When to do Valve clearance adjustments

[ruturaj1989]

My 2009 Mitsubishi Galant has 110,000 miles on it. It sounds little rough but can not hear weird noises that I heard on before valve clearance adjustment videos on youtube. What's the recommended time? When did you do it?

Just sharing,
I bought car at 86,400 miles and since then changed
At 86,475: tires, wheel alignment
At 92,732: New struts, stabilizer links, wheel alignment
At 100,028: wheel alignment
At 105,000 miles: timing belt, pulleys, water pump, spark plug, drive belt, thermostat, valve cover gasket

Engine oil and filter change every 7,500 miles (manufacturer recommended) since 89,925 miles

Next things on my mind are,
Power steering flush DIY
Coolant flush DIY
Change brake fluid DIY
Use engine flush before next oil change DIY

If you have any other recommendation, feel free to share.

 

[lxskllr]

I didn't think valves were adjustable anymore. If there's an issue, you replace the lifters. On my old Vdubs, I adjusted the valves when I felt like getting greasy. So, about once a year.

I don't maintain vehicles aside from oil and filters. Drive til something breaks, then fix it.

 

[PottedMeat]

2009? its probably fine. if you've done all that work already yourself it shouldn't be too much trouble to undo the valve covers, turn the crank, and stick in feeler gauges (generally).

 

[Yuriman]

I pulled the valve cover off of my Honda after 200k and 16 years, and the valves were still dead center of spec.

 

[pauldun170]

Inspect and adjust intake and exhaust valve clearance (4B1 engine). Every 60K
Inspect and adjust intake and exhaust valve clearance. [4G6-MIVEC engine and 6G7/6B3-MIVEC engine (intake side) only] If valve noise increases, adjust valve clearance. Every 30K

Not "officially on the schedule" but that's from Mitsubishi
https://mcarsstatic.cachefly.net/pdf/owners/owners-manuals/2009MY Warranty NonTurbos Maintenance.pdf

 

[pauldun170]

I didn't think valves were adjustable anymore. If there's an issue, you replace the lifters. On my old Vdubs, I adjusted the valves when I felt like getting greasy. So, about once a year.

I don't maintain vehicles aside from oil and filters. Drive til something breaks, then fix it.

AFAIK, Hyundais and Mitsubishis hit you with valve checks.

 

[ruturaj1989]

2009? its probably fine. if you've done all that work already yourself it shouldn't be too much trouble to undo the valve covers, turn the crank, and stick in feeler gauges (generally).

I did not do all work myself. I did most at the local repair shop.

I pulled the valve cover off of my Honda after 200k and 16 years, and the valves were still dead center of spec.

That's Honda they make awesome engines. The engine on my car was not very advanced at the time it was launched in 2003.

Inspect and adjust intake and exhaust valve clearance (4B1 engine). Every 60K
Inspect and adjust intake and exhaust valve clearance. [4G6-MIVEC engine and 6G7/6B3-MIVEC engine (intake side) only] If valve noise increases, adjust valve clearance. Every 30K

Not "officially on the schedule" but that's from Mitsubishi
https://mcarsstatic.cachefly.net/pdf/owners/owners-manuals/2009MY Warranty NonTurbos Maintenance.pdf

My car has a 4G6-MIVEC engine. Previous owner newer bothered to anything besides oil change (I guess that was cheapest ones too). Am I pushing it? Since pauldun170 had valves were in specs even after that many miles, any idea how 4g69 holds up?

 

[C1]

As the valve lash increases with time/mileage, generally you will hear the clicking/clattering with a cold running engine & as the engine warms up the noise will subside.

Technically you should be able to adjust the valves so that there is little click/clatter from a cold running engine as valve lash is adjusted cold engine typically.

Also, unless something weird extreme happens, a person probably never has to adjust the valve system as the motor will probably wear out or need to be rebuilt across the board before valve lash becomes a major issue.

So I think that's it's just a personal issue as to whether the adjustment should be made to combat cold engine clatter as Ive never had or even heard of engine failure from normal accumulated valve lash wear.

Just my two cents.

 

[ruturaj1989]

As the valve lash increases with time/mileage, generally you will hear the clicking/clattering with a cold running engine & as the engine warms up the noise will subside.

Technically you should be able to adjust the valves so that there is little click/clatter from a cold running engine as valve lash is adjusted cold engine typically.

Also, unless something weird extreme happens, a person probably never has to adjust the valve system as the motor will probably wear out or need to be rebuilt across the board before valve lash becomes a major issue.

So I think that's it's just a personal issue as to whether the adjustment should be made to combat cold engine clatter as Ive never had or even heard of engine failure from normal accumulated valve lash wear.

Just my two cents.

Thanks. I am planning to get them done, just to be on safe side from a local mechanic. I think he won't charge much.