Titanium Valves
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi.
I got my hands on a catalog from a company called BPS Racing. They sell (among other things) valves in different materiels. They have valves for a 306 KitCar in Titanium.

Now. What´s the pros and cons on Titanium valves?

I guess weight is one of them. :)
How about wear? Can the valve stem be made thinner? How about durability ? ect.

I know there´s a lot of bright men and a few women out there. Please, speak your voice.

If i have more toys than you when i die, I WIN

got ones in my mini, lighter valve = less stong vlave stpings = less stress on the cam, and more power.

cant fix it F:(k it

also if its lighter and then there will be less valve train wear. I can't imagine this being quite as useful on a turbo motor, but it would be on a full race n/a motor where 8000rpm+ is used for long durations.

I hazzard a guess at being able to dissapate heat quicker aswell and less prone to breaking.

That depends how theyre made, ti is actually soft but tough which gives it strength but can make it brittle. They would have to be made in the right way and from the right grade

I seriously doubt it!

there ar many many grades of TI, both pure and alloyed, some easy to machine and sone a pain in the arse,but all grades are absolutly useless at being a bearing surface, TI valves have coated stems, more than likely with something ferrous to allow them to run in the guides, the same way stainless steel valves are chrome plated to allow them to run in steel guides,

you cannot run bare ti in even a bronze guide ,it would seize in no time at all,

usually used in inlet valces where the fuel keeps them cool, can be used in exhausts but you need to monitor egt to make sure the ti is not going to reach the critical temp where it starts to absort oxygen into the material ,this is when things go bad,

Edit , TI is a very poor thermal conductor

Edited by fastcarl on 22nd Mar, 2011.

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

See http://www.rehermorrison.com/blog/?p=517

Interesting

I seriously doubt it!

^ Very.

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

Just to add to what carl said about coated stems, both moly and chrome oxide are frequently used to coat valve stems.....

As for titanium valves, i cant help but think that there might be cheaper ways to lighten the valvetrain if thats your thing, but i guess if youve gone to the lengths of lightening everything else, then maybe thats all youve got left to spend money on :)

And on the 7th day........... God created turbochargers!

My main concern was if the exhaust valve could handle the heat with a turbo. I know that titanium is used in jet engines, but a combustion engine is not the same. Again if they are ok in a 306KitCar...

Thanks for all the replies

P.S. 306KitCar valves are 99 € a piece

If i have more toys than you when i die, I WIN

And on the 7th day........... God created turbochargers!

What do F1 engines use? I guess they could take the turbo heat.

I've got a set of 32mm titanium valves I was going to use in a 295. Didn't happen...yet...
These are from an Indy engine. I guess exhaust.

Edit:
I think this is the same as the ones I've got:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TITANIUM-EXHAUST...=item3cb6632f00

Just don't do the same mistake as I did when bead blasting them. Keep away from the stem.

Edited by Vegard on 30th Mar, 2011.

That was a very interesting read, do we know anyone using ti valves in an a-series? I don't know if vizard ever used them, might have a look.