Valve Stem Seal Consequences
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
Valve Stem Seal Consequences
Though I would share this with you. A number of years ago when I had a 1979 L-82 I had a persistent oil-use problem. It perplexed me because the car ran fine despite using a quart of of oil in 300 miles or so. The car drove with little visible signs of oil burn. In fact it ran very nicely. What the heck was wrong?
I let it go for some time but whined here on the Forum. There were many proposed solutions from engine rebuild to intake manifold leaks to valve stem seals. So one day friends gathered to do the blessing of the valve train. One of those Saturday afternoon things. We had the compressor going and did the valve stem seal replacement thing with a Crane set. They snap on the top of the valve guide with a spring. After a few hours, colas and pizza it was done.
That engine has not used oil since.
But I thought you might be interested in what spark plugs look when burning oil under valve stem failure conditions. And yes, this car was still running pretty reasonably. Perhaps a tribute to the durability of a Chevrolet V8.
I let it go for some time but whined here on the Forum. There were many proposed solutions from engine rebuild to intake manifold leaks to valve stem seals. So one day friends gathered to do the blessing of the valve train. One of those Saturday afternoon things. We had the compressor going and did the valve stem seal replacement thing with a Crane set. They snap on the top of the valve guide with a spring. After a few hours, colas and pizza it was done.
That engine has not used oil since.
But I thought you might be interested in what spark plugs look when burning oil under valve stem failure conditions. And yes, this car was still running pretty reasonably. Perhaps a tribute to the durability of a Chevrolet V8.
Last edited by Paul L; Jul 9, 2007 at 08:22 PM.
