's not going to fix any problem with a misground camshaft. Geometrically speaking, no matter how you grind the camshaft, the lash tolerances aren't going to be affected. The only thing that could possibly change with a mis-ground cam would be lift or duration. And if you go get your cam reground at a shop, they don't tell you to adjust your valve lash any differently.

The other problem that I see, is that the A20A3 and A20A1 have different cams, so for Honda to misgrind both of them would be very, very odd. Also, the predecessors to the A20 like the EZ, ES, and ET all are basically the same motors, yet didn't get misground. It's not like 1986 was the first run for these motors. Not to mention the through revisions that the Accord got in 1987. I don't see how Honda could have missed that and not corrected it during the facelift.

And the other thing, the millions of people who don't have these super secret specs, who have put over 200,000 miles on the engines without any problems...

Just my theory is all. I am interested to hear what the Honda America people have to say.

 

2ndGenGuy, I love your logic. I most assuredly appreciate what you have to say, and indeed I have to agree. Honda of America promised a callback by 5 PST and I have not received it. The phone number was 310 783 2000 and they gave me a very long case number that looked as if it was mostly the days date and which person I was that called.

I will definitely report back if I find something factual behind this claim of altered specs.

In the mean time. Do you know where I might find a nicely priced well running engine to fit this thing?

Thank You
Jack

 

I haven't had a factory '88 Accord hood in quite some years, but I know on my 94 Accord the underside of the hood has a sticker that says what the valve lash should be. Does your hood have a sticker w/ valve lash settings??

 

No sticker under the hood. This is the BT engine by the way, someone called it the A20A3 and I believe that did not come in until the next year.