Valve Clearance Adjustment

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1995 Ford Windstar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: Hydraulic valve lifters are used; no valve adjustment is required. When valve and/or valve seat is machined, valve clearance is reduced and may cause improper valve operation. Different length push rods are available for correcting clearance. Valve lifter must be collapsed to check valve clearance.

With valve cover removed, position piston No. 1 at TDC of compression stroke. Completely collapse cylinder No. 1 intake valve lifter and hold valve lifter collapsed. Using feeler gauge, measure clearance between rocker arm and valve stem.
Clearance should be within specification. Refer to COLLAPSED VALVE LIFTER CLEARANCE table. Replace push rod, if necessary, to obtain correct clearance.
Position crankshaft as specified. See, in this article, VALVE CLEARANCE CHECKING SEQUENCE table, and check appropriate valves. Replace push rods if clearance is not within specification.
If push rod(s) is replaced, ensure corresponding cylinder piston is below TDC. It will be necessary to loosen or remove rocker arm to replace push rod.

CAUTION: DO NOT operate or crank engine after installing push rod until valve lifter has leaked down to normal operating position.

COLLAPSED VALVE LIFTER CLEARANCE

Application	In. (mm)
3.8L	.09-.19 (2.3-4.8)

VALVE CLEARANCE CHECKING SEQUENCE ⁽¹⁾

Crank Position

Check Intake Nos.

Check Exhaust Nos.

Cyl. No. 1 At TDC

No. 1, 3 & 6

No. 1, 2 & 4

Rotate 360°

No. 2, 4 & 5

No. 3, 5 & 6

⁽¹⁾	Begin with cylinder No. 1 at TDC of compression stroke. Check corresponding valves clearance, rotate crankshaft 360 degrees, and recheck clearance of corresponding valves.

NOTE: For reassembly reference, label all electrical connectors, vacuum hoses and fuel lines before removal. Place mating marks on engine hood and other major assemblies before removal.

CAUTION: When battery is disconnected, vehicle computer and memory systems may lose memory data. Driveability problems may exist until computer systems have completed a relearn cycle.See COMPUTER RELEARN PROCEDURES article in GENERAL INFORMATION before disconnecting battery.