CSi Valve adjustment

[Bwana]

I'm adjusting the valves for the first time (machanic did it before). On a CSi, do I have to remove the throttle body as well as the ignition and FI harness? I removed the valve cover nuts but I don't seem to have enough clearance to get it out from under the TB.

A bummer because then I have to remove the water lines too.....

How "hot" does hot need to be? Can the engine sit for a couple of hours and still be considered "hot" for the valve adjustment?

 

[Stevehose]

engine needs to be cold, not hot. I do it in the morning if I've driven it the day before..

 

[MMercury]

I'm adjusting the valves for the first time (machanic did it before). On a CSi, do I have to remove the throttle body as well as the ignition and FI harness? I removed the valve cover nuts but I don't seem to have enough clearance to get it out from under the TB.

A bummer because then I have to remove the water lines too.....

How "hot" does hot need to be? Can the engine sit for a couple of hours and still be considered "hot" for the valve adjustment?

The throttle body does not have to be removed to access the valve cover. The bellows to the air filter is what needs to be disconnected as does the small rubber elbow attached to the valve cover breather. The wiring loom is easily moved out of the way as is the air filter assembly. All fairly self evident. See picture.

Regarding heat, the usual procedure is to adjust the valves Kalt (cold). Read below carefully. A suggested maximum heat threshold is 95 degrees F. Otherwise do it cold. Why burn your fingers?

 

[Bwana]

OK, I missed the "cold" part. I thought I had read somewhere that the valves were set hot (a comment from DeQ possibly?)

Anyway, MMecury, have you actually done the procedure? The reason I posted this is because I got the harnesses loose, the air filter removed, and the valve cover nuts removed but I ran out of headroom when I tried to lift off the cover. I hit the bottom of the throttle body with the cover long before I had cleared the valve cover studs. I didn't want to push it as my FI harness is a but "fragile" and so didn't want to just start yanking stuff around. Possibly pull cover the studs?

I was wondering if the "standard proceedure", as if you were a BMW mechanic doing the job, was to remove the throttle body.

 

[MMercury]

OK, I missed the "cold" part. I thought I had read somewhere that the valves were set hot (a comment from DeQ possibly?)

Anyway, MMecury, have you actually done the procedure? The reason I posted this is because I got the harnesses loose, the air filter removed, and the valve cover nuts removed but I ran out of headroom when I tried to lift off the cover. I hit the bottom of the throttle body with the cover long before I had cleared the valve cover studs. I didn't want to push it as my FI harness is a but "fragile" and so didn't want to just start yanking stuff around. Possibly pull cover the studs?

I was wondering if the "standard procedure", as if you were a BMW mechanic doing the job, was to remove the throttle body.

I have done the procedure countless times on 02's, E3s and E9s, although I have been slowing down lately. I will concede it can be tight and may require a bit of latitudinal wiggling, but I never found it too challenging. I too get a little apprehensive when dealing with brittle wiring. Frankly, if throttle bodies were routinely removed for checking valve lash, we would likely see gratuitous recommendations of having extra tb gaskets on hand.

Your narrative makes me think something is slightly amiss. I wonder if your mechanic did this too. Is it possible you have some modifications or a different injection system, i.e., LJet with a different throttle body configuration? Longer than normal valve cover hold down studs? (I suppose it even possible that your stock length studs are somehow not fully seated into the head. This would not be the case if you are still using the traditional acorn nuts, as the nuts wouldn't tighten fully with studs that are too long.) :confused:

As noted, I can't recall the need to pull the throttle body for removal of the valve cover, but given your issue, I probably wouldn't hesitate very long. Isn't it 4 nuts and a thin paper gasket?

hth

 

[Tierfreund]

maybe someone had changed the studs the valve cover sits on with longer (too long) ones in the past. They should only just clear the nuts.
If you can´t get the cover off, take the TB off (just this once, make sure to replce the gasket when reassembling), then the Valve cover and before you put everything back together take the bolts out and replace them, shorten them or replace them with appropriate bolts to make your life easier next time around.

 

[Bwana]

Success!

Job done! The stars aligned, I stood on the correct foot, and gritted my teeth just exactly right and the cover came right out. Found a couple of tight valves, got them adjusted with my Official deQuincy Special Adjustment Tool, and buttoned it all back up.

Thanks for all the help and encouragement! :grin: This place rocks!