Hey guys, I have an '08 Honda S2000 and I guess a thing to watch out for on the F22 engines are exhaust valves being too tight. Being wary, I opened up my engine and went in with my feelers to check the clearance on the exhaust valves; lo and behold, the exhaust valves were extremely tight. I could barely fit a .008 feeler in there! To the uninitiated, the acceptable clearance range on the exhaust side of the F22 engine are .010 - .011.

So knowing this, I went in and adjusted all my valves to the acceptable clearance range, buttoned everything up, and turned her over. The engine runs nicely but I noticed more "clicky-ness". To give it some reference, the click almost sounds like teeth chattering...very light teeth chatter.

Now, maybe I am just being paranoid and doubt my own work but I'm not entirely sure. What I am sure of though, is that I made sure that every valve was within the proper specs! Could the valves be making more noise because they were so tight before and now they have more room to work with?

Any thoughts?

 

Ticking is pretty normal as the lost motion assemblies flap around in there. Fuel injectors tick also. So do the valves from normal operation.

But...I have no idea how much your engine is ticking. What weight of oil are you running? Is it full?

 

Valves tend to sound like they're ticking when they're on the looser side of the adjustment.

My experience is with B20's and when they are adjusted properly, they sound like a sewing machine.

 

This is why I think I may be paranoid. The clicking is not intense, it sounds like very light chattering. I put my hand on the valve cover when it was running and it seemed even. Listened with an engine stethoscope and nothing sounded abnormally loud or uneven...

 

The recommended clearance for the exhaust is 0.011" -- the high number. They tighten up as wear occurs.

-- Chuck

 

Its better to hear them than to smell them!

Seriously think you'll be okay as they are in spec. Make sure the .11 doesnt fit and you'll be fine.

 

The previous owner of my ap2 said he had the same problem. He swapped the head with a CR head and it went away.

 

Your fine. your hearing more "clicking" because you loosened up the clearance. the tighter the clearance, the less movement is made which = less noise. in your case tho, its safer to run on the looser side, if theres a known issue with the exhaust valves tightening up. B20s have the same problem.

 

I've got a bone stock 2009 and notice a bit of ticking at low rpms when driving the car. I only hear it when driving by parked cars on the street and it echos slightly. This is usually when the car is first started, warmed to normal operating temperature. After I've driven it for a while, I can't hear the ticking.

Is this the noise you are referring to?

 

btw just a heads up to OP

bellman already posted an FYI:
****Warning for 2006-2009 owners (DBW cars)**** - S2KI Honda S2000 Forums

valve clearance should be set to .11 not even .10