phildog75
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Anyone done this on 4.6 v8 is it a pain to do ?
Replacing oil valve stem seals
- Thread starter phildog75
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With the head on a bench easy. On the car a serious ball ache.
phildog75
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Cheers trying to decide whether to give it ago or to pay garage !
forthbridge
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Phildog75,
done this a couple of times now, wammers is right - get the heads off and its fairly straight forward, you'll need a good spring compressor. As you take the valves out ensure you keep the valves, springs, retainers and collets in order so you don't mix them up on rebuild. The old valve stem seals can be got off by twisting - I used a small set of mole grips, they're on there pretty tight, so mind you don't damage the valve guide getting them off. Do any cleaning and head work necessary. to fit the new ones this is how I did it. I found it was best to use one of the long plenum bolts ( clean it first so you don't introduce rubbish into your guide, then oil it with engine oil) with a washer and 13 or 12mm 3/8 (or 1/4) drive socket and a flanged nut. Set the bolt and washer up to go from the inside of the inlet tract through the guide, put the stem seal on the bolt carefully so you don't damage the lip, put the socket on so it cups over the outside edge of the seal and with the flat drive end of the socket put your flanged nut on
(you're making a vice effectively). Gently hold the bolt end with a socket and wrench, do the nut (opposite end) up with a spanner. Seals bottom out on the guides shoulder - you'll see this happen. Do yourself a favour and get LR guides, slightly more expensive but the go on and last. Good luck.
done this a couple of times now, wammers is right - get the heads off and its fairly straight forward, you'll need a good spring compressor. As you take the valves out ensure you keep the valves, springs, retainers and collets in order so you don't mix them up on rebuild. The old valve stem seals can be got off by twisting - I used a small set of mole grips, they're on there pretty tight, so mind you don't damage the valve guide getting them off. Do any cleaning and head work necessary. to fit the new ones this is how I did it. I found it was best to use one of the long plenum bolts ( clean it first so you don't introduce rubbish into your guide, then oil it with engine oil) with a washer and 13 or 12mm 3/8 (or 1/4) drive socket and a flanged nut. Set the bolt and washer up to go from the inside of the inlet tract through the guide, put the stem seal on the bolt carefully so you don't damage the lip, put the socket on so it cups over the outside edge of the seal and with the flat drive end of the socket put your flanged nut on
(you're making a vice effectively). Gently hold the bolt end with a socket and wrench, do the nut (opposite end) up with a spanner. Seals bottom out on the guides shoulder - you'll see this happen. Do yourself a favour and get LR guides, slightly more expensive but the go on and last. Good luck.
phildog75
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Just been talking to the fitter who looked at engine he seems to think it is stem seals but didn't have room to have car in workshop for few days whilst doing it. So I gonna have ago but may need plenty of advice or some hands on help to do it ! Once I've moved house then its game on. If anyone can lend hand just message me. Cheers
phildog75
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Had a bit of a play and took all spark plugs out recently all were very black and 1 was very wet with oily substance on it. Is this stem seals or possibly more than just that ?
Thor1950
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Possibly more than that. How many miles and what year, and what oil you use How old are the plugs and leads
phildog75
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96 v8 4.6 137709 oil in it is mineral 15w40 I've never changed oil or plugs etc due to not using it much when I got it then sorting all other probs out that came along. The plugs were in very loose
Thor1950
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With them many miles plugs need changing as well as leads. Oil and filter deffo needs changing, Little use could be oil rings stuck, as well as compression rings. So freshen things up and give it a few hundred miles to see if things change. Could also be valve guides worn, hard to tell what is wrong. But plugs and oil/filter change should be the first before you attempt to mess with valve seals.
Your comment on loose plugs you mean you could undue with fingers?Plugs are fit snug, then just a bit more 1/4 turn
Last edited:
phildog75
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No mot on it so will have to just run it on driveway take it 15w40 ok to use
Thor1950
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yes
phildog75
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Right changed oil / filter / plugs also thermostat and coolant started it up and sounds better already and not smoking as much so fingers crossed!
jamesmartin
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or you could just use a 12 or 13mm bihex socket on an extension and tap each seal in place
