I've seen lots of posts here about adjusting V6 valves. Mine tap a bit when cold, and then very little after I drive and the engine warms up.
I took my car to a local mechanic, who said I have Hydraulic Valves that are self-adjusting and can't be adjusted manually. He recommended a Marvel Oil treatment, which I did. This seems to have helped.
Anyone know for sure? Can the V6 valves be adjusted? It it possible valves are different in CA because of smog rules? (My V6 required and passed CA smog standards.)
Thank you.
the 2.9 is a hydrolic motor. as far as i remember you can adjust the lifters on the 2.8 which is not hydrolic.
OK, I feel there might be some confusion in parts happening here. Lifters are deep in your motor and run/slide on the camshaft. If they are shot you replace them, they fill with oil with oil pressure and become non-adjustable. (that is by the basic turn wrench back yard guy).
Valves are controlled by the force on them that is applied from the rockers in a downward pushing motion. The tapping you are hearing is from the rocker play. What you are really asking about is how can I adjust the rocker lash on an adjustable rocker. This is the ticking sound that you are refewring to.
2.8's have a nice option to be adjustable. You need to get feeler gauges in 1000's and read up on the process. it is not hard to do, however, if you tighten them down too much you can/will do some damage, and also goes for ones that are tooo loose. the play is what controls the valve(s) depth of opening and closeing. too much will cause valves to not close properly, and too little makes the valves not open enough.
hope this helps.
thanks starsky. im not too good with lingo but i know what he was asking about. its rockers not lifters. Either way thanks for the correction.
lifters can be adjustable....just not in these motors. think back to the ford flathead. valve lash was adjusted in hp motors with adjustable lifters. although i dont know if they ever came stock.
but as said, rockers are adjustable. and like 78 said, damage can be done so double check your work. its not hard to do, just be sure you have it right. for instance, the valve lash on an intake valve on one of my past hondas i built to sell was .007-.008. no plus or minus...within .001.
bob
The attachment bellow is in a FORD factory manual.
Wow! Excellent information! Thanks everyone. I have decided...for now...that adjusting anything probably carries more risk than reward. I drove the car all day yesterday (it now has 41K miles since new). The tapping really isn't even audible once the car warms up.
Any engine that has adjutable rockers will have a certain amount of valvetrain noise, it's just the nature of the beast. When the engine warms up the clearances get closer and the tapping gets quieter. :)
""Any engine that has adjutable rockers will have a certain amount of valvetrain noise, it's just the nature of the beast.""
I can give an example of noisy valve trains. This time last year I rebuilt the motor in my Ford Ranger, 4.0L engine. I have cammed it out, P&P heads without building the rocker rails. This motor sounds like a sewing machine when it runs, clicking to beat the band. However, I am not worried about it for when she hits 4.5K RPMS I am looking for more straight stretches and usually have to slow down. Now that I have my 2.8 tore apart I have been tossing around the idea(s) of tricking out a set of 4.0L heads with the 2.8 style adjustable rockers, (major prob is pushrods). I still have the extra 4.0L that I took out of the truck when I placed in the new motor. so playing with the ideas isn't going to be a hard experiment.
Now moving along to what I really wanted to mention. Next time you hear a Ford Ranger (or any ford/mazda)(older one) listen for the tick. and my advice is if it isn't burning blue when driving, don't worry about a bit of clicking and just call it "a motor with attitude" and it has "charm".
ps. "If it ain't broke, Don't fix it"
Thanks again for all the info, fellow club members! I put another 150 miles on the V6 this weekend in hot CA weather. It runs strong, so I'm following your advice and "not fixin' what's not broken".