Camshaft Valve Clearance: Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Nissan Titan XD and 2018 Nissan Titan. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Intake side:
- At the removal and installation of VVEL ladder assembly or valve-related parts, or at the occurrence of malfunction (poor starting, idle malfunction, unusual noise) due to aged deterioration in valve clearance.
  CAUTION: Valve clearance check on the intake side is not required when replacing the VVEL ladder assembly & cylinder head assembly with a new one. (Install new VVEL ladder assembly & cylinder head assembly in factory-shipped condition because it is factory-adjusted and inspected.)
  
  NOTE: VVEL ladder assembly cannot be replaced as a single part, because it is machined together with cylinder head assembly.
Exhaust side:
- At the removal, installation, and replacement of exhaust camshaft or valve-related parts, or at the occurrence of malfunction (poor starting, idle malfunction, unusual noise) due to aged deterioration in valve clearance.

Remove VVEL actuator housing assembly. Refer to Removal and Installation .

Measure the valve clearance as per the following:

Use a suitable tool with a curved-tip. This allows the suitable tool to access the clearance between camshaft (drive shaft) nose and valve lifter with ease.

Valve clearance

: Refer to Camshaft .

NOTE: Be sure to note the following points when measuring valve clearance on the intake side.

Before measuring, check that the position of drive shaft nose is within the angle shown in the figure, below.

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(A)	: Bank 2
(B)	: Suitable tool
(C)	: 45 degrees (drive shaft nose angle)
(D)	: View D
	: Insertion direction of feeler gauge on the bank 2
	: Insertion direction of feeler gauge on the bank 1

Refer to the figure for the insertion direction of the suitable tool since the direction depends on the bank.

Set No. 1 cylinder at TDC of its compression stroke.

Rotate crankshaft pulley clockwise to align timing mark (grooved line without color) (B) with timing indicator (A).

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Check that exhaust cam nose on No. 1 cylinder (engine front side of bank 1) is located as shown in the figure, below.

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(1)	: Exhaust camshaft (bank 1)
	: Engine front

If not, turn crankshaft one revolution (360 degrees) and align as shown in the figure, below.

By referring to the figure, measure the valve clearances at locations marked "x" as shown in the table below (locations indicated in the figure, below).

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: Engine front

No. 1 cylinder at compression TDC

Measuring position [bank 2 (A)]		No. 2 CYL.	No. 4 CYL.	No. 6 CYL.	No. 8 CYL.
No. 1 cylinder at compression TDC	EXH	x (C)
	INT	x (D)	x (E)
Measuring position [bank 1 (B)]		No. 1 CYL.	No. 3 CYL.	No. 5 CYL.	No. 7 CYL.
No. 1 cylinder at compression TDC	INT	x (F)	x (G)
	EXH	x (H)	x (I)

NOTE: To measure valve clearance of No. 1 cylinder INT valve (front side), insert suitable tool (A) as shown in the figure, below.

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: Engine front

Rotate crankshaft clockwise (when viewed from engine front) to align No. 3 cylinder at TDC its compression stroke.

NOTE: Crankshaft pulley bolt flange has an angle mark (B) every 90 degrees (c). They can be used as a guide to rotation angle.

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(A)	: Paint mark

By referring to the figure, measure the valve clearances at locations marked "x" as shown in the table below (locations indicated in the figure, below).

Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

: Engine front

No. 3 cylinder at compression TDC

Measuring position [bank 2 (A)]		No. 2 CYL.	No. 4 CYL.	No. 6 CYL.	No. 8 CYL.
No. 3 cylinder at compression TDC	EXH	x (C)
	INT	x (D)
Measuring position [bank 1 (B)]		No. 1 CYL.	No. 3 CYL.	No. 5 CYL.	No. 7 CYL.
No. 3 cylinder at compression TDC	INT	x (E)			x (F)
	EXH	x (G)		x (H)

Rotate crankshaft clockwise (when viewed from engine front) to align No. 6 cylinder at TDC of compression stroke.

NOTE: Crankshaft pulley bolt flange has an angle mark (B) every 90 degrees (c). They can be used as a guide to rotation angle.

Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

(A)	: Paint mark

By referring to the figure, measure the valve clearances at locations marked "x" as shown in the table below (locations indicated in the figure, below).

Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

: Engine front

No. 6 cylinder at compression TDC

Measuring position [bank 2 (A)]		No. 2 CYL.	No. 4 CYL.	No. 6 CYL.	No. 8 CYL.
No. 6 cylinder at compression TDC	EXH	x (B)	x (C)
	INT	x (D)

Perform adjustment or replacement if the measured value is out of the standard.
- If a valve clearance on the exhaust side is out of specification, adjust the valve clearance. Refer to Inspection .
- If a valve clearance on the intake side is out of specification, adjust the valve clearance. Refer to Inspection .