Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing (Engine) valve clearance Plus4 GDI

This days I meet a friend and we talk about the MOGs. What‘s to do in winter?

Clear, I‘ll fit the bumbstops and and the Panhard rod and some little TLC.

But than my fried told me: oh, there are 80.000Km/50.000miles on the clock I‘ll give him/her a bigger service.
I told him, that when I remember right, there would be a FORD serviceinstruction for a look at the valveclearence with this number of miles on the clock.

But with a look in the MORGAN manual there is nowhere a notice about this, also a question to „Mr.Google“ AI doesn‘t know about it.

Some MX5 guys said: check the valveclearence at 75.000miles/120.000KM.

So what is right?

Greets René

I believe your engine uses hydraulic (auto adjusting) tappets René explaining why there is no manual valve clearance adjustment.

Rene, your engine has cup shaped lifters that are sized and installed on assembly to achieve the correct clearances. You can check the gaps just like any other rocker clearances but at 50,000 miles I’d think that unnecessary if all seems well and sounds fine and performs alright, I’d suggest all is well. These are durable engines and designed to do huge mileage's although they do sound a little rattly from new.
Each cup will be different and has a stamp on the inside listing it’s size so you check the gaps and write down any difference from the listed clearance size. All exhaust sizes are the same as are the inlet but are different to each other. If you have clearance issues you need to write them down with the correct gap and list the difference for that lifter. When you have checked all inlet and exhaust you have to remove the rocker shafts to access the lifters. If all look to be good just remove the lifters that need changing and check the sizing on that lifter. You can then work out which new lifter you will need to order to bring the gap to a correct size. Often you can only get an adjustment to within a couple of thou so don’t try and go for absolute perfection!
Hope this makes sense, I’m trying to do this on my phone as my computer has refused to work today,

Ps. To remove a lifter use a magnet or a suction cup. A hand valve lapping tool is a good choice!

Yes, there „Hydros“. But the same engines in FORD and also in the MAZDA MX5 need a check! Some MAZDA manuals say 120.000KM. In Germany there is a FORD Forum where a „chief technican“ (in Germany a „KfZ-Meister“) says there are Ford instructions for a check after 80.000KM in cause of some trouble about gummed valves.

But there are no official letters or informations about it, nothing from Ford and nothing from Mazda.

I‘ve got also a HARLEY, also with „Hydros“. There it‘s easy: no need for a regular check. There are four hydros, two cylinder… if there is something wrong, you realize it. Official speak of a former Harley Germany engineer.

Greets Rene