Valves question

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, I had my valves adjusted and I was about to place the gasket on the valve cover but decided to make sure that the oil pump was doing it's job so I turned the car on. I noticed that the oil drips from the valves at the back first then little by little the others start to drip. I let it run for about ten minutes and noticed that the very first valve was not dripping, now I think that it does drip because there is oil around it but I don't know if it happens after I run the car when the temperature is hotter and I saw that the valves on the back drip faster than the front ones, is this normal? Thanks, I hope someone can help me out.

 

[JackFish]

Maybe the oil passages are sludged-up a bit. Some kind of additive may help but you could probably take the rocker arm off and clean it, if necessary.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Edu:

Yes, it is normal that the oil visably drip from each rocker starting at the back and then forward.

Oil should drip at the 1st valve within a minute, even on a cold engine with thicker than normal oil. The system is built so that oil is pumped up through the last rocker arm shaft stauncheon and then through the center of the rocker shaft to a groove in the bushing of each rocker arm and out through two holes; one to the pushrod cup and the other on the valve spring side.

The seeping oil is used to lubricate and cool all upper valve train parts. It is essential that oil reach all parts quickly on start up.

You may be able to improve flow to the front rocker with a high detergent additive, but you may need to remove, disassemble and clean the insides of the whole shaft and all holes in each rocker.

I've seen more than a few front rockers and pushrods ruined by lack of oil.

Adios, David