Valve Clearance '89 COLD

[schwingschwong]

I have an 89 carb'ed festiva. I replaced the head gasket yesterday and put the head back on and I plan on putting the valve cover back on tonight. I would like to adjust the value cleances but can't find a value for a cold engine. I have searched high and low and can only find warm valve clearance values.

Are there values for a cold engine? Does anyone have any reccomendations?? Is there another way???

Thanks

[WmWatt]

Theoretically as the engine heats up the metal would expand decreasing the gap. If you set the gap a little wide when cold, then you could run the engine until it warms up and reset to spec. Setting the gap a bit wide should not harm the valves. The engine might run a bit noisy. At least that's how I assume it would work.

[TominMO]

Valve clearance

I have an 89 carb'ed festiva. I replaced the head gasket yesterday and put the head back on and I plan on putting the valve cover back on tonight. I would like to adjust the value cleances but can't find a value for a cold engine. I have searched high and low and can only find warm valve clearance values.
Are there values for a cold engine? Does anyone have any reccomendations?? Is there another way?? Thanks

Try intake .0010", exhaust .0012" (ten thousandths and 12 thousandths). Exhaust valves heat up more than intake valves, because intake valves are sucking in cool air, while exhaust valves are blowing out hot air. These clearances are what I have seen over the years on a variety of cars.

[ejp2fast]

Try intake .0010", exhaust .0012" (ten thousandths and 12 thousandths). Exhaust valves heat up more than intake valves, because intake valves are sucking in cool air, while exhaust valves are blowing out hot air. These clearances are what I have seen over the years on a variety of cars.

thats seems a little too tight... if you get it that close, it will likely always touch and you may not get full valve closure....if it were me i'd do exhaust 0.006 and intake 0.004 inches for the minimum. The haynes calls out something a little more than that, like 0.010 of something.

[TominMO]

thats seems a little too tight... if you get it that close, it will likely always touch and you may not get full valve closure....if it were me i'd do exhaust 0.006 and intake 0.004 inches for the minimum. The haynes calls out something a little more than that, like 0.010 of something.

I stand corrected; too many zeroes. Should have said .010" intake and .012" exhaust. That would be safe, but perhaps a little loose.
I Googled "honda valve clearance" and came up with this, for a cold engine:
intake .007 - .009" or .18 -.22 mm
exhaust .009 - .011" or .23 - .27 mm

.006" and .004" are probably too tight. But anyone with a sticker on the underside of the hood can check this real quick. I'm at work, but maybe I can get outside to do so.
EDIT: To my shock and horror, the sticker under the hood that should show valve clearance doesn't do so. But I would feel very comfortable with .010" intake and .012" exhaust; if you hear clicking after the adjustment, then they are a little loose.

[TominMO]

(For some reason I can't re-edit the above...)

I got home and checked the Haynes manual; it says .012" for both intake and exhaust, HOT. So I would go with .014" - .015" for both, COLD. If it seems too noisy (clicking), then tighten it up a little.

[95Compact]

I adjusted mine recently with a 0.013" feeler and no drag (didn't have the 0.012") with the engine cool (still had some noise) so I readjusted it with the same feeler but a tighter pull-out after warming up the engine. . I'm guessing it's actually 0.011" now all around when warm.. Its no fun to gap the valves on a HOT engine!

Sounds and runs great!

[95Compact]

BTW, I would not adjust the valves until after you started the car up on the new head gasket anyways... introducing too many variables if something goes awry.. I'd just start it up, verify everything is ok, warm it up and then gap 'em.

[schwingschwong]

Thanks a lot guys