has anyone changed valve oil seals before? tips needed

Hi all , we have decided to change the valve stem seals on our 1980 series 3 2.25 diesel , has anyone done them before? Any tips / advice before we start and any special tools that will help us, changing the to try sort extreme smoking issues m , many thanks in advance

I'm sure there are those that have a short cut method but the easiest way to change valve stem seals is to bite the bullet and take the head off. You'll need a valve spring compressor to tale the valve collets out, an egg tray is useful to keep all the bits in order. You can see if the valves need lapping in at the same time.

Get the piston at TDC with the rocker shaft off and connect an air line to the glow plug hole to hold the valves shut, remove spring and fit new seal, refit spring.

valve stem seals in a diesel will make little difference to the smoke, there is no vacuum in the inlet manifold so the oil is not suked in , back in the day no diesel had seals fitted at all.

Owl that is a good tip. I have just done mine as part of a rebuild after a hot spot broke up and did loads of damage and I had to mill the top of the block and get another head. I fitted new valves and guides at the same time. Still some smoke on start up.

nongrokal said:

valve stem seals in a diesel will make little difference to the smoke, there is no vacuum in the inlet manifold so the oil is not suked in , back in the day no diesel had seals fitted at all.

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beg to differ
there is vacuum when inlet valve opens and air (and sometimes oil) is sucked in as piston goes down on induction stroke, it helps my servo too in stopping the landy!

good bit here on poor valve seals

Bad Valve Seals Symptoms | eHow UK

d90matt said:

Hi all , we have decided to change the valve stem seals on our 1980 series 3 2.25 diesel , has anyone done them before? Any tips / advice before we start and any special tools that will help us, changing the to try sort extreme smoking issues m , many thanks in advance

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Yes.

Vagrent said:

Yes.

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On form tonight, Vags?

Oldseadog said:

On form tonight, Vags?

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Yes.

Is it a easy job or a nightmare? I'm going to fit new rocker cover gasket and check valve settings so thaught I mite as well do them if no point I will leave them?

To be honest, at the moment I would leave the seals and see if resetting your tappets makes any difference.

Use either a cork or rubber gasket for your rocker cover, and don't let any silicone gasket stuff anywhere near!

d90matt said:

Is it a easy job or a nightmare? I'm going to fit new rocker cover gasket and check valve settings so thaught I mite as well do them if no point I will leave them?

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what kind of smoke ,black ,white ,blue,greyish,stem seals will be worn but blue smoke would be more visible on start up ,engine if orignal will be worn in the bores /rings ,timing retarded a little with wear in timing chain etc,pistons and head are flat so if pistons at tdc you can remove collets etc as valve cant drop more than a mm,special lever tools are available for this or you can make your own ,glue rocker gasket(silicone can be used to do this or other form of adhesive) to rocker box and let dry before refiiting

It's more white / gray smoke , I've messed with pump for ages dosnt seem to get any beter I'm beginning to wonder if timing is out ??

Does it smell of paraffin?

Not that I've noticed its so strong its hard to tell what it smells like it very potent lol

Have you tried advancing your pump?

Yea I've messes with pump loads advanced / retarded not much different really

How much oil are you burning/losing?

if anyone is daft enough to still have the butterfly in the inlet manifold, then they deserve to smoke. A diesel needs air, the more the better,

if you do end up compressing the valves and removing the collets when it comes to refitting them use a small electrical screwdriver to apply LM grease to the valve groove, then stick the collet to the screwdriver with LM and transfer it from the screwdriver to the valve. much easier than messing about with a pair of needle nose.