Introduction

The Honda Civic Hybrid uses solid valve lifters which provide greater precision than hydraulic lifters. However, solid lifters are not "maintenance free" as hydraulic are typically look upon as being. The Civic Hybrids adjust in the same manner as other cars with solid lifters which is to say it is a piece of cake compared with adjusting the valve clearance on a high revving sport bike engine. Honda has done their part to make the procedure easy as the cam shaft drive sprocket has a number corresponding to each cylinder (top dead center for the first cylinder is labeled "up"). Rotating the engine is easier with a manual transmission.

Honda schedules a valve clearance adjustment procedure every 110,000 miles. Personally, every 100,000 miles it will be easier to remember and it will not hurt to perform a check more often as this is a bit lengthy in my opinion. The procedure is easy and checking the clearance every 50,000 to 75,000 miles does not seem unreasonable,

Keep the various fasteners from each component in "baggies" or a muffin pan that are clearly labeled (I slipped "Post-It" notes inside the baggies).  You will use several baggies.

Have the proper tools necessary for the successful completion of this procedure.  In addition to a good set of mechanic's tools you must have the following:

• Honda Civic Hybrid Service Manual
• Feeler gauge with metric measurements; I also have a metric feeler gauge.
• Torque wrench. (a 25 to 250 inch-lbs ratcheting torque wrench)
• Floor jack of adequate capacity.

Reassemble according to factory torque specifications found in the Service Manual.

Above all, take your time and double check each step.  Allow about a two to three hours to complete the procedure the first time.

 Instructions

Let the engine cool over night.

Jack the passenger side front tire up and place the manual transmission in 4th gear.

2004 Honda Civic Hybrid Engine Bay with Covers.

The upper beauty valance covers the Cam Shaft Cover.

Cam Shaft Cover with upper beauty valance removed.

The upper beauty valance covers removed.

Cam Shaft Cover fully Exposed and coil packs numbered prior to removal.

Remove the coil packs by pulling straight out.

Coil packs removed.

Carefully remove the camshaft cover and place it off to the side.

Cam Shaft Cover removed showing cam shaft and rocker arms -- Intake valve are toward the front and exhaust valves are toward the rear of the engine bay.

Cylinder adjustment mark on the camshaft drive gear.

Turn the passenger front wheel and engine until the cylinder number you want to adjust is on the top of the sprocket then adjust that cylinder. Cylinder 1 is at the front of the transversely mounted engine (passenger side) and cylinder 4 is the rear of the engine (toward the transaxle, drivers side).

Using a feeler gauge to measure valve lash..

I adjusted all the intakes first and then adjusted all the exhaust valves so I use one set of feeler gauges at a time.

Valve clearance: Intake: 0.15-0.19mm (0.006-0.007inches) Exhaust: 0.24-0.28mm (0.009-0.011inches).

Using a 10mm box end and a flat tip screw driver to adjust the valve lash clearance.

I used 0.15 mm as a ‘go’ and 0.20 mm as a ‘no-go’ for the intake valve clearance; 0.25 mm as a ‘go’ and 0.011" (0.279 mm) as a "no-go" for the exhaust valve clearance.

After double checking the valve adjusting hardware to assure proper tightness begin by refitting all items removed previously.

When refitting the valve cover use molybdenum grease on the eight 10mm bolts. Be careful when maneuvering the cover over the valve train. Gradually settle the cover on the head by working the 10mm bolts in a crossover pattern. The final step is to tighten all bolts to 12 Nm (104.4 in.lbs).

These grommets will have to be removed from their mounting bracket on the intake manifold prior to refitting the cold air intake.

The grommets removed from their mounting bracket.

Grommets refitted to the cold air intake prior to installation.

Press the cover into place and finish by tightening the 10 mm bolts.

Clean and wax the Civic Hybrid.

God Bless America

 

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