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Autopapyrus · Honda CR-V 2.0 R20A (2018)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/honda/cr-v/valve-clearance-adjustment-rw-2018-2/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Honda CR-V 2.0 R20A (2018): Valve Clearance Adjustment

The R20A engine has no hydraulic lash adjusters. Valve clearances are adjusted manually with screw-type adjusters. Check and adjust every 45,000 km or 3 years. Signs that an adjustment is needed: a distinctive metallic tapping noise on a cold engine, loss of power, and increased fuel consumption.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 2-3 hours Steps: 11 Tools: feeler gauge set 0.18-0.32 mm, 10 mm and 19 mm sockets with ratchet, torque wrench 5-25 N·m (44-221 lb-in), flat-blade screwdrivers, Honda special tools 07MAA-PR70110 (adjuster) and 07MAA-PR70120 (locknut wrench) – optional, a 10 mm open-end wrench can be used instead

Part

  • 🔩 Honda valve cover gasket (replacement recommended whenever the cover is removed), high-temperature cylinder head sealant
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes and 8 more. See manuals →

Step by step

11 steps
  1. Let the engine cool down completely. The cylinder head temperature must be below 38°C (it should not feel warm to the touch). Adjusting on a hot engine will give incorrect clearances.
  2. Remove the engine cover (if equipped), disconnect the ignition coil connectors, and remove the 4 bolts securing the wiring harness brackets at the front and rear. Move them aside.
  3. Disconnect the crankcase ventilation hose on the right side of the valve cover. Remove the 8 valve cover bolts around the perimeter with a 10 mm socket and remove the cover.
  4. Remove the front right wheel and the engine undercover (for access to the crankshaft pulley).
  5. Turn the crankshaft clockwise with a 19 mm socket on the pulley bolt until the "UP" mark on the camshaft sprocket points straight up. Check that the TDC marks on the sprocket line up with the top edge of the cylinder head. This puts the No. 1 cylinder piston at TDC on the compression stroke.
  6. Measure the clearances on cylinder No. 1 with feeler gauges. Intake valve: nominal 0.18-0.22 mm. Exhaust valve: 0.23-0.27 mm. (Other sources give 0.21-0.25 mm intake and 0.28-0.32 mm exhaust. Check the service manual for your vehicle, and use the middle values of 0.20 mm intake / 0.25 mm exhaust.) The feeler gauge should slide in with light drag.
  7. If the clearance is out of spec, loosen the adjuster locknut with a 10 mm wrench while holding the adjusting screw with a screwdriver. Turn the screw to set the correct clearance with the feeler gauge. Tighten the locknut to 14 N·m (10 lb-ft) for exhaust and 20 N·m (15 lb-ft) for intake (apply engine oil to the threads before tightening). Recheck the clearance, because tightening the nut can change it.
  8. Turn the crankshaft 180° clockwise, then check and adjust the clearances on cylinder No. 3. Another 180° for cylinder No. 4. Another 180° for cylinder No. 2. Firing order: 1-3-4-2.
  9. Install a new valve cover gasket (discard the old one). Apply a thin layer of sealant at the points specified by the manufacturer (the corners of the semicircular cutouts). Install the cover and tighten the bolts in a crisscross pattern to 9-10 N·m (7 lb-ft; 86 lb-in).
  10. Reconnect the ventilation hose, reinstall the wiring harness brackets, and reconnect the coil connectors. Install the engine undercover and the wheel.
  11. Start the engine and let it warm up. Check that the valve tapping is gone and that there are no oil leaks from under the valve cover.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Incorrect valve clearances shorten the service life of the valve train and reduce engine power. Too little clearance leads to burned valves and seats, and too much leads to impact loads and noise. Be sure to use accurate feeler gauges and tighten the locknuts to the correct torque, otherwise the clearances will shift after the first start. If you have no experience adjusting valve trains, take the car to a repair shop. A mistake can lead to expensive cylinder head repairs.