Should I adjust valves on a Honda Civic? Here is what I found out. 

Tip: After loosening a valve's adjustment screw, insert the desired feeler gauge and gently tighten the screw until there is a slight drag. Then tighten locknut. Will save some time and guessing by tightening to the gauge. Tip: Clamp a vise grip pliers to your screwdriver if you don't have that nifty tool. Use a screwdriver that wedges well into the adjustment slots.

Followed your instructions to clean the throttle body and adjust the valves on my 2010 civic with 147k miles. Several valves were a little loose and a couple on the tight side. Engine is now running smooth and no more slight tapping noise from the valves. I was going to replace the transmission filter while I had the air filter box removed. Surprise, no filter on my 2010. Maybe it's hidden away somewhere else. Thanks for all your fantastic maintenance and upgrade videos.

You are one of the best teachers on RU-vid. You make it simple.

You adjust valve stem clearances to keep your valves from being damaged and to keep your engine running optimally (see below). The internet shows multiple references saying that if your engine has mechanical valve lifters, then you should consider adjusting them about every 50,000 miles to keep your engine in optimal condition. Even if you choose a longer interval, adjusting them every 100,000 miles is a good idea. Damage: The primary reason to adjust valve stem clearances is that if they are set too tight, they stay open longer than they are supposed to. Valves, especially exhaust valves, cool in part by dissipating heat through the valve seat while they are closed (which is about 3/4ths of the time--valves open 1 out of 4 strokes, right?). They can get excessively hot and warp or even melt at the edges if they stay open longer than they are supposed to. Maintaining optimum: The second reason to adjust valve stem clearances is that the engine was designed to open and close valves at specific times. The engine runs better and smoother, and is a lot quieter if the valves are set correctly. By the way, most of that sewing machine sound coming from the top of a Honda engine is the valve stems and rockers clicking together as they open and close, so a soft rhythmic snicking noise from the area is quite normal.

I've got 83k on a 2009...great video explaining this. Not even sure it needed to be done at 150k. Good to know.

Sir, thank you for your insights and easy to understand tutorials.

I have a euro spec R18A2. My car is now on 141k miles, I've done the valve adjustment twice in my 70k ownership. To rotate the engine, I jack up front of car, put it in gear and turn the one of the front roadwheels. Also worth mentioning you need to apply some high temp RTV to the corner of valve cover and leave a few hours on reassembly. Finally, it was a good video but it would have been useful for the less mechanically minded to state the exhaust valves are nearer the front of the car.

Great explanation on the feel for the clearances. Thank you.

Personally, I would not use different gauges even if its within spec - I would use same gauge on one side and anther on other side

Thanks 🙏 you’re awesome man

I think My honda civic 2012 (fb) needs this. It consumes gas like crazy unlike when I got it from a used dealership 2 years ago. Had it heavily serviced by changing fluids but it got worse lol.

One of the best videos about this issue on this type of Honda. My car is the same model and generation with yours. Mine is at 143000 miles. I haven’t heard any weird sounds yet. In your video, even at 150000 miles, those valves still hold up really well. Do you think I should wait till I notice weird sounds or go ahead and have shops check it out at specific interval? This job is kinda beyond my ability. :))

Man I can't get enough of your videos. Keep them up. Do the valve nuts need to be torqued?

Unless the valves are noisy. I don’t see how adjusting it .0001 will really do much.

Just did my Accord @177k miles. They were pretty darn close to spec.

good video. i really do wish you had shown at least one set on intake valves though. from your video alone, i cant even tell how to get to the intake. otherwise this video would have been perfect

Nice demo. V good explanation.

Thank you. very informative. I hope i dont mess up on the intake valves ;)

I have European version of Civic Tourer with R18A2 engine ,model year 2014 with only 45k miles on it. Honda service book say 28k valve check and adjust but I guess if engine runs smooth there is no point to open it and check. I guess no need for adjustement before 60-80k miles or until consumption changes or valves start tapping.

If they are on the loose side, will they need adjustment sooner?

Great video, Danny. Thank you!

I wish you had shown one example of intake valve adjustment. They're more challenging to do since you're right up against the cowl.

