Valve Adjustment – F/2F/3F-E

 By Scott Critchfield

 

Valve adjustment is a critical part of Toyota 1F, 2F, and 3F-E engine maintenance that is commonly overlooked.  This procedure is very simple, requires only the most basic of tools, and will greatly enhance the performance and longevity of your Land Cruiser.

There are many schools of thought on how to perform a valve adjustment on an F-series engine.  Some prefer to adjust six valves with the camshaft at TDC, and the other six with the camshaft at BDC.  Some prefer to perform valve adjustment with the engine running.

Outlined below is the method of adjusting the valves one at a time.  While a bit more time consuming, I have found this method to be the most accurate and effective method of being absolutely positive that the valves are properly adjusted.

Tools Required

•    Wrenches – 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm
•    Ratchet, Sockets – 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm
•    Feeler Gauges - .008”, .014”
•    Medium length slotted screwdriver
•    Remote starter switch, or 4’ length of wire w/ standard female blade connector on one end

Instructions 

1.)    Thoroughly warm up the engine; idling for ten minutes won’t do it.  Drive your Land Cruiser at moderate to high speeds for approx. 3-5 miles, then allow it to idle for another five minutes before proceeding to step #2.

2.)    Remove air cleaner housing (1F &2F - FJ40 & FJ60) or intake air snorkel (1F & 2F FJ55 - 3F-E FJ62 & early FJ80); remove valve cover.

3.)    Disconnect main lead from starter, and connect remote starter lead or female lead from length of wire to the male pin on the starter solenoid.  If an engine tune-up is being performed at the same time, you also have the option of removing all spark plugs and leaving them out, so that the engine may be turned by hand.

4.)    Begin adjusting the valves by turning the engine over until the valve opposite the valve being adjusted is open (down).  i.e. – draw an imaginary line in the middle of the cylinder head, separating the valves into two groups of six; each valve is the mirror image of the other.

5.)    Using the appropriate feeler gauges, screwdriver, and appropriate metric wrench, adjust intake valves to .008”, and exhaust valves to .014”.

6.)    When procedure is complete, re-install valve cover with a new gasket and grommets if necessary, taking special care that new gasket does not become dislodged and pinched, as this will cause a severe oil leak, which may lead to engine failure.

 

Diagram and Example

With the imaginary line in place, turn engine until the valve which is opposite the valve to be adjusted is open (down).

Example:  When valve #12 is open (down), adjust valve #1.  When valve #1 is open, adjust valve #12.  When valve #3 is open, adjust valve #10, and so on.                                                                                                                 

To perform actual adjustment of a valve, insert the correct feeler gauge between setscrew adjuster and valve stem, and check the actual clearance.  Then gently loosen jam nut until the setscrew can be turned.  Adjust the setscrew until desired clearance is met, and then gently tighten jam nut while holding setscrew until jam nut is secure.


DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN the setscrew or jam nut.  The feeler gauge should move freely between adjuster and valve stem.  It is also not uncommon for a valve to be excessively tight, and require loosening in order to achieve the proper clearance.

Valve Clearance, hot

Intake -    .008”

Exhaust - .014”