Too often ignored, this simple maintenance procedure can be a good source of income.

I wish I had a dime for every car that limped into the shop with a supposedly “fresh” tune up. A look under the hood usually uncovered an air filter so dirty it was bullet-proof, a fuel filter so full of crud that it had the heft of a softball, and plug wires taped more often than Namath’s knees.

In addition, the smaller engines with adjustable valve clearances usually put up a clatter like a berserk pinball machine. Valve adjustments, like clean filters, are ignored with a passion. And while some newer four cylinder engines are starting to use hydraulic adjusters, there are still a lot of other engines which require periodic valve adjustments as a part of any good tune up or maintenance.

Some of you know from years of experience that valve adjustments are not only good procedure, but also good profit. Other technicians, accustomed to domestic models with hydraulics, may be missing out.