Darren wood replied ;
I've had one of our technicians look at your shim report. The only one out
of tolerance according to the report is the inlet 12, which measured 0.17
which is small but wouldn't really affect the running of the vehicle.
Anthony BM Workshop replied ;
I've looked at the report and the only cylinders that I would have adjusted is cylinder 1 (inlet 1 and 2) and cylinder 6 (inlet 12). Cylinder 1 is just on the tolerance and cylinder 6 (inlet 12) is too tight by 0.01mm which is marginal.
I spoke to both guys.
I was left with the impression that no two people doing the check on the car would come up with the same no's even if they followed each other with the guage.
I was also told by one that when he was trained to use the guages it was described like putting a knife into honey and feeling the slightest pull on the knife as it comes out ! That in itself leaves door open to interpretation
I mentioned who did the check and one of them said he is a very well respected tech.
In regard to tolerances he said each engine creates its own fingerprint or footprint in regard to how it runs and if it is not wildly away from the guideline tolerance it should be allowed to make its own print.
In conclusion there is a human element to all this and the fact that the tolerances are guideline because engines run uniquely too.
Maybe the tolerance is not as precise as we think they are and the engine can take a moderate difference without long term damage. ??
