Honda Valve Noise - Do I need a Valve Adjustment?

[R18Civic]

Oil was 1/2 quart low, so I added some and the noise sounds a little quieter. I'll see how that holds up on the drive to work this afternoon.

 

[R18Civic]

Sounds great now. I'll keep an ear out for it

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

This is a kicker. My mechanic who also happens to be a former honda tech says he wouldn't do it until its time to change the timing chain. To much stuff to take apart.

The valve cover is too much?

 

[R18Civic]

The valve cover is too much?

I think he only accepts simple jobs won't take to hours of his time. Easy money.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I think he only accepts simple jobs won't take to hours of his time. Easy money.

If he can make it work that's a nice way to do it

 

[R18Civic]

Well the engine is pretty quiet now, warm and cold after adding that 1/2 quart of oil.
Possible that small amount left the top half of the motor lacking proper lubrication?

 

[meep]

Unlikely. If it was lacking lubrication it would be fried. More likely (a) you’re more sensitized to it right now and (b) fresh oil if a little thicker made a small difference in tone, which is entirely believable. As I said earlier, loose valves are happy. And as someone else mentioned, tight valves burn.

I come from a Honda family. We’ve never had valve trouble, ever, including the infamous gen 1 CRV which was supposedly guaranteed early death if the valves weren’t adjusted (loosened) at 100k. The longest lasting Honda we’ve had was a mid 00’s civic with something like 360k when it just couldn’t do it any longer. Valves never done.

I did check our gen 1 mdx at 100,000 and they were all still in spec.

 

[R18Civic]

Still watching videos online. Realized it sounds a lot like injectors.

 

[Sandstorm]

Valve adjustments are not a bad idea every 100k miles on these engines.

 

[ctechbob]

Still watching videos online. Realized it sounds a lot like injectors.

Pretty easy to tell if it is. Either rev it up and listen to the engine coast down, or lock it in 1/2 and stomp on it and let the car coast down. The injectors should go to 0% and shut off.


If it is the purge valve, it won't track with RPM either, you can rev it up and it will either flat-out stop or won't change at all in frequency.

 

[Mechanician]

Sounds great now. I'll keep an ear out for it

Valve noises due to adjustment don't usually come, and go.
Injector noise is a constant.
Purge valve noise does come and go, but isn't very loud. (Edit: Most people would never notice a purge valve noise)

 

[ctechbob]

Valve noises due to adjustment don't usually come, and go.
Injector noise is a constant.
Purge valve noise does come and go, but isn't very loud. (Edit: Most people would never notice a purge valve noise)

I dunno, both of my J-Series purge valves are way louder than the injectors.