Small curved metal clips marked “CAL-VAN 18” can be difficult to identify when they are found loose in an older mechanic’s toolbox. They are generally known as rocker arm oil deflector clips, a specialized engine-service tool used to control oil spray while rocker arms or hydraulic lifters were adjusted with the engine running. Their unusual shape makes more sense once they are positioned over the oil outlet area of a traditional stud-mounted rocker arm.
Identifying the Cal-Van 18 Clips
The Cal-Van 18 pieces are small spring-metal attachments designed to fit over or against individual rocker arms. Their folded shape allows them to grip the rocker while redirecting oil downward into the cylinder head instead of allowing it to shoot outward from the exposed valvetrain.
The number stamped into an old specialty tool is often a model, set, or catalog number rather than a measurement. Searching only for “Cal-Van 18” may therefore produce limited information, especially when the product is no longer common in modern tool catalogs. More descriptive search terms include rocker arm oil deflector, valve adjustment oil clip, and rocker arm oil splash clip.
| Visible Feature | Likely Meaning |
|---|---|
| Small curved metal construction | Allows the tool to clip onto a rocker arm |
| Open or channel-shaped end | Redirects oil away from the mechanic and engine bay |
| Cal-Van marking | Identifies the automotive specialty-tool brand |
| Number 18 | Likely identifies the tool or set rather than its size |
| Several matching pieces | Permits multiple rocker arms to be covered during adjustment |
Why Oil Deflector Clips Were Needed
Many traditional pushrod engines deliver lubricating oil through the lifter and hollow pushrod to the rocker arm. When the engine is operating with its valve cover removed, oil can emerge around the rocker and pushrod area in pulses. At normal engine speed, those pulses may spread oil across the cylinder head, exhaust manifold, fenders, floor, and nearby components.
Older adjustment procedures sometimes called for the engine to remain running while a mechanic loosened and tightened individual rocker-arm nuts. Oil deflector clips reduced the resulting mess by interrupting the upward or outward stream. They did not stop lubrication entirely; their purpose was to change the direction of the oil while leaving the valvetrain visible and accessible.
An oil deflector clip is a temporary service accessory. It is not an internal engine component and should not remain installed after the adjustment has been completed.
How the Clips Were Used
Before starting the engine, a mechanic would attach the clips to compatible rocker arms with the valve cover removed. Each clip had to sit securely and direct the oil toward the cylinder head’s drain-back area. The engine could then be started and kept at the lowest practical idle while the adjustment was performed.
On some hydraulic-lifter engines, a traditional running adjustment involved loosening a rocker nut until valvetrain clatter became audible. The nut was then tightened slowly until the noise stopped, indicating that obvious clearance had been removed. Additional preload was applied according to the engine or valvetrain manufacturer’s procedure.
This method should not be treated as a universal specification. The required preload, adjustment sequence, engine temperature, and nut rotation vary among engines and aftermarket valvetrain systems. A service manual or camshaft manufacturer’s instructions take priority over a general procedure.
Engines and Adjustment Methods
Rocker oil deflectors are most closely associated with older overhead-valve engines that use pushrods and externally adjustable stud-mounted rocker arms. They may be encountered in tool collections belonging to mechanics who serviced classic American V8 and inline engines, although compatibility depends on the rocker design rather than the vehicle’s age alone.
Mechanical and hydraulic valvetrains are not adjusted in exactly the same way. Mechanical lifters normally require a specified clearance, commonly called valve lash, while hydraulic lifters generally require a zero-lash reference followed by a specified amount of preload.
| Valvetrain Type | Typical Adjustment Goal | Important Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic lifters | Establish zero lash and apply specified preload | The lifter must not be excessively compressed during adjustment |
| Mechanical or solid lifters | Set a specified clearance with a feeler gauge | The required hot or cold specification must be followed |
| Non-adjustable valvetrain | No routine rocker-nut adjustment | Incorrect clearance may indicate worn, damaged, or mismatched parts |
| Modern overhead-cam system | Procedure varies by follower, shim, or lash adjuster design | Traditional rocker oil clips are generally unsuitable |
Other Ways Mechanics Controlled Oil Spray
Oil deflector clips were only one solution to the problem of running an engine with exposed rocker arms. Some mechanics modified an old valve cover by cutting access openings above the adjusting nuts. This retained more oil while still allowing a socket or wrench to reach the valvetrain.
- Individual clip-on rocker arm oil deflectors
- A spare valve cover with access slots cut into it
- A partial or specially manufactured adjustment cover
- Temporary splash shields placed around the cylinder head
- A static adjustment procedure performed with the engine stopped
Static adjustment has become a common alternative because it avoids oil spray and reduces exposure to moving engine parts. The crankshaft is rotated so that each lifter rests on the base circle of its cam lobe before the corresponding rocker is adjusted. This method still requires the correct sequence and specifications for the particular engine.
Limitations and Safety Concerns
The clips can reduce oil spray, but they cannot make a running-engine valve adjustment clean or risk-free. Oil may still escape around the sides of the clips, and a poorly fitted piece could move or detach. Their effectiveness also depends on the rocker-arm shape, oil pressure, engine speed, and condition of the tool.
Working near an operating engine exposes the mechanic to moving rocker arms, hot oil, hot exhaust components, belts, pulleys, and the cooling fan. Loose clothing, jewelry, long hair, electrical leads, and tools must be kept away from rotating parts. Oil that reaches an exhaust manifold may produce smoke and can create a fire hazard.
A running adjustment should only be considered when it is an approved procedure for the engine and the person performing it understands the valvetrain, safety hazards, and required specifications. An unfamiliar engine should not be adjusted by trial and error.
Old clips should be inspected for cracks, weakened spring tension, sharp burrs, and deformation before they are considered for use. Surface discoloration may be cosmetic, but damaged spring steel may fail to remain attached to the rocker arm.
Practical and Collectible Value
These tools have limited usefulness on many modern vehicles because contemporary engines often use overhead camshafts, hydraulic lash adjusters, shims, or non-adjustable rocker systems. Even among traditional pushrod engines, many mechanics now prefer a static adjustment procedure or a modified valve cover.
That does not make an old Cal-Van set meaningless. It can remain useful to someone maintaining a compatible classic engine, and it also represents an older style of automotive service work. A complete group of matching clips with its original packaging or instructions may be more interesting than unidentified loose pieces.
Claims that the tool was discontinued because it did not work should be treated cautiously. Specialty tools can disappear for many reasons, including changes in engine design, reduced demand, catalog consolidation, manufacturing costs, or replacement by different service procedures. Limited current availability does not by itself demonstrate that the original design was ineffective.
An Objective View
The Cal-Van 18 pieces are best identified as rocker arm oil deflector clips. They were placed on compatible rocker arms to redirect oil while valve lash or hydraulic-lifter preload was adjusted with the engine operating and the valve cover removed.
Their design addresses a genuine problem associated with older running-engine adjustment methods, but their suitability depends on the engine and rocker configuration. They should not be installed permanently or used as a substitute for the correct service procedure.
For a person sorting through an inherited toolbox, the clips are an example of a specialized tool whose purpose is no longer obvious because engine designs and maintenance practices have changed. Keeping them together and labeling them clearly may preserve both their practical use and their connection to an earlier period of automotive repair.
Tags
rocker arm oil deflector, Cal-Van 18, valve lash adjustment, rocker arm clips, hydraulic lifter adjustment, classic engine tools, pushrod engine maintenance, vintage automotive tools, valvetrain service
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