A rag, brake cleaner, and a permanent Sharpie. I wipe the spring retainers, and mark them with an "I" or "E." It lasts a long-long time! Even running high detergent diesel oil.

It helps eliminate confusion. 60K and still just like the day I marked them!

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's Hookers on jack stands for 8 years in the driveway
'79 Maxivan 360 Offy Qjet Comp RV cam/rusting in the driveway.
93 D350 160HP Cummins Auto Dually Clubcab needs a injector pump
2005 Golden Couch Buick

Or you look at the runner 2 inches from them and see if its the intake manifold or exhaust manifold

My first-ever slant-6 valve adjustment, I was so intently concentrating on tens and twenties that I forgot the two intakes next to each other in the middle. Engine (in my dad's car) ran and sounded like poo. Ack! Doc(tor Dodge) clued me in on the phone in those pre-internet days, and since then I always keep half an eye on the runners just to keep track of what I'm doing. But sure, marking "I" and "E" on the retainer would also do it.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.