Valve lash adjustment. B6

[monkeyracing]

Anyone know how/where to set the valve lash on an older B6. I've got the rockers with the adjustable dealies on the end of them, so I'm guessing there's some adjustment in there.

[Festy46]

You will need a feeler gauge, preferably one that has the metal strips bent into a a slightly open letter "L", a box wrench to fit the lock nut on the adjuster and a screwdriver. If your engine is in running condition, start it, and warm it up. With the engine warm set the valve lash to .012". If you can't warm up the engine, then set the lash to a tight .014". There is a way to set several of the valves at a time without turning the engine over, but I prefer to start at the front and work my way back instead of skipping around.

You may want to take the spark plugs out so you don't have to fight the compression when you turn the engine over by hand. The ideal way would be to turn the engine over with a wrench on the crankshaft pulley bolt. Start with the first valve. Tun the engine over and watch for the cam lobe to push the valve open. Notice where the highest point on the cam lobe is when it is touching the rocker arm and turn the engine over until that high point is 180 degrees from the rocker arm. i.e. half way around from the high point. Now loosen the lock nut on the valve adjuster and back off the screw until you have space between the adjuster and the top of the valve stem. Stick your .012" feeler gauge in between the adjuster and the valve stem and turn the adjuster screw until it contacts the feeler gauge. When you have it set correctly, the gauge should slide in and out between the valve stem and the adjuster without being a hard pull or a sloppy fit. It should just feel smooth when you run the gauge through the space. Once you have it set, tighten the lock nut, but hold the screw with the screwdriver so it doesn't change your setting. Re-check the gap after you tighten the lock nut. Repeat the above for the other valves.

[monkeyracing]

Heya, sorry I didn't respond to this sooner, but thanks! This is good info. My factory service manual (CD) doesn't cover this, and the giant Festiva bible is at my friend's garage.

[mullet man]

old thread back from the grave (hey atleast i search!)

anyway, are those valve lash numbers also the numbers for a B3 carbed motor?

N/M, yes it is. (i looked up and discovered my car has the original stickers under the hood for engine specs) hehe

for others searching, '89 carbed motor ( B3 ) has valve lash at .012" warm on the valve side and .007" warm on the cam side.