I have a USDM b20z motor 99 spec. After trying to adjust the valves to the proper specs I came across a problem. On cylinder 4, 3, and 1, the exhaust valves seem to be super tight. I can't even stick the filler gauge to adjust it even when its totally loosened. Seems like my springs are not compressed or something. Is this a common problem with these motors? Should I just replace the head?

 

its a very common thing we encounter on crvs here at Honda..time for a new head

 

yeah Ive been doing some research and alot of people with the same problem. Honda should have done a recall or something.

 

The b20 motor my friend got had the exact same issue as you described

Time for p8r head

 

x2....that head rocks!!

33mm valves, same as vtec heads....about the same flow too

 

yeah but its getting harder to find now.. I'll be lucky if I can find one with a decent price. For now maybe Ill just stick with a p75 head instead. I have a question, since the ls heads are almost identical to the b20 heads, is valve adjustment also required every 30,000 miles like the b20 heads that led me to failure?

 

Im sure Deetz will be able to answer this, but my freinds were adjusted every 30k on the dot. He is a freak about these sort of things. I belive he had around 100 ish on the engine when we discoverd the problem.

 

I have owned a couple of B20's over the years with no issues. That being said, valve adjustments are important, and history of service seems to make the difference in reliability on how the engines runs as it gets older.

I had an extra P8R head that i recently sold off.....they go for about $200 for those looking

 

I still have a 99 crv that runs great with over 175k on the clock. These b20s valves "wear" different in the sense that the valves get tighter instead of looser in between adjustments. People that don't keep up with maintenance (specifically valve jobs for the b20) can run into problems. Valve adjustments at 30k intervals have worked so far for my crv.

Get the right tool though, I accidentally ordered the 10mm wrench/screwdriver valve adjustment tool when it really needed a 12.

 

How about the ls heads? do I need to do valve adjustment every 30k miles like the b20 head? Im planning on using a ls head.

 

I would like opinions on this as well regarding the LS engines seeing as how thats what I am running. I did my last adjustment 15-20K miles ago and usually adjust them 2-3 times a year just to be safe(I drive a lot of freeway miles so she sees 3800-4000 RPMs for sustained periods with the GSR tranny). I didn't know the B20s had a problem such as what folks are describing. My Parents have a 98 CR-V. I adjusted the Valves on it a few years ago but it hasn't had one since(It mostly only gets drove on the weekends so it doesn't accumulate that many miles). Maybe I can get by there this weekend and adjust them again. The last thing my parents would need right now is to have to replace the Head/Engine in the CR-V.

 

good info i guess i need a valve adjustment