Valve stem seals

[owen1183]

Hi All,

My car does puff out blue smoke if left idling for a while, or on the over run, having re-built the head a few years ago and having inspected the pistons & bores I have come to the conclusion the the valve guides are worn.....

The Rocker shaft was not aligned (the screw had fallen out) so the rocker shaft was badly worn. This was replaced, along with the screw!

Anyway, my question is, until I can afford to send the head off for new valve guides, is it worth fitting valve stem seals?

Chris Witor lists some, with what looks like a spring to keep a good seal and Rimmers list some which just look like rubber O rings.

Im struggling to believe that they will make much difference, as surley they will ride up the valve stem and stay there towards the collets, thereby not stopping any oil going down the worn valve guides?

anybody have any experience?

Thanks

[Clifford Pope]

I've done them on a Volvo 240 - they are like little rubber buckets with a springy O-ring incorporated.
But the guides have a groove round the protruding end for the seals to lock over. I can't see how you could make a loose ring stay in place, unless it incorporated a light spring bearing against the collets to keep the ring pressed down against the guide?

On the Volvo I used the rope-trick to avoid having to disturb the head (string in the combustion chamber compressed against the valve heads).

[VitesseEFI]

Did this on mine not very long ago
http://sideways-technologies.co.uk/foru ... ge__st__40

Did stop the worst of the smoke but didn't have much effect on the (epic) oil consumption as the rings/bores turned out to be shot due to rust......
Note that the Ford seals only fit (sort of) with single valve springs

Nick