Hi,

 

Is anyone able to say what's involved with the valve clearance check called up as part of the Focus Mk3 1.0 EcoBoost 125 extended period maintenance (10 year / 150k)?

 

Camshaft drive belt, tensioner and idlers -- Every 150 000 miles/10 years - Renew (LTS 21 304 9 / 21 306 5)
Auxiliary drive belts -- Every 150 000 miles/10 years - Renew (LTS 21 567 5)
Cooling system -- Every 10 years - Drain, flush and refill with Super Plus(LTS 24 122 4)
Valve clearances -- Every 150 000 miles/10 years - Check. If adjustment is necessary, a separate order is required (LTS 21 213 5)

 

I came across this video which shows feeler gauges between the cam (heel?) and valve lifter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvRo2E244Ug&t=318s

 

Is that a good summary of what's involved with the clearance check?

 

Thanks.

 

It is a good summary of how to check the clearances. Once all top end components (ducts, coils, cables, fuel rail, cover etc) are removed, they are very straightforward to check, as shown in the video.

Problem is, if you find any that are out of limits, it's not possible to correct them without removing the cambelt and camshafts - requiring much more work.

Therefore, if you want to check them (and correct any if necessary with new bucket shims), it's best done as an additional task to the cambelt (wet belt replacement).

There was an old train of thought that said checking the Valve clearances once an Engine had been set up initially was not that important because the Valves Seats will have recessed slightly anyway so the Valves will be sitting higher anyway.

I'm not sure if that still applies to modern Engine design or not.

1 hour ago, Tizer said:

Valves Seats will have recessed slightly anyway so the Valves will be sitting higher anyway.

certainly true on older engines. Perhaps to a lesser degree on newer engines, but the last engine I pulled apart that much was my 1.3 Escort Mk2 🤣

15 hours ago, RayC333 said:

It is a good summary of how to check the clearances. Once all top end components (ducts, coils, cables, fuel rail, cover etc) are removed, they are very straightforward to check, as shown in the video.

Problem is, if you find any that are out of limits, it's not possible to correct them without removing the cambelt and camshafts - requiring much more work.

Therefore, if you want to check them (and correct any if necessary with new bucket shims), it's best done as an additional task to the cambelt (wet belt replacement).

Cheers for the replies.

I've had the belt done recently and specifically asked for the value clearance check as part of it. Queried the invoice when I collected it since I couldn't see it mentioned and was told something along with lines of 'it wouldn't have been done since it's many hours of work so obviously wouldn't have been included in the quote or carried out', with the person knowing full well the car was there for the timing belt. Wasn't sure what was required at the time so left it, but a bit annoyed. Confirms my suspicions it was a load of BS. I could believe the time they specified if it was a stand-alone job. Was a main Ford dealer.

4 hours ago, BMNZ said:

Confirms my suspicions it was a load of BS. I could believe the time they specified if it was a stand-alone job. Was a main Ford dealer.

You are not wrong. As an extra task during the cambelt change it would have taken less than 30 minutes to check and report on the clearances. I've done it a few times 

I wouldn't recommend it's done now for obvious reasons of cost and low likelihood of an issue (unless if course your engine is displaying classic indications of excessive valve clearances).

On 4/3/2024 at 9:54 PM, BMNZ said:

Valve clearances -- Every 150 000 miles/10 years - Check.

Interesting.

Whats the exact normal valve's size?

• Fitting Position: Intake Side
• Length [mm]: 96,20
• Valve stem diameter [mm]: 5
• Valve head diameter [mm]: 27,00
• Valve seat angle [°]: 45

 

 

 

Valve clearances


Description Specification
Valve tappet diameter 1.062 in ( 26.98 mm)
Valve clearance (engine cold), intake 0.00827 - 0.0118 in (0.21 - 0.30 mm)
Valve clearance (engine cold), exhaust (CM5G FC camshaft) 0.0122 - 0.0145 in (0.31 - 0.37 mm)
Valve clearance (engine cold), exhaust (CM5G FD camshaft) 0.0149 - 0.0185 in (0.38 - 0.47 mm)

For ford focus mk3 1.0 125hp.