Great response with 100 octane, need tuneing??

[MIRZ]

You cant tune the stock ECU at all...its just a matter of keeping the car serviced. That includes things like checking the tappets are in spec, not just changing fluids.

EDIT: i should add that the better performance you are feeling from the 100 RON fuel may just be a perception thing, there might not actually be any benefit.

there is definately a big difference in response. not just my own perception. i can understand that difference.

i never touched tappets, and my understanding is that loose tapets gives you a specific sound to tell you that they are loose, specialy at the time when you accelrate and then release it suddenly, you can hear shrilling or (cant rrealy explain tappet sound)

and tappets cannot be tightened by themselves

is there any other way to findout if tappets are loose, thanks.

[aaronng]

there is definately a big difference in response. not just my own perception. i can understand that difference.

i never touched tappets, and my understanding is that loose tapets gives you a specific sound to tell you that they are loose, specialy at the time when you accelrate and then release it suddenly, you can hear shrilling or (cant rrealy explain tappet sound)

and tappets cannot be tightened by themselves

is there any other way to findout if tappets are loose, thanks.

It's called a valve clearance check in Honda naming terms. If the clearance is too much, your engine starts sounding like a diesel. And when you adjust them, it is to get the gap between the valve and the rocker back within spec. So yes, you can and must adjust them if they are not within spec.

[MIRZ]

thanks aaronng, any idea how much it would cost.

should i go to honda or any auto mechanic can do this???

[aaronng]

Go to a mechanic that you trust. Not sure on price. Dealers usually charge $500 or so for the service including a valve clearance check. Ask the other Melb Ozhonda peeps on where they go to do their valve clearance check & adjustment.

[EuroDude]

It takes max 1 hour labour so expect about a $100 charge if a mech does it (should take a pro about 30 minutes, or 1-2 hours for a n00b).
A Honda dealer would charge a considerable amount more, but you can pretty much guarantee the job will be done properly.

Or you can do it yourself if you are game. Its not that hard to do once you know how. My mech cheated and stuffed the clearances up (he only rotated the engine once 360 degrees), so I had to fix it up myself lol.

Buy a spacer gauge set for ~$15 and some gasket sealant and an socket extension at an autoshop, find out which size spacer to use for your engine model, remove the top engine cover, rotate the engine to TDC, check and adjust four tappets, then rotate the engine 180 degrees and check the next four, rotate another 180 and adjust, then once more. Then apply new sealant around the sharp curves of the rocker cover and put it back on.

Buy a Haynes workshop manual for your car model and follow the instructions ftw.


ps. Found a DIY by ECU-MAN: http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthr...ghlight=tappet

[MIRZ]

thanks aaronng and eurodude.

i have Haynes workshop manual for my car, and DIY from ECU-MAN seems good too.

would better try it first by myself, hopefuly things will go fine otherwise Honda is always there to fix it , LOL.

[aaronng]

It takes max 1 hour labour so expect about a $100 charge (should take a pro about 30 minutes, or 1-2 hours for a n00b).

You need to let the engine totally cool down before you inspect. So that adds 3-4 hours of cooling down time.

[EuroDude]

Yeh give it a try. Read both guides to get the jist of it all.

If you take your time and triple checked the clearances before and after the adjustment, and make sure the bolts are tight enough using the correct torque, It should be fine

[EuroDude]

You need to let the engine totally cool down before you inspect. So that adds 3-4 hours of cooling down time.

Yeh thats another thing my mech didnt do, he worked on the tappets while the engine was warm, but he said that he compensated the heat by using a smaller gauge size dodgy lol

[aaronng]

Yeh thats another thing my mech didnt do, he worked on the tappets while the engine was warm, but he said that he compensated the heat by using a smaller gauge size dodgy lol

Agreed!

Oh yeah, MIRZ, if you want to do it yourself, make sure you get yourself some gasket sealant. Something like ultra blue.

[destrukshn]

it is still recommended that it has to be dead cold.

[EuroDude]

Well it depends on what temperature Honda specified the clearance to be.

Does anyone know exactly what temperature Honda specify?