Valve Clearance: 3.0L

Place vehicle on lift. Disconnect battery cables and remove battery. Raise vehicle and remove engine under cover. Lower vehicle and place suitable drain pan under vehicle. For inspection and adjustment of cylinders No. 1, 3 and 5, remove air intake duct and air cleaner cover as a unit. Loosen drive belt tensioner and remove drive belt. Remove power steering hose and power steering pump bracket bolts. Remove power steering reservoir from bracket by pulling upward. Place power steering pump on right-side wheel apron. Remove fuel delivery pipe protector shield. Disconnect electrical connectors from fuel injectors, front oxygen sensor, and oil pressure switch. Remove ignition coils. Remove valve cover.
For inspection and adjustment of cylinders No. 2, 4 and 6, remove washer reservoir mounting bolts. Disconnect washer motor connectors. Move washer tank up and out of the way. Disconnect PCV and blow-by hose from valve cover. Remove fuel delivery pipe protector shield. Disconnect electrical connectors from fuel injectors and front oxygen sensor. Remove ignition coils. Remove valve cover.

Turn crankshaft clockwise until cylinder No. 1 is at TDC of compression stroke and cam lobes are perpendicular to shims. See Fig 1. Using feeler gauge, measure and record intake and exhaust valve clearances. Repeat procedure for remaining cylinders by rotating crankshaft clockwise and measuring valve clearance in firing order rotation. If any valve clearance is not within specification, go to step 4. See VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION (3.0L) table.

VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION (3.0L)

Application		Clearance - In. (mm)
3.0L
Intake		.006-.009 (.14-.23)
Exhaust		.008-.012 (.20-.30)

Fig 1: Setting Up 3.0L For Valve Clearance Inspection

Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Set cylinder to TDC by turning crankshaft pulley clockwise and ensure cam lobes are perpendicular to shims. Rotate notch on valve lifter outward 45 degrees. See Fig 2. Install Shim Replacer (Part No. 18329AA000) so notch is aligned with notch in valve lifter without shim replacer touching edge of shim. See Fig 3.

Fig 2: Rotating Valve Lifter Notch (3.0L)
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Fig 3: Installing Shim Replacer (3.0L)
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Using tweezers or magnet, remove shim. Using a micrometer, measure shim thickness. To determine size of new shim, add values of measured valve clearance and thickness of shim removed. From that total, subtract .008" (0.20 mm) for intake valve or .010" (0.25 mm) for exhaust valve. Locate part number for required new shim. See PART NUMBERS & AVAILABLE SHIM THICKNESSES (3.0L) table. Install new shim and remove shim replacer. After adjusting valve clearance, repeat valve clearance check on all valves. When adjustment is complete, reinstall components in reverse order of removal.

PART NUMBERS & AVAILABLE SHIM THICKNESSES (3.0L)

Part Number	Shim Thickness - In. (mm)
13218AK010	0.0787 (2.00)
13218AK020	0.0795 (2.02)
13218AK030	0.0803 (2.04)
13218AK040	0.0811 (2.06)
13218AK050	0.0819 (2.08)
13218AK060	0.0827 (2.10)
13218AK070	0.0835 (2.12)
13218AK080	0.0843 (2.14)
13218AK090	0.0850 (2.16)
13218AK100	0.0858 (2.18)
13218AK110	0.0866 (2.20)
13218AE710	0.0874 (2.22)
13218AE730	0.0882 (2.24)
13218AE750	0.0890 (2.26)
13218AE770	0.0898 (2.28)
13218AE790	0.0906 (2.30)
13218AE810	0.0913 (2.32)
13218AE830	0.0921 (2.34)
13218AE850	0.0929 (2.36)
13218AE870	0.0937 (2.38)
13218AE890	0.0945 (2.40)
13218AE910	0.0953 (2.42)
13218AE920	0.0957 (2.44)
13218AE930	0.0961 (2.44)
13218AE940	0.0965 (2.45)
13218AE950	0.0969 (2.46)
13218AE960	0.0972 (2.47)
13218AE970	0.0976 (2.48)
13218AE980	0.0980 (2.49)
13218AE990	0.0984 (2.50)
13218AF000	0.0988 (2.51)
13218AF010	0.0992 (2.52)
13218AF020	0.0996 (2.53)
13218AF030	0.1000 (2.54)
13218AF040	0.1004 (2.55)
13218AF050	0.1008 (2.56)
13218AF060	0.1012 (2.57)
13218AF070	0.1016 (2.58)
13218AF090	0.1024 (2.60)
13218AF110	0.1031 (2.62)
13218AF130	0.1039 (2.64)
13218AF150	0.1047 (2.66)
13218AF170	0.1055 (2.68)
13218AF190	0.1063 (2.70)