Valves
 

My truck is sounding a little bit off lately. A friend said to adjust the valves. I have no idea how or what it does. Any ideas? Thanks.

for your powerstroke or cummins?

pull the valve covers, get the piston your working in to tdc by having the exhaust close last. both rockers should be in the closed position. get a feeler gauge, have the exhaust at .20 and the intake at .10 i believe. you can google the specs but i think thats it. and make sure they are at that setting. is not loosen the jam nut and adjust until they are, tighten the jam nut and double check nothing changed and repeat for all 6

96 Cummins. Thank you!

If you are not used to setting valve lash and do not have feeler gauges. Pick up the kind that are called go-no go gauges. There is a step in them. For instance, the .010" will have a end that is .009 and then a step that is .011". If the small part slides in easy but the stepped part will not go in, it will be fine. Its not the recommended way to do it, but if you have never set valves, it is a learned process that needs to be taught by someone that knows how to do it well.