Valve adjustment for the 3rd time!?

[ajiiE30]

So the first time I did it, I clearly did something wrong and the ticking noise got louder than it before so I adjusted the valves again it definitely got a lot quieter but after I started it and drove it a couple of times the ticking noise came back. What am I doing wrong? The only thing I feel like I'm doing wrong is not having the cam lobe at TDC, if I adjust the valve with the lobe not being at 100% TDC will this cause problems?

I turn the engine over for each valve and have to guess TDC because I don't have a good view.

Whats the best way to do this? :(

[nando]

TDC doesn't matter. all that matters is that the lobe is pointing away from the rocker.

[Gary Horneck]

Yup... lobes down. TDC not an issue.

[ajiiE30]

TDC doesn't matter. all that matters is that the lobe is pointing away from the rocker.

Cool. I'll try it again. Is the slight drag necessary with the feeler gauge? The 2nd time I did it, I made it a bit tight so I'd actually have to give it a pull to get the feeler gauge out.

[nando]

you want a slight drag. if you have to yank on it you made it too tight.

[ajiiE30]

you want a slight drag. if you have to yank on it you made it too tight.

Cool. Thanks for all the replies!

[Cabriolet]

the lobe needs to be down for the valve you are working on. usually you can do 2-4 valves at a time. we use the tool and it leaves a snug drag, and when cold the engine has almost no ticking.

[ajiiE30]

the lobe needs to be down for the valve you are working on. usually you can do 2-4 valves at a time. we use the tool and it leaves a snug drag, and when cold the engine has almost no ticking.

Just finished adjusting all the valves and started it (cold engine) but I still hear a ticking noise.

Here's a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTgN7_RzxUQ

Video of ticking noise on first valve adjustment (big difference):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0xSV8v68k

[MR 325]

Just because the valves are properly adjusted doesn't mean the engine will be silent.

[mpowerful]

And stock injectors can be super ticky with age.

[ajiiE30]

Just because the valves are properly adjusted doesn't mean the engine will be silent.

And stock injectors can be super ticky with age.

Of course. I was just curious to whether this ticking noise is normal? I honestly don't expect too much from a 27 year old engine with 250, XXX miles but I don't want to break anything by not running it the way its suppose to.

[jlevie]

Even when the valve s are correctly adjusted, if the valve guides are worn the valves will be noisy. With 250k on the engine there is pretty much no chance that the guides aren't worn.

An engine with a fresh head and correctly adjusted valves will tick when the engine is cold, but that noise will quiet down as the engine warms up. To the point of being almost inaudible if you stand beside the car with the hood closed one the engine is up to operating temperature.

[Cabriolet]

sounds about right. the injects make a ticking noise as well. and the valves will make a very light ticking.

throw away that "cone intake." get a stock airbox from the junkyard it will out preform the cone in every way.

[ajiiE30]

sounds about right. the injects make a ticking noise as well. and the valves will make a very light ticking.

throw away that "cone intake." get a stock airbox from the junkyard it will out preform the cone in every way.

Cool. And for that "cone intake" it came with the car when I bought the car but I just picked up a 1987 325e bone stock, so I'll be swapping parts over to this car and hopefully have it running somewhat decent.

[efficient]

I did a valve adjustment on my friends car like 3 times already because the m20 was loud. I adjusted the valves nice and snug but they're loud still. Im just thinking that the tappets are a bit worn down and maybe a nice oil change will keep the noise down. On another note the car feels like it pulls better.