Valve clearance

[alfert]

I have an early S3 and just had the valves touched up. The head came back with intake at .008 and exhaust at .011
Is that too much the spec says intake at .005/7 and exh at .006/8 or on newer engines .009/.011
This is a standard engine al stock.
The head builder will willingly change clearance before I install. Just don't want it to be noisy.
Thanks for any help,
Brian

[AussieJohn]

They usually close up after running for a few hundred miles, I think your builder is on the mark. I checked mine after 300 miles and found a few closed up a bit; ran it to 700 miles and they had changed a little more so I reset them at this point. I was surprised how some of them had changed. I have over 3000 miles on it now and will check them again over winter.

[Quart Meg Miles]

I'll second that. Check them again when you pull down the head at 500 miles.

[bill308]

It's safer to be a little looser on the clearances than it is to be too tight.

Bill

[alfert]

well I readjusted the intake valves to .007 and the exhaust to .009. This is a completely rebuilt stock engine and I was a little worried that I might get some noise from the exhaust at .011
Dont know but I am more comfortable, so we will see when I start it up.
Thanks for input,
Brian

[Jeff@Jae]

I set my valves at .007-.008 inlet and .010" exhaust because the heavier inlet valves tend to close up more over time. As noted they will change a bit during break in (sometimes they actually gain some clearance but usually close up a bit) and after re tightening the cam cover gasket a few times it'll be time to check/readjust the valve clearances and the timing chain (if new). The better the valve/seat/guide job the less change there will be both initially and over time. With contemporary hard valve seats and a really accurate valve guide hone fit (rather than a reamer) once things have settled in you'll go for very long periods between the need for adjustment. After the run in adjustment on my Elan engine I've only adjusted the valve clearances twice in 22 years of fun driving (sounds so sweet at 7000 RPM !) and they weren't out by much and neither was the timing chain.