Valvetrain clackety clack

[markseven]

Is it normal to hear the M20 valvetrain's 'clackity clack', or do my valves/lifters need to be adjusted? The noise is fairly noticeable with the hood open.

TIA,
Mark

[KenC]

Adjust your valves. It'll quiet down, but M20s have a little valve noise.

[euroshark]

As with Alfa Romeo engines, valve noise is normal. Too loud can be bad, but no noise is DEFINITELY bad. Don't adjust them tighter than spec for the sake of noise, just adjust them to where they need to be.

[jlevie]

A mild click on a cold engine is normal, but it should pretty much disappear once the engine reaches normal temperature if the valves are correctly adjusted and the head and valves are otherwise in good shape.

[Dave]

You will also still get a tick-tick-tick noise form the injectors - but a valve adjustment shoudl do you some good.

Make sure you do it when the engine is STONE cold. Like sat overnight cold.

[joshh]

You will also still get a tick-tick-tick noise form the injectors - but a valve adjustment shoudl do you some good.

Make sure you do it when the engine is STONE cold. Like sat overnight cold.

The stones there don't get very cold, what should he do now???

[markseven]

Alrighty then, an adjusting we will go. I did listen when the car was cold and after a long drive, and the noise was apparent at both times. I don't remember hearing this when I first got the car three months ago...

How often do you guys adjust your valves?

Thank you for the advice :D

[euroshark]

12 - 15k miles is recommended for M30s. Im sure it should be similar on the M20.

[markseven]

12 - 15k miles is recommended for M30s. Im sure it should be similar on the M20.

I have to get a Bentley manual and learn how to do this stuff myself... how would you guys rate the difficulty on a scale of 1-10?

[jlevie]

If changing a tire is a 1 and replacing a head gasket is a 10, then I'd rate this as a 2-3.

[Kilomph]

I recommend picking up a spring loaded valve adjusting tool, you can get it from bavauto, or if you live in OC CA, and not NY, go to pelican parts. With this tool you stick it in the eccentric, bend 90 degrees, tighten eccentric. Makes the job incredibaly easy, and very consistant.

[jlevie]

Absolutely! A spring tool is the "only way to fly" when adjusting the valves.

[markseven]

If changing a tire is a 1 and replacing a head gasket is a 10, then I'd rate this as a 2-3.

Really, a 2 or 3? Rockin. I can do this.

I recommend picking up a spring loaded valve adjusting tool, you can get it from bavauto, or if you live in OC CA, and not NY, go to pelican parts. With this tool you stick it in the eccentric, bend 90 degrees, tighten eccentric. Makes the job incredibaly easy, and very consistant.

Sweet... I will get one ASAP and try this myself.

[euroshark]

If changing a tire is a 1 and replacing a head gasket is a 10, then I'd rate this as a 2-3.

I definitely agree with this being a 2-3, but doing a head gasket is really more of a 7, I'd put rear main seal with the motor in the car at number 10, or changing out an M30 starter... That might be 10.5.

I'm just kidding

[markseven]

I took the car to Bullet and it turns out that the racket I was hearing is totally normal - they said the M20s generally have noisy valvetrains...