Valve Clearance: Maxima

NOTE: On Maxima, check and adjust valve clearance when engine is cold.

Remove intake manifold collector and ornament covers. Remove valve covers. Remove spark plugs. Place No. 1 cylinder on TDC of compression stroke. To ensure No. 1 cylinder is at TDC, check that lifters on cylinder No. 1 are loose, and No. 4 are tight.
Measure valve clearance for valves as specified in VALVE IDENTIFICATION (MAXIMA) table. Verify valve clearance is as specified in VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS table. Record valve clearance measurements that are not within specifications.
Rotate crankshaft (clockwise) 240 degrees and ensure No. 3 piston is at TDC of compression stroke. Measure valve clearance for valves as specified in VALVE IDENTIFICATION (MAXIMA) table. Record valve clearance measurements that are not within specifications.
Rotate crankshaft (clockwise) 240 degrees and ensure No. 5 is piston at TDC of compression stroke. Measure valve clearance for valves as specified in VALVE IDENTIFICATION (MAXIMA) table. Record valve clearance measurements that are not within specifications.
CAUTION: DO NOT damage camshaft with valve lifter compressor.
If clearance of any valve lifter is not within specification, rotate crankshaft so camshaft lobe on valve to be adjusted is facing upward, away from valve lifter. Rotate valve lifter so notch area on valve lifter is facing center of cylinder head. Using Valve Lifter Compressor (KV10115110), press valve lifter downward, away from camshaft. See Figure.
CAUTION: DO NOT damage camshaft with valve lifter retainer.
Install Valve Lifter Retainer (K10115120) between camshaft and valve lifter, as close to camshaft bracket as possible. See Figure. Remove valve lifter compressor. Using compressed air, aimed toward lifter, separate adjusting shim from lifter. Using a small screwdriver and magnet, remove adjusting shim.
Measure thickness of removed shim. Determine new shim size by subtracting specified amount from measured valve clearance and adding the result to the measured thickness of the removed shim. See REPLACEMENT SHIM CALCULATION table.
Select a new shim closest in size to that required. Shims are available in.0008 inch (.02 mm) increments. Install new shim with surface on which thickness is stamped facing down. Recheck valve clearance.

VALVE IDENTIFICATION (MAXIMA)

Cylinder At TDC	Intake Valve	Exhaust Valve
1	1 & 6	2 & 3
3	2 & 3	4 & 5
5	4 & 5	1 & 6

VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Application

In. (mm)

1.8L (QG18DE Engine)

Intake

.008-.019 (.21-.49)

Exhaust

.012-.023 (.31-.58)

2.4L (KA24DE Engine)

Intake

.012-.015 (.31-.39)

Exhaust

.013-.016 (.33-.41)

3.0L (VQ30DE Engine) ⁽¹⁾

Intake

.010-.013 (.26-.34)

Exhaust

.011-.015 (.29-.37)

⁽¹⁾	Measure valve clearance when engine is cold.

REPLACEMENT SHIM CALCULATION

Application		Subtracted Amount In. (mm)
Altima
Exhaust		.015 (.37)
Intake		.014 (.35)
Frontier (4-Cylinder)
Exhaust & Intake		.015 (.37)
Maxima
Exhaust		.013 (.33)
Intake		.012 (.30)
Sentra (1.8L)
Exhaust		.016 (.40)
Intake		.015 (.37)