XUD9 Valve clearances

[johnny625]

OK, now I measured the valve clearances on my 1.9td Xsara. With the engine stone cold, some of the inlet valves do have 0.3 mm of clearance. The exhaust valves are all pretty much in spec. 


Now will this affect performance as the car does have a stage 1 tune and generally I try to keep it in good nick. It starts well, but at times it drops on performance suddenly then picks up as if nothing had happened. Its not air in the fuel lines or the injection pump.  It just feels weird as if the engine feels choked at times.

Could the "loose" valve clearances cause this? Is it even worth it, taking the cam out and adjusting the valve clearance? Something inside of me tells me that correcting that 0.15 mm difference will make sod all.

[Martin306]

OK, now I measured the valve clearances on my 1.9td Xsara. With the engine stone cold, some of the inlet valves do have 0.3 mm of clearance. The exhaust valves are all pretty much in spec. 


Now will this affect performance as the car does have a stage 1 tune and generally I try to keep it in good nick. It starts well, but at times it drops on performance suddenly then picks up as if nothing had happened. Its not air in the fuel lines or the injection pump.  It just feels weird as if the engine feels choked at times.

Could the "loose" valve clearances cause this? Is it even worth it, taking the cam out and adjusting the valve clearance? Something inside of me tells me that correcting that 0.15 mm difference will make sod all.

The way I see it, is your clearance issue is there 100% of the time. It would not be intermittent.

Not sure what to suggest though, do you have a boost gauge? if so what does it read when you experience this low power?

[johnny625]

When the engine feels choked it doesn't seem to build boost as easily. I do have a boost gauge, generally around 20 psi (1.4 bar) when everything seems to be right.

I just hoped it was the valve clearances or that someone had a similar problem in the past.

I know that sometimes xud9's suffer from tight valve clearances but large valve clearance, that's new to me 

[welshpug]

large is common too, stuff wears.

the bigger the gap the longer the cam turns before opening the valve, and therefore closing earlier, and not lifting off the seat as far.

[johnny625]

Thank you for your suggestions. The valve clearances will be adjusted but not before sorting out the bloody strut bearing...had a nasty case of steering wheel binding and general steering weirdness today. The wheel not returning to center, jerky movements, creaking noises the whole thing, genuinely felt scary to drive at times...

Luckily its just a strut bearing that has collapsed.