valve adjustment

[Nate_Rhodes]

I have a question. I did a tune up and adjusted the valves. I think I messed up because my motor is ticking more the did. I used the feeler gauge .025 isnt that right?

[Nate_Rhodes]

keep in mind this is my very first time doing this

[Klug]

Are you aware that there is spec for a cold vs warm engines? I'd let the engine cool down and try again tomorrow. My first time I did my valves I had to do it twice to really get them dialed in.

Honestly, its pretty picky where it needs to be when you're talking about .01 differences. So I'd go through and measure again. Verify that the nuts are nice and tight. You'll eventually get it all nice and dialed in.

Also, hopefully you're using feeler gauges with a foot on them- the straight ones are hard to measure on the M20.

GL!

[Klug]

FYI, I prefer to adjust them while the engine is cold.

As according to the bible (Bentley)

Engine Hot: 4cyl .25mm / 6cyl .30mm
Engine Cold: 4cyl .20mm/ 6cyl .25mm

[Nate_Rhodes]

FYI, I prefer to adjust them while the engine is cold.

As according to the bible (Bentley)

Engine Hot: 4cyl .25mm / 6cyl .30mm
Engine Cold: 4cyl .20mm/ 6cyl .25mm

I think im slightly confused. My feeler gauge set says .025mm. Did I make them to loose?

[Nate_Rhodes]

its ticking like its low on oil but its not and kinda loud and seem down on power

[Nate_Rhodes]

i think i tighted them too tight damn my feeler gauge says .025/.36mm. will it break my motor i have a 400 mile trip tomorrow i can readjust on sunday.

[Klug]

I think on your feeler gauges that first number is in inches. Your adjusting them way too big.

Here's the metric and SAE readings.

Engine Hot: 4cyl .25mm(0.010 in) / 6cyl .30mm(0.012 in)
Engine Cold: 4cyl .20mm(0.008 in)/ 6cyl .25mm(0.010 in)

Remember- never use inches or SAE measurements on anything dealing the e30. Metric all day every day. The way BMW designed things the way to be. Throw out your SAE tools.

[Nate_Rhodes]

oh thank you so much for clearing that up i feel so stupid. will the motor be ok for my trip

[Klug]

I have no idea the condition of your e30- couldn't tell ya. If you don't hear any ticking and the valve adjustment is good- you'll be alright.

However- 400 miles...have you changed your timing belt and wheel bearings?

[Nate_Rhodes]

those real replaced prolly 30k miles ago. im proud to say my e30 is in good shape needs shocks but mechanically good

[Dirty325ix]

However- 400 miles...have you changed your timing belt and wheel bearings?

Your worried about wheel bearings? I'm pretty sure I have driven 400 mile plus with a crapped out wheel bearing,it was just loud as hell

But op you should be fine 400 is nothing to worry about and first time I adjusted my valves I did the same thing(inches instead of mm) just do it again the proper way and you will be good

[Ether-D]

I've driven 10,000 miles on a roaring rear wheel bearing.

Iiiiiiiregardless, I would readjust them properly before the road trip. I've snapped rockers from having to much gap. It'll delay you an hour, but changing out broken rockers is a much bigger whore than adjusting valves.

And if it says .025mm, you made them way too tight. That feeler would be about the thickness of aluminum foil. I don't think you did this.

Also keep in mind that the tops of your valves may be "dished" a bit and the feeler gauge may be bridging the dished part and you could be making the gap too wide (louder tapping). That's why on older motors, you place the feeler between the cam and the rocker foot instead of between the eccentric and the valve top, but there is a different measurement for this placement (slightly tighter) because of the rocker ratio.

Also, I assume this is an m20. I think I read that up there somewhere.

Good luck and adjust them before you leave. If you absolutely can't, just keep the revs low/no red-lining.

[lcoleman]

No way I'd go that far on misadjusted valves. It puts a lot of stress on the rockers, you'll be a high RPM on the highway (if it's a b25), and they like to break anyway.