VALVE ADJUSTMENT QUESTION
02-01-2006, 02:25 PM
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VALVE ADJUSTMENT QUESTION
Just bought a 86 coupe with 96k. The car passed A complete PPI etc. I had my mechanic who know 911's take a look and he sais that car is perfect and does not need anything right now. There is no documentation on when a valve adjustment was done. The mechanic sais he can tell if it needs one by the sound of the engine etc. Is that something I should rely on or should I just shell out the extra bucks and get a valve adjustment done anyways..??? Thanks for any advice..
02-01-2006, 03:00 PM
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Congrats & welcome to Rennlist!
can you determine the mileage of the last valve adj via records, shop or previous owner?
if not, you will be doing a VA approx every 15K mi anyway - when do you want to start the cycle?
is this a driver? do you do your own maint? if yes, here's what I'd do...
- get a Bentley's manual, study the VA procedure,
- get the specific VA feeler gauge for the job & the gasket + nuts kit (upon reinstall, don't overtighten under penalty of creating a problem you don't have)
- in Springtime, get under there, remove the valve covers & measure the clearances to confirm they're ok (good practice for you, too) & button it back up.
- you've just started the "VA clock"
- anyway, get the clearances confirmed by measure in '06, regardless.
cheers!
can you determine the mileage of the last valve adj via records, shop or previous owner?
if not, you will be doing a VA approx every 15K mi anyway - when do you want to start the cycle?
is this a driver? do you do your own maint? if yes, here's what I'd do...
- get a Bentley's manual, study the VA procedure,
- get the specific VA feeler gauge for the job & the gasket + nuts kit (upon reinstall, don't overtighten under penalty of creating a problem you don't have)
- in Springtime, get under there, remove the valve covers & measure the clearances to confirm they're ok (good practice for you, too) & button it back up.
- you've just started the "VA clock"
- anyway, get the clearances confirmed by measure in '06, regardless.
cheers!
02-01-2006, 03:24 PM
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Yes this car will be driven about a two or three days a week. There are no records to determine the last VA. The car runs absolutely perfect and very obvious that someone previously spent some good money to get the car pefect. The car does not smoke at all and seems not to burn any oil. I have put about 1500 miles since the last oil change and I maybe put 1/4 of a quart if that to top off. Is there a relation to valave adjustment and amont of oil the car burns?
02-01-2006, 03:47 PM
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No, don't count on that. Sounds like you got a really nice example - preventative maint will keep it that way. There's been a recent thread on just that topic, worth a read. Keep in mind that a 20 yr old car has issues to be addressed that are age-dependent, independent of mileage or "normal maint". Rubber components, gaskets & seals, suspension bushings, interior trim, brake & fuel lines... things like that begin to reveal their age.
the last chapter of Ferry's bio ('76), "We At Porsche" is titled, "Longlife Auto". I believe this philosophy is central to what has made the Beetle, 356 & 911s so unique in auto history. Many say this changed w/ the advent of the 996, under pressure to be competitive in the world economy - we shall see, but at least they're still in business!
the last chapter of Ferry's bio ('76), "We At Porsche" is titled, "Longlife Auto". I believe this philosophy is central to what has made the Beetle, 356 & 911s so unique in auto history. Many say this changed w/ the advent of the 996, under pressure to be competitive in the world economy - we shall see, but at least they're still in business!
