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Stem seals, how dead is dead

While i was whipping off my manifold for facing (warped 1.5mm, max allowable 0.2mm!) i noticed this - No.1 Exhaust valves:

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Stem seals, arghh, explains the odd puff when I fire her up after turning her off without letting her cool for a few minutes at idle. But I've had it this bad on other cars for years with no burning. Now the oil I'm using is old and in this engine, old oil gets thin fast (after 3K miles a change of oil brings hot idle pressure up from 13psi to 22ish). So just as an interest more than anything, how long do you give those before they start burning oil really bad?! Stem seal job isnt a total nightmare and can be done with the head on, not sure if i can do with the cam on though, being bucket/shim type. will have to read manual...

J
Reply to
CoyoteBoy
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I did the stem seals on my last Alfa 33 (1.7 16v) and didn't enjoy the experience.

If you've tried the new oil and you still dislike the 'puff' at startup and the smoke when the engine is very hot and has been idling for a while, I'd suggest you were better off doing them whilst the engine is apart.

Get yourself new seals (Mine were £2.00 each) and just do it. You'll need to take the cams off and buckets out - how to retain the valves in place whilst compressing the springs/removing collets is unknown to me. (My Alfa's heads were on my kitchen worktop)

A pain of a job but I was pleased I did it. Over to you.....

A
Reply to
Adam H

you can hold up the valve with string in the cylinder or air pressure

Reply to
Mrcheerful

=================================== Or oil, but it's messy.

Cic.

Reply to
Cicero

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I can do the compressor/air method no problem, I have spare spark plugs I can drill out and a compressor that'll deliver 150psi, but it looks like I'll need to remove the cams (and therefore the timing belt again that I only did 200 miles ago :( ) and the timing belt is a / nightmare/ job as setting the tension requires removing the engine mount and jacking the engine too and fro to get access to the springy tensioner with feeler gauges 1" from the chassis rail! I should have done it while the engine was out but i didnt notice it then :(

Reply to
CoyoteBoy

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