When I recently took my '85 240 DL for a new timing belt, water pump and major service my mechanic told me he did not do a valve adjustment. He said it was not necessary.

The car runs fine and accelerates well.

Is my mechanic just being lazy? Or do you think he's right, that the valve adjustment is unnecessary at this time?
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'85 240 DL with 37K miles, '94 940 with 191K, 40 linear feet of vintage jazz, r'&'b, funk and soul

I have 342,000 miles and can't remember when, if ever, I've had my vales adjusted. How do you know when it needs an adjustment in the first place? When it goes clickity-clackity?

Wear does not seem to be a problem with these engine's valve train. Rarely will you find clearance greater than original. Occasionally you may find a valve with the gap closing due to valve seat recession which is the situation that could cause a problem if left to continue until there's little or no clearance. At 38k I wouldn't be too worried but eventually you may want to check clearance for peace of mind. Having written that I have to admit I've never had the valve cover off my 1980 245 - bought with 123k - now just under 290k and like Alfred E. Neuman says -- What me worry -- Dave

Hi,

I bought my 90 244 14 years ago and it had approximately 165k miles. I just had the head taken to the machine shop and he 2 valve shims that were slightly out of spec-this is at 256k miles.

Travis

I've been with Volvos on and off since the b21 was new. yes, you are supposed to check the valves every 15k. but, in all this time, I done 3 adjustments. 1 was a cam change, 2 was my car when the machine shop screwed up the job and 3 was an 86 740 turbo that had a horrible clack after a 60k service the month before. yes, I checked them during the service and they were fine. can't explain that 1. since about 95 or so, I just listen and save the customer the money. good luck, chuck.

If part of the service was to check & adjust the valves, he should have at least checked clearances.

If not then you are likely fine, these engines rarely require adjustment.
Dan

38k original miles on an 1985 240 DL?

B23 or early B230? Probably the first edition B230. You may want to read up on issues and concerns with early B230 engine models just to be informed.

How the heck do you manage that!?!?!?!?!?!?

Someplace, in some doc somewheres there is some recommendation to check clearances once and reset if necessary at or before 50k miles I think. Check the owner manual that came with your 1985 240.

The clearances rarely change much after the first valve adjust during factory valve assembly.

One concern is the rare valve seat that recedes into the aluminum alloy cylinder head, usually after a cylinder head rebuild.

Even with a mere 38k miles, I'll bet the synthetic rubber "hushers" under the valve adjust shims could use a replace along with a valve clearance check.

The "hushers" turn brittle soon with mineral oils and no as soon with synthetics. As they turn brittle, they can deteriorate into particles and fall away, caught in the oil filter. With proper clearances, the valve train sounds a little like a sewing machine noisy. Minor. With large clearances, the valve train sound like a train. I need to do this service on one of mine.

Questions?

Hope that helps.

Mr. "I'd rather be an engineering writer at Volvo in Gothenborg from 1954 to 1998 writing Volvo car service and owner manuals."
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