I hit 500 valve adjustments before I finally believed the manual was right

For years I always added an extra half turn to valve lash settings because I thought the specs were too loose. Last week I did #501 exactly per the book on a 22RE and the engine never ran smoother. Anyone else stubbornly ignore factory specs for years before admitting you were wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

torres.leo11d ago

22RE factory lash is .008 intake and .012 exhaust cold, right? I used to think that sounded way too loose on the exhaust side so I always added an extra .002 thinking it would quiet things down. Turns out I was just choking the valve lift and making the engine run hotter. Did #450 exactly to spec on my '89 pickup and the difference in idle smoothness was night and day. The old timers who told me "the book knows better" were actually right lol.

brooke4758d ago

Nah man, I still run mine tighter than that and my 22RE has 280k with zero issues. Those factory specs are fine for a bone stock motor but they leave a lot of performance on the table if you've done any head work.