Suzuki: valve clearance 98 Suzuki 16 valve engine, suzuki sidekick, haynes manual

Question
The Haynes manual says that my 98 Suzuki Sidekick valve clearance should be .03-.047".  My Suzuki has 155,000 mi and this my first attempt to set the valves. I have owned the car since it was new, so I know the maintenance history. The outside temp is 49 degrees F, and I can't get a .025 feeler between the tapits. What's going on?

Answer
The valves, in a gasoline engine, more than a diesel, tend to wear the faces, and the seats on the head, and consequently, close up the valve clearance.  Obviously, this is why valve clearance is periodically checked and corrected as necessary.
My advice is to set the clearance at the maximum clearance, since the valves are obviously "tight" at this point in time.
Make certain you follow the engine positioning procedure before measuring and adjusting to make sure the valve clearance is correct when you're done.
scotty