Loose valve guide question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
From: tucson az
Loose valve guide question
Been told I have a loose valve guide but can't get in to get it fixed till the start of next year. What do I risk driving the car? The shop said I could drive it without any problems for a little while but eventually I would start to burn oil.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Did they mean the guide is worn such that the valve is a little looser than specifications or the guide itself is loose in the casting? If the clearances are too large from a worn guide you should be OK driving it, if its the guide itself then that would be an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If they went far enough into the engine to determine that the guide was loose, which seems to be a rare occurence, why didn't they fix it then? I would investigate to see if you have any other problems that need attention with your heads. If you are having issues and mods were in your future, now might be the time to buy some new performance heads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Something sounds fishy here.
What prompted you to take your car to the shop in the first place and what symptoms are you seeing.
I have never heard of a loose guide before, they wear which will cause the valve guide seal to wear and cause burning oil or it will wear to the point that the valve will not seat correctly, but something tells me they are blowing smoke you know where.
What prompted you to take your car to the shop in the first place and what symptoms are you seeing.
I have never heard of a loose guide before, they wear which will cause the valve guide seal to wear and cause burning oil or it will wear to the point that the valve will not seat correctly, but something tells me they are blowing smoke you know where.
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Riviera Beach FL
If the valve guide has pulled loose from the head (very rare) do not drive it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I have to agree with the caution on your advice that was given you. In fact, when I pulled the heads from my '99 at something around 272k to 274k miles on it, the valve guides that I had replaced at the same time, were only worn to %50 of the allowed tolerance, because I had it measured. Sure, things can happen but if you are starting to burn oil or seeing smoke when you pull off from a stop, its probably just your valve stem seals. But, as stated to you already, if the guide has come lose, thats really bad and I wouldn't drive it either.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Ewing NJ
You should call them and make certain you have your terminology correct..because there is NO way they could tell you something like that from just looking at it. You would have to tear down the engine and pull apart the head and measure for guide clearance. You also have a better chance of seeing Jesus in your bathroom then the guide coming loose from the head like previously mentioned..and if it did, you wouldn't be worried about driving it anymore because the motor would have been destroyed the very instant it happened. The guide can't just float there!
And if the guide is worn as bad lthey are saying, it will smoke like a freight train..which doesn't sound like what it's doing. Valve seals sound more like the issue. And, yes..you can drive it until it smokes enough that you feel embarrased enough to fix it. Although if you wait to long, there will be alot of oil deposits on your valves and exhaust ports..so don't wait forever! And might as well by a set of valvesprings and a cam while your at it..you'll be halfway there
And if the guide is worn as bad lthey are saying, it will smoke like a freight train..which doesn't sound like what it's doing. Valve seals sound more like the issue. And, yes..you can drive it until it smokes enough that you feel embarrased enough to fix it. Although if you wait to long, there will be alot of oil deposits on your valves and exhaust ports..so don't wait forever! And might as well by a set of valvesprings and a cam while your at it..you'll be halfway there
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 7
From: Valencia CA
I agree....something is "fishy"....or there is a misunderstanding of the diagnosis....or both.
Get clarification on what the problem is and how they determined it. If they start stammering or blow you off concerning how they diagnosed it lose that shop and get a second opinion.
Seriously doubt you have a loose guide but anything is possible I guess...
Tony
Get clarification on what the problem is and how they determined it. If they start stammering or blow you off concerning how they diagnosed it lose that shop and get a second opinion.
Seriously doubt you have a loose guide but anything is possible I guess...
Tony
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
You should call them and make certain you have your terminology correct..because there is NO way they could tell you something like that from just looking at it. You would have to tear down the engine and pull apart the head and measure for guide clearance. You also have a better chance of seeing Jesus in your bathroom then the guide coming loose from the head like previously mentioned..and if it did, you wouldn't be worried about driving it anymore because the motor would have been destroyed the very instant it happened. The guide can't just float there!
And if the guide is worn as bad lthey are saying, it will smoke like a freight train..which doesn't sound like what it's doing. Valve seals sound more like the issue. And, yes..you can drive it until it smokes enough that you feel embarrased enough to fix it. Although if you wait to long, there will be alot of oil deposits on your valves and exhaust ports..so don't wait forever! And might as well by a set of valvesprings and a cam while your at it..you'll be halfway there
And if the guide is worn as bad lthey are saying, it will smoke like a freight train..which doesn't sound like what it's doing. Valve seals sound more like the issue. And, yes..you can drive it until it smokes enough that you feel embarrased enough to fix it. Although if you wait to long, there will be alot of oil deposits on your valves and exhaust ports..so don't wait forever! And might as well by a set of valvesprings and a cam while your at it..you'll be halfway there
I'll add to this post, leave it smoking too long and you'll ruin your O2 sensors and plug the cats.
