Valve stem oil seals lifting on exhaust valves
Turbo Mini Forums

Ive had new exhaust guides fitted and now the exhaust valve stem oil seals are lifting and causing the car to smoke on idle (metro turbo)

I took the head back to the engine builders and he said that the inner of the double valve spring was pinching the seal and causing it to lift.

They said that they tried a few different seals but they were all to tight so they fitted updated single springs.

I've now done around 80miles but the car has started to smoke again. Ive removed the rocker cover and all four exhaust seals have lifted again!

It there a way to keep the oil seal down? The engine didn't smoke before the work was done. What would the head of been fitted with as standard?

You shouldn't need seals n the exhaust valves, they don't really see a vacuum. Have a look at the inlets.

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A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

I didn't think the exhausts had seals from standard? Could be wrong though.

Is there much play in the guides?

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

I've not checked for play in the guides as they were just replaced.

How would I check for play?

The problem here is at high RPM the inner spring floats around a lot, I have seen it on the inlets as well, causing. The spring to rub the seal and pop it off

The cure is to fit inner spring locators, which are NLA in standard OEM spec, there are some after market ones which are rings, which are crap! As they rub the inner spring causing friction and valve train wear

i machine mine out of asterloid, I fit these to every head now!... no more seals lifting, am the inner spring runs concentric. ....... pm me if you want a set.

The head now has single valve springs but the seals are still lifting.

Benross do you think that your seals would cure this?

Mind my ignorance please. What is asterloid? Do you mean hastelloy?

Edited by mossy2a on 20th May, 2012.

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

The metal bodied seals won't pop off.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Mossy yes its hastelloy..... bloody spell. Correction on this tablet,

In you case! Using single springs would not solve your problem.

Roberts explanation. Is correct.... especially. If the guides are manganese, have been reamed incorrectley and they are baggy.

Are you using the Turbo exhaust valves and standard seals? Lizard have you a a link on those metal bodied seals. ...? Those are best studlocked on

They were all over eBay at one point.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

The head is standard metro turbo so its still using the standard valves.

They are standard seals as well.

What should I do next as Ive paid for the head to have new guides, fitted the head, found it to be smoking.

I removed the head and paid extra to have the single springs fitted but it's still smoking!

If I added up the price of all of this plus the head gaskets then I could of brought an up rated head and probably would of had no troubles.

You sure it's the head causing the smoke?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Pretty sure.

When I first fitted the head, there was no smoke untill the oil seals lifted and the bottom end has been rebuild.

Also it didn't smoke before the head had new exhaust guides

from that last post it sounds like its not the head

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

The correct seals for the exhaust valves aren't available anymore. Although you get eight seals in a head set, the seals will only fit the smaller stemmed inlet valves. They might squeeze down the exhaust stem, but they are going to be a tight fit and likely to lift up with the valve.

I bought some of the mra exhaust seals around 3 months ago. I think there metal but can't remember. Im pretty sure they're still available not sure it's still classed as mra though.

Benross, I Have a bit of hastelloy knocking around, not cheap stuff though. My head has the inner spring retainers, is this not standard then??

http://www.mra-minis.co.uk/classic-mini-pa...rbo-exhaust.htm

David

Edited by mossy2a on 20th May, 2012.

The seals lift because there is no groove in the guide. When that is said, I've used a rebuilt head with no seals without smoke. Check guides and valves for wear.

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

All sorted now thanks chaps.

I spoke to MRA Minis who were very helpful and knolwegable.

I have now got the hi spec oil valve seals fitted and there is no smoke at all now.

I just wish I had fitted them in the first place and could have saved afew head gaskets!,

In all fairness, we put the MRA seals on John's clubby as standard ones lifted all the time. They do there job very well, didn't smoke at all afterwards. They are the only MRA part going on my car...

Are these the Viton seals? I had these on my race head, and with quite worn guides, the engine didn't smoke one bit. Great product.

MRA seals on the exhausts. Viton on the inlets.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Now mar have going bump did anyone know what they were off? I had a set that I reused but would like new ones,

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!