CRV & Element Valve Job

For those who have some simple tools, the valves on the Honda's are REALLY simple to check and adjust. I don't suggest it if you have zero mechanical know how with a car, but my wife's civic was quoted at around $800 to have the valves checked and plugs changed. I did it in about 3 hrs for the cost of the plugs ($2.50/ea) and a new seal for the valve cover...this included time for the oil change.

1999 CRV I bought for my daughter in 2002 is at 280,000 miles and has not yet needed a valve job. SIL is a minimum maintenance guy, so it probably has not gotten a valve lash adjustment, nor replaced the timing belt since I did that for them at about 90,000 miles.

I had a couple of German cars (BMW, Audi) that needed lash adjustments at each oil change, learned to do it myself). Was spending $200 for each 3000 mile service in 1972, when my salary was less than $400 a month (military).

Just to clarify, I believe the OP means a valve adjustment. A "valve job" has the specific meaning of pulling the heads and working on or replacing the valves, valve guides, and seats.

Lar's wrote:
Click and Clack said you wouldn't notice the valve noise since when they go out of adjustment they actually get quieter. Said it was a "seating" problem... dunno. Don't own one, but was curious because of my Lil Fit.

Fwiw, just had valves adjusted for first time (144,000 miles) on DD's Civic, it's a WHOLE lot quieter, especially upon cold startup.

Forgot to ask mechanic if they were too tight or too loose, he did say 3 of 4 were badly out of spec. though.

Click and Clack said you wouldn't notice the valve noise since when they go out of adjustment they actually get quieter. Said it was a "seating" problem... dunno. Don't own one, but was curious because of my Lil Fit.

Depending on what year they do not have timing belt, but timing chains. The valve noise is normal, just keep the right oil in them.

Europeons run at redline and higher RPMs more than we do.

I was intrigued by this, because it sounded a bit odd. I think it's a combination of two things. One is the timing belt has to be replaced at 90K or so, which is fairly common but often overlooked by owners, and a belt failure will bend valves on this engine. The second is that Honda apparently spec'd the valve adjustment interval quite a bit longer for the US engine as they did for the same engine in Europe - 105K instead of 30K was one bit I read - and the valves tighten up and in some cases burn the seats.

Definitely something to be aware of.

Brian