Valve Clearance noise??

[barthmonster]

Okay, its not a Camry, but a Corolla. You guys are so smart though, I need help. I have valvetrain noise after warmup, but not before. I put a shortblock into this car and only cleaned the cams up a little and re-installed them. I measured all valve clearances last night and they are as follows:

Intake spec: .006-.010 in.
Exhaust spec: .008-.012 in.

in thousanths, all intakes: 7,8,8,8,8,9,8,9
in thousanths, all exhausts: 10,11,9,10,11,11,10,10

Since many of these are near the max spec, could this be why I'm hearing it when warm but not cold?? Don't the valves 'lengthen' when hot and the clearance goes down, so it should be quieter??

I could have also messed up the Intake Cam '2-piece gear' pre-load too I've heard, but don't know if that was the problem, why it would be quiet when cold.

Thanks a ton for your help guys. The books just don't have some stuff, ya know?!

[marc780]

If they are within specifications thats what counts, then there is no need for adjustment and certainly i wouldnt make them tighter to try to reduce the noise, that is just asking for burned exhaust valves. (Their momentary contact with the valve seats is the only cooling they get).
But bear in mind on most engines you have to check the clearances with the engine HOT. If you checked them cold it may be inaccurate. I used to just remove the valve cover bolts etc. And then run the engine some more so it is still warm or hot. And then take the last few parts off and remove the valve cover with all tools ready (big socket for turning over engine etc.)

Every engine ive ever owned with mechanical lifters made some noise, and it never hurt anything. My Nissan truck with 288,000 miles makes valve noise yet runs fine. No problem. If it runs ok and compression is good i would leave the valves alone.

[v-cam]

My Camry makes noise only on a few valves and only when its hot. (never bothered to have the valves adjusted - lack of funds!)

The reason you hear it when its hot is becuase your oil is alot thinner than when you first start it.

Try putting in thicker oil next oil change, if your engine is getting old then it wont hurt to run thicker oil anyways. How many miles has your car done?

[barthmonster]

It's a brand new shortblock, with only 5 miles on it. Came from Japan, but the head is used and has 166,000 miles on it... Thanks, may look into a thicker oil, probably synthetic too...
Oh, and the 'Haynes' manual for Corolla (88-92) specifically says to check the valve clearance 'cold'. Unless you know something I don't...

[Nad1370]

Did you re-use the old oil pump?
If you did, you should've put a new one in.

[amphipri0n]

please keep us posted on any progress you make solving/figuring out this problem. Many others have described the noise as an "engine tick" a "valve tap" "engine clatter" or "engine clicking" just in case you want to search and compare with others..