Should I still get a valve adjustment done? Will it help with compression?
My car is a 2003 Honda Element 4 speed auto awd. Lately I've been posting questions here(I'm sure some of you know) and some answers have been suggesting that Honda's need a Valve adjustment every 60k. The thing is, my car has almost 140,000 miles and the engine revs healthily and the car sounds quiet when warmed up. However I have a check engine light due to a faulty o2 upstream sensor as far as I know. However is it worth the job of getting my valves adjusted still? What benefits will it give my truck?
A Honda Element does indeed have adjustable valves and after 60,000 miles you should have had it done there's multiple videos on YouTube that show you exactly how to do it. If you don't know how to do it don't attempt to do it. But yes it's going to help you quite a bit with your compression once you properly adjust the valves.
It's certainly worth checking them. In the back of my mind there's a thought that the exhaust valves can become tight, though I'm not certain if it's that engine. It's not difficult, just use a new gasket when reinstalling the valve cover.
Get your sensor problem sorted, that may make more of a difference to how it goes.
How many times do you need to be told about Honda's and tight valves? Call the dealer if you don't believe me jojo.
First, get a mental health adjustment on yourself.
NO… The clearances become wider with wear… Adjust the valves and there will be less slack, the valves are less closed, your compression goes DOWN. A LITTLE valve clatter is good… No tappet noise with solid lifters means they are too right - valves will burn.
Will it run better, will it have more compression; Maybe. More importantly: Will it damage itself without proper maintenance; Maybe.
You don't know if the valves need any adjusting without checking them or waiting for the consequences of a tight valve. With normal engine wear the valves can and will lose clearance. Once they get to the point where they can't seal all the way because they are not able to close you will burn a valve. At that point a valve job will be necessary. An expensive failure due to a lack of maintenance. Maintenance normally does not give an immediate result. You maintain before bad things happen. You have to trust that wise people before you learned valuable lessons and chose maintenace or learn the hard way. Without maintaining stuff the day comes when you realize you have broken down garbage, this goes for anything not just cars.
It should run a little better and have a little more power. And yes it can help compression as well, The adjustment makes the values close and open when they are suppose to not a hair early or late.
Replacing the bad upstream O2 sensor will prolly make it run better than a valve adjustment.
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