Honda is well known for their marvelous engines, so on a 2009 vehicle I get valve/tappet clatter? Turns out this is a common problem for CRV's and Elements and the valve lash/clearance needs to be adjusted regularly (like every 70,000 miles or so. Valve seat recession is part of the problem, but possibly not all. I took it apart and adjusted the valve clearance to spec. Put it back together and... still have the clatter when it's cold. That leaves a number of other possibilities including the valve stems going bad, lifter or rocker arm problems, etc. Not sure what the fix is, but I've read if it gets too bad it can require an expensive valve job be done. Meanwhile the Mazda's and Toyota's I owned just hummed right along. The latest Toyota I have has 228,000 miles on it and no valve clatter.
Honda is well known for their marvelous engines, so on a 2009 vehicle I get valve/tappet clatter? Turns out this is a common problem for CRV's and Elements and the valve lash/clearance needs to be adjusted regularly (like every 70,000 miles or so. Valve seat recession is part of the problem, but possibly not all. I took it apart and adjusted the valve clearance to spec. Put it back together and... still have the clatter when it's cold. That leaves a number of other possibilities including the valve stems going bad, lifter or rocker arm problems, etc. Not sure what the fix is, but I've read if it gets too bad it can require an expensive valve job be done. Meanwhile the Mazda's and Toyota's I owned just hummed right along. The latest Toyota I have has 228,000 miles on it and no valve clatter.
- Gregg W., La Crescent, MN, US