First, it is recommended that you do this when the engine is cold, that is when you have not been operating the car for a while. The valve clearance requires checking and adjustment only after the camshaft(s) or other parts of the valve mechanism have been replaced, or if there is excessive noise from the valve train equipment. There are no valve adjustments for the 2.7L engines having hydraulic lifters. Start with the removal of the multi-meter from the negative terminal of the battery before removing the spark plugs, as well as, the valve covers. Of course, you may have already found that the
Crankshaft Pulley center bolt is easy to reach, and to rotate the engine using a socket and breaker bar and about the position which is when the cam lobes on the cylinder to be checked is pointing away from the lifters. Check the clearance of each valve with the thickness of the feeler gauge as per the set size; when correct there will be some drag when removing the gauge. Take down all measurements and check if any of the valve clearance is beyond the standard in case of any argument about required replacement lifters in the near future. This measurement process should be done for all valves and the results recorded for analysis and comparison with the set standards and laid down recommendations on flow control. If any of those clearances is off, then you replace the lifter with a new one with a thickness head that offsets the clearance; unfortunately, it means removing the camshafts to get to the lifters. Check the identification of the lifters which are due for replacement and note the particular valves with which they are associated Since heads of different lifters may come in different sizes, make use of the micrometer to measure their thickness at the center projection at the bottom surface of the head of each lifter. To determine the correct thickness for a replacement lifter that will achieve the specified valve clearance, use the formula: This suggests the formula used in finding the thickness of the new lifters, N equal R + M1-M2 where N is the thickness of the new lifter, R the thickness of the old lifter, M1 is the measured valve clearance, and M2 is the standard valve clearance. Lifters are likewise branded on the undersurfaces with the size of the lifters; for example, a code 3.310 means that a thickness of the lifter is 3.31 millimeters or 0.13 inches. Last but not least, it needs to be noted where the new lifters are to be installed, then they need to be coated with the engine assembly lube before doing the installation. After having changed the lifters, fit the camshafts and the timing chains and finally, check the valve clearances once again.