Many people are familiar with valve trains, but what are the components of the valve train?
Valve train is the parts of an engine system known as the valve train are in charge of opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine.
These parts include the rocker arm, push rod, camshaft, and engine valves, among others.
I once went to an interview where the first question was, “I should name all the valve train components I know,” which astonished me. I respond to the query without hesitation.
I’ll share my right response with you in the sentence that follows.
Components Of Valve Train
The valve train is one of the critical systems in the internal combustion engine. Although some engine manufacturers do away with it by manufacturing machines without a valve train.
For example, the opposed-piston engine has no valve train, yet they are perfectly working.
But that never waters down the crucial role the valve train system plays in an internal combustion engine.
The arrangement of the valve train depends mainly on the location of the camshaft.
Standard valve configurations for piston engines are Cam-in-block, the camshaft located in the engine block, either as an air valve (OHV) or a flat-head engine. Because they often use push rods, OHV motors are called “rod motors.”
Valve trains can be classified from different angles;
- According to the valve arrangement, it is divided into valve top and valve side type
- According to the arrangement position of the camshaft, it is divided into lower type, middle type, and upper type;
- The crankshaft and camshaft’s transmission mode is divided into gear transmission type, chain transmission type, and belt type. Transmission type
- According to the number of valves per cylinder, there are two and four-valve types.
The valve train usually consists of two parts, the valve group and the valve transmission group.
1) Valve group: It consists of the intake valve, exhaust valve, valve guide, valve seat, valve spring, and other parts.
2) Valve transmission group: It consists of a camshaft, rocker arm shaft, rocker’s arm, pushes rod, tappet, and timing gear.
What Are The Valve Train Parts And Functions
The valve train and the function will be discuss below
1.Camshaft: The camshaft is a shaft with more than one lobe or cam attached to a shaft. It is the brain behind the valve train system.
2.PUSH ROD The pushrods can be defined as a long and thin iron rods used in internal combustion engine to transmit motion from the camshaft to the valves.
3 Rocker Arm: The upper end of the pushrod pushes the rocker arm, which opens the valve.
4. Valves Engine valves can be divided into Intake and exhaust valves.
5.Valve Lifter :A lifter or cam follower is a part of the Valve train located right on the camshaft. The camshaft uses its lobes to actuate the lifter.
6.Valve spring: It is the responsibility of valve spring to return the valve back to the closed position
7.Valve oil seal: the function of the valve oil seal is to prevent the engine oil at the engine top cylinder leaking to combustion chamber.
What Can Valve Train Problem Cause
A valve train must constantly have exact settings in order to operate efficiently. The valve train’s parts may be harmed if these settings are not properly adjusted.
Valve adjustment is the term for this setup. If it is not correctly set, you may have the issues stated below.
- Failing the emission test: If your engine has a valve train issue, exhaust fumes may be coming from the tailpipe.
- Low fuel economy is another sign of a valve train issue.
- Run rough: the engine may not operate smoothly as a result of poor setting.
- Ticking Noise: One of the clear signs of a valve train issue
You should also keep in mind that other components may also be to blame for the aforementioned issue.
So, you must either examine your valve train or obtain professional assistance on how to do it.
How Do I Know If My Valve Train Is Bad
Knowing that your valve train is broken is not difficult. But, I will be of aid by outlining a few indicators that will be useful to you.
I. Ticking Noise: The upper portion of your engine will be making a constant ticking noise. Check your valve train as soon as you detect this.
II. Tailpipe Smoke: You’ll probably see a blue-colored smoke coming from your exhaust.
III. Engine power loss: If you see a loss of engine power, you should examine your valve train.
IV. Frequent repair: when you experience a number of failures, including valve drop, bent push rods, and other valve train failures.
What Causes A Bad Valve Train
You must avoid poor valve trains because of the impact they have on your engine. You must be aware of the causes, which I shall outline below, in order for you to be able to achieve that.
1. Improper valve adjustment: To prevent a poor valve train, an appropriate valve setup is necessary. You can prevent a malfunctioning valve train if you can set up your valve train properly.
2. Overheating: A damaged valve train might result from your engine being exposed to excessive temperatures.
3. Irregular maintenance; if your maintenance is not routine, you may be experiencing serious valve train problems.
4. Carbon deposits: If waste carbon builds up too much, the valve train, particularly the engine, may suffer.
5. Additional components: Because the valve train is not operating in isolation, damage to an additional component may result in a malfunctioning valve train.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Valve Adjustment
Valve adjustment refers to controlling the valve train parts to keep the engine operating with the proper lash clearance.
Poor adjustment may result in the symptoms discussed below.
1. The valve train in your engine will make a lot of noise. You will readily hear the noise because it will be so loud. It could also sound like tapping.
2. Your engine might not start because the valves are not adjusted properly.
3. If your engine is difficult to start.
When Do I Need To Have A Valve Adjustment
I’ll outline a few situations where it’s necessary to adjust the valves on your engine.
1. Clicking or tapping noises: as soon as you start to hear them, you need to adjust. It serves as a warning sign for slack valve lash.
2. At the manufacturer’s recommended interval: This is based on the manufacturer’s advice. Nonetheless, it often occurs between 1000 and 3000 hours.
3. Refer to your repair handbook whenever you work on the engine to be certain when you need to alter the valve setting. When working on the engine, the valve needs to be adjusted.
For instance, when you overhaul or replace the overhead gasket. You must have offset the first adjustment during such an operation. Hence, you must reset the valve clearance.
Is It Better To Have Tight Or Loose Valve Clearance
Your goal while adjusting the valve clearance is to do it accurately. Your valve must not be too tight or too loose.
When the valve clearance is too loose, your engine will experience the following:
- Tapping noise
- increase in fuel consumption
- Loss of power
- Engine overheating
If the valve clearance is too tight, you will experience the following:
- Valve dropped
- Valve burn out
- Loss of power
- Cold start problem
- Excessive emission
Final Thought
Hope you have learn a lot from this article. You have learn the valve train component.
Also, you have learned how the valve train’s parts operate.
Please keep this in mind when you need to adjust a valve and check to see if the valve clearance is too loose or too tight.
The article also discusses the recommended valve clearance.