QUESTION
I have a blown cylinder head gasket on my 1988 Lotus Esprit and I am in the process of removing the cylinder head.
I have the flywheel at TDC but I think there is something not quite right with the pulleys.
Should the IN be on the inlet cam and the EX on the exhaust cam?
They have green dots on them which I assume are the timing alingment marks.
V.L. - Prospect, Sydney, NSW
ANSWER
Whilst removing the cylinder head it is advisable to set the cam pulley timing marks ( green dots) so they are adjacent to each other at TDC.
I understand the confusion when looking at the camshaft pulley timing marks when viewed from the engine compartment.
When the camshaft timing pulleys are viewed from the rear of the engine the markings are as follows -
Inlet camshaft timing pulley has a small green dot on the rim with EX in large letters on the body.
Exhaust camshaft timing pulley has a small green dot on the rim with IN in large letters on the body.
However, when the camshaft timing pulleys are viewed from the front of the engine the markings are as follows -
Inlet camshaft timing pulley has a small green dot on the rim with IN in large letters on the body.
Exhaust camshaft timing pulley has a small green dot on the rim with EX in large letters on the body.
This marking arrangement and pulley orientation can be easily checked by looking at the front of the pulleys with a small inspection mirror.
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