Valve Adjustment?

[walmor]

On an 04. 5, do the valves need to be adjusted like the first gen trucks and if so, WHEN.



Thanks

Walt

 

[pullya]

Most people do it around 100k, however some people have never done it.

Jay

 

[TSPowell]

I think the manual says that these (3rd gen) heads are "low maintenance" and only require adjustment every 100,000 miles. I know guys have adjusted theirs when new and have found them out of spec. already. I did mine at 75,000 and it made a big difference on noise. Im now doing it every 50,000 miles.

 

[AWay]

Did mine at 40K. My mechanic found them way out of spec. What a difference it made in sound and seems to run much better (that part could be in my head). Plane to do them every 50K from here on. Money well spent to know it's running the way it should.



Also, mechanic said that the DR Service Manual allowed too much tolerance, he set them to his Cummins book.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I did mine at 100K and found them all in spec... or very close! Amazed that the teater totter rocker arrangement works that well!

 

[CSkal]

Also, mechanic said that the DR Service Manual allowed too much tolerance, he set them to his Cummins book.

Any idea what Cummins recommends for valve settings vs. the Dodge manual? I'm (hopefully) going to do mine when I hit 100K and am interested in the difference between Dodge and Cummins recommendations.

 

[p-Bar]

Any idea what Cummins recommends for valve settings vs. the Dodge manual? I'm (hopefully) going to do mine when I hit 100K and am interested in the difference between Dodge and Cummins recommendations.
__________________I am curious about that too

 

[HBarlow]

I had a mechanic friend who is a former Dodge dealer Cummins tech adjust the valves on my '01 as the owner's manual suggested. He tried to talk me out of it explaining it was rarely needed. As he did the adjustment he said it was really not needed.

I ignored the valve adjustment on my '06 and sold it at 230k miles. Never noticed any increased valve tappet noise or performance degradation.

A computerized assembly adjusts the valve train at Cummins MREP during engine assembly.

IMO it is mostly an unnecessary procedure on the average Dodge-Cummins engine but if done right by a skilled mechanic it doesn't hurt anything.

 

[walmor]

Valve Adjustment

Thanks for the comback everybody. Sure is good to get it from the horses mouth (so to speak). Since I just turned 40K I think I will have it done at 50k. Thre reason I inquired in the first place was the sound of at least one of them that is louder than the others.



Thanks

Walt

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks for the comback everybody. Sure is good to get it from the horses mouth (so to speak). Since I just turned 40K I think I will have it done at 50k. Thre reason I inquired in the first place was the sound of at least one of them that is louder than the others.



Thanks

Walt

That could be an injector too

 

[Bochuck]

These are good questions. This is my first Cummins and I wasn't sure what people or the mfr recommended. I have 92K on my engine so I think I'll plan on having the valve adjustments checked. Anyone know what I should expect to pay? Also, anyone recommend a trusted shop in the St. Louis area?And lastly, what does everyone suggest for injector maintenance?

 

[Bob4x4]

I had a mechanic friend who is a former Dodge dealer Cummins tech adjust the valves on my '01 as the owner's manual suggested. He tried to talk me out of it explaining it was rarely needed. As he did the adjustment he said it was really not needed.



I ignored the valve adjustment on my '06 and sold it at 230k miles. Never noticed any increased valve tappet noise or performance degradation.



A computerized assembly adjusts the valve train at Cummins MREP during engine assembly.



IMO it is mostly an unnecessary procedure on the average Dodge-Cummins engine but if done right by a skilled mechanic it doesn't hurt anything.

By the time a performance issue is noticed it will be beyond repair of an adjustment. The valve adjustment should also be looked at as preventative maintenance. If it catches an issue before the loss of 1 out of 100 engines it was certainly worth it for that one owner.

I have seen trucks right off the transport with pushrods pounding ,before it was in my stall the pushrod was out of place,bent and had a dead cylinder.

I am not going to trust a machine to accurately adjust the valves on my trucks



I have found the adjustments all over the spectrum on the 06's especially. Yes they are in spec should they vary that far???? not in my mind. After the adjusment you will normally have a much smoother idling engine

 

[GaryOwen]

Had the valves checked on my 03 when I bought it with 80k miles - all in mid-range of specs. Had them checked every 150k after that. First time they needed adjustment was at 525k. Had two that were right at limit tight and others were slightly tight. Adjusted to mid-range.



I don't have the experience for recommendations, just giving info for my truck.

 

[rbattelle]

By the time a performance issue is noticed it will be beyond repair of an adjustment. The valve adjustment should also be looked at as preventative maintenance. If it catches an issue before the loss of 1 out of 100 engines it was certainly worth it for that one owner.

Bob, can out-of-adjustment valves do real damage (assuming we're not talking about being 0. 1" out of adjustment or something really wacky like that)? Have you seen a Cummins come in with damage from out-of-adjustment valves?

What are the potential dangers of neglecting the adjustment (assuming your engine is operating satisfactorily)? Pushrod damage? I imagine valves that are so far out that they're damaging the pushrods would be extraordinarily loud - or am I wrong?

Also, I thought the owners manual specified 150k miles before valve adjustment. Is it actually 100k?

Ryan

 

[Harlacher]

I check mine any time I take the valve cover off. I have yet to find they needed much adjusting. The range that Cummins gives is pretty wide and easy to meet. If they get way out of specs they make much more noise. They wear and loosen as a rule and only performance suffers. A tight valve setting could force the valve into the piston crown but that would be very rare and most likely caused by improper setting and not wear. I think 50,000 is excessive but not doing it at all is probably not a good idea. Preventive maintenance is good, however, don't fix it if it isn't broke also applies here.

 

[JWadford]

i adj mine every couple thousand miles, its easy and like said above preventive maint, it is something you should do, then run the engine for a few minutes and then change the oil to reduce on dirt entry. i adj mine alot because i flat out abuse my truck.

 

[Bob4x4]

Bob, can out-of-adjustment valves do real damage (assuming we're not talking about being 0. 1" out of adjustment or something really wacky like that)? Have you seen a Cummins come in with damage from out-of-adjustment valves?



What are the potential dangers of neglecting the adjustment (assuming your engine is operating satisfactorily)? Pushrod damage? I imagine valves that are so far out that they're damaging the pushrods would be extraordinarily loud - or am I wrong?



Also, I thought the owners manual specified 150k miles before valve adjustment. Is it actually 100k?



Ryan

I have seen both the 100k and 150k intervals published. Some people do not have the ability to know if it is running good or not so I have stopped trusting some customer inputs Yes if they are loose enough to spit a push rod the normal person would hear it. My thought on the inspection is I want to know if the setting changes. Something is wearing abnormally,I want to find that here in the shop not 500 miles into Baja somewhere.

I just can't have that happy carefree attitude with out checking my engine at least at the recommended interval. When we turn them up and push them harder it only makes good sense to inspect more often. I hate to be the guy that has to tell a customer his half million mile engine is shot at 100k due to something that could have been avoided

 

[p-Bar]

So BOB what spec do we use the ones in the Dodge book or out of the Cummins book ?? Also what is the going rate at the dealer?

 

[JWadford]

. 010 intake and . 015 ex

 

[Grumpy John 4x4]

Valve Adjust

Cummin's says 150,000 miles, To me thats alot of miles, Like Bob said better to be safe then sorry!