An engine valve clearance adjustment (also known as a tappet adjustment) is vital to the health of your modern diesel engine to ensure proper combustion and minimise valve train wear.
This adjustment is often overlooked when it comes to engine maintenance; however, neglecting your valves could lead to a lot of unwanted hassles, such as loss of power, decreased fuel efficiency or even failure.
Keeping a close eye on the valve lash can alert you to a problem before it leads to hefty repair costs for your diesel engine and a lot of unplanned downtime.
What is a valve adjustment?
The valve mechanism (push rod, lifter, and rocker arm assembly) is adjusted so that the lash has the proper clearance required to regulate the opening and closing of the valve. If the lash clearance is too great, it will affect the engine’s airflow and eventually lead to valve damage.
When do I need a valve adjustment?
You should have your valve lash inspected at manufacturers recommended intervals. A sure sign that it’s time for a valve lash adjustment is if your engine is making a loud clicking or tapping noise when starting up, or if you experience a loss in engine power.
Machine Type John Deere Recommended Intervals:
- 5000 Series 1200 – 3000 Hours
- 6000 Series 2000 – 3000 Hours
- 7000 Series 2000 – 3000 Hours
- 8000 Series 2000 – 3000 Hours
- 9000 Series 2500 Hours
Why is a valve adjustment important?
If you neglect to do a diesel engine valve adjustment for an extended period of time, a catastrophic failure of the valve and engine is likely to occur.
A number of problems could occur that will hinder the performance of your machine and potentially leave you with more repairs to address.
These issues include:
- The engine will not operate at full power
- You will burn through fuel quicker
- You will have increased exhaust smoke
- Worst case engine failure
For a limited time you can get your engine valve clearance adjustment from $345+GST including parts and labour (prices will vary by machine – contact your local branch for more info).
To book your valve adjustment visit www.dne.co.nz/service/tappet-adjustment or phone your nearest branch.
