Valve clearance adjustment formula and cost
A car’s valve clearance is a hardened metal disc responsible for adjusting the clearance between the camshaft cam and the corresponding valve it controls. If your vehicle has a camshaft, it controls the valve directly. It doesn’t need a rocker arm like other vehicles that don’t have a camshaft.
It’s important that the valve clearance stays functional, otherwise the clearance adjustment won’t work. When this happens, you’ll experience a lot of negative symptoms like poor driving. These symptoms can include rough idling, reduced engine performance, and valve damage.
Valve Clearance Adjustment Procedures and Formulas
The valve clearance adjustment formulas may vary slightly for each engine size.
1) Shut off the engine
Leave the engine off. It must be cool before you begin the adjustment.
2) Remove the valve disc
To do this, first position it so that the cams are facing up. To change the crankshaft position, you need to rotate the crankshaft. The notch should match the center of the cylinder head.
Use the presser foot to apply pressure to the plunger. Place the holding tool on the end of the pestle. Remove the pressing tool and use a magnet to remove the washer.
3) Calculate the size of the replacement valve washer.
Measure the thickness of the washer with a micrometer. Calculate the adjustment thickness of the new valve washer to get the correct clearance. For a 2.4 liter engine, the formula for calculating the thickness is:
(New washer thickness) = (Removed washer thickness) + (Valve clearance measurement – 0.0146 inches)
Valve wedge adjustment cost Having a professional mechanic adjust your valve keys can cost you between $250 and $340. It’s best to find a good, experienced mechanic who charges a reasonable hourly rate.