The fact that Honda Civics need a valve adjustment is an obscenity. I haven't had a car that needed manual valve adjustment in 30- years, but lo and behold, these darn Hondas need one. What is Honda thinking?

awesome video

At what mileage do you recommend adjusting the valves. ?

Perfect! Thank you sir 👍

great teaching skill, tks

What performance issue will we feel if the valves are not adjusted properly? Will it cause the check engine light to come on? Will the engine hesitate

Danny when you say not all vehicles need this, do Honda Accords with 102k miles need it? It Runs great Not sure what drivability issues would include ?

After you adjust all your valves and ready to put it back together what point do you set the timing chain at

Hey Danny can you make a video showing us how to replace the timing chain on the Honda ? I would really appreciate it I've been learning how to fix cars and Hondas are my cars. My mom got a 2010 Honda Civic.... With the Lord's help I was able to replace the power steering pump that was leaking on it ? She got a lot of miles on a vehicle..... So I want to know how to change the timing belt..... So I can be ready before the time comes for.it. IT WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED IT THANK YOU BROTHER DANNY !.... OH YEAH JESUS CHRIST THE WAY !

Nice video.. very usefull

Excellent. Thanks!

Great Video, Sir can you post the part number on tool to adjust valves, Thks

I have the Civic hybrid 1.3 ima 2006. Do you know if this procedure works for the LDA2 engine too? thanks

I did a valve adjustment on the Honda CBX six cylinder....24 valve. Obviously a completely different setup with shims in the lifters, but of the 24 valves, 12 needed adjustment, and of the 12, 9 were exhaust. What does that say about exhaust valves?

Hi. Why you removed spark plugs? is it absolutely necessary?

You said you'd put a link to the adjustment tool in the description? :)

My engine is clicking loudly, I lose power around 3k rpms and don’t have good acceleration. Could this be my issue?

Hi So my civic is a bit noisy from the engine when its hot and sounds way quieter when its a cold start I am thinking its the valves adjustment that needs to be done since the sound is a tapping one Am i right? Should i go for it? What else should I expect to gain from valves adjustment Also i have noticed its a bit high on fuel in local traffic and wayy better on long routes with some degree of struggle when going uphill But that may be the prosmatic transmission Many thanks

How hard are the intake valves the shroud in place? Should I remove that first?

Hi, Do you have any info what are the valve clearance values for Honda Civic R16A2 engine? This engine is for the 8th generation 1.6 Civic Sedan.

Will this video work for my 2016 Honda Civic thank you so much

What socket size did you used to rotate the alternator?

Hello, is there a torque for locknuts?? Thanks

I have a big question and it is very confusing. I watched both of your videos honda element and honda civic valve adjusment. So which one is the exhaust valves and the intake? the ones on the back or the ones on the front? I just did this to my honda fit and its more noisy now. I truly think the adjustment I did is backwards.

what is the tools size u use to adjust the valves with the flathead screw drivers? also do u know the intake and exhaust spec for honda hrv 2020?

I’m finding little no info on timing chain adjustment or replacement…the car sounds fine, just curious. It’s an 08 I bought new now w/230k miles.

I'm trying to find the fuel pressure regulator!

How would they get tighter before adjusting them

what year is the civic ?, I have a 2013 with 45k ..oil canges when the reminder comes on at about 5% or so left, usually about 6k miles intervals..with mobil1 .

sorry if I have missed it, but is there a torque spec on re-tightening the lock nut?

How long should complete valve adjustment take? Honda dealership quoted me about 4.5 hours

You dont explain which are the exhaust and intake valves. Also, you don't explain the order of adjustment either consecutively from left to right or according to firing order. Which is the number one cylinder, two, three and four? And which is the firing order for this 1.8L... you do not show it visually.

What's the valve clearance on a 2015 honda civic

Still have a link to the valve adjustment tool?

is the valve adjustment same for civic 2018 L15b7 turbo charged engine intake 0.007-0.009 and for exhaust 0.010-0.011

I got 360000 kms on a 2008 civic dxg , first owner , still never burns any oil , runs like new , never f.... with valves

Dang! Scotty is gonna have some completion here. Thank you sir.