froggy8 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 hey guys, could anyone tell me if they have replaced their valve seal on their cars please? i want to have a go on mine and just wondered if it is easy to do cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b19jas Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 What car is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagejoe Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) valve seal? i take it you mean the cylinder head where the valve seals if so you dont replace it you but put a new valve in and use a cutting compound greese and re seal them as they just sit flush in the head. sorry if i have misunderstood oh wait just released what your on about, i was wrong Edited May 31, 2014 by savagejoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 its an astra mk4 2001 model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b19jas Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 I guess its and 8 valve engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 sorry about the lack of info, always forgetting them. it is 16v 1.6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shudson Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 It is quite a big job - pretty certain the head has to come off and depending on mileage, it may be prudent to overhaul head (re-grind valves (as Savagejoe mentioned), replace cam belt and tensioner and, possibly, water pump while you have it stripped, as I think it is a pig to get at on that engine if it packs up later. Not something to be undertaken lightly if you have no experience and knowledgeable assistance to call on if you need it. Could be setting yourself up for a whole heap of trouble later if you don't put it back right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mini-z-awd Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 if its like shudson say`s you will also need a special tool to hold the timing chain in place and they aint cheap to buy. i got quoted over 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b19jas Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Yeah, what he said. The 8v Head doesnt have to come off but the 16v does. Its a heafty job and is very time consuming. The Head will need skimming too. Will be needing a full Head set, oil, filter, antifreeze, timing belt kit and you might as well Chuck in a thermostat while you are there. It is doable as a diy job but unless you really know your way around an engine, its a nig job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 cheers guys, i feel as though i have the confident to do it. just need to find out what tools i need so i can crack on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shudson Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Decent socket set (including some extra (larger) sockets), torque wrench, valve spring compressor, valve grinding tackle, lots of patience (you're not going to do it in a couple of hours as a diy) immediately come to mind and, unless appearances are deceptive, possibly some bigger muscles! Quite a while since I did anything like that, so out of touch on prices, but whilst I guess that your valve seals might be about a tenner (should be included in Head set, anyway), you are probably going to have maybe Edited May 31, 2014 by Shudson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl160180 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 You'll need some inverted torx bits for that model/year astra aswell, not too bad of a job tbh but that's coming from a mechnic with 18 years in the trade! Is the engine smoking/burning oil? when is it burning oil the most, on start up? when up to temp? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 cheers again guys, it is burning oil on start up. at a guess i am losing about 1 litre of oil a bout every 2 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl160180 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Smoke on start up does sound like valve stems yeah. Head off jobbie unfortunetly mate, if ya get stuck tho drop me a pm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 cheers, i have wondered what is it if it smokes all the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vrooom Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I done it with 16v head on the car, madza 323f, and mr2 turbo. You need a piece of long rope that goes in spark plug and turn the crank up so piston can compress the rope, thus holding in valves. you can remove those seals, very easy to do it, but quite fiddling job. You can use piler or something to remove the valve stem seal.You need to remove the camshaft to access the valve stem seals. So you need to be comfortable doing cam timing. they are simple once you figure it out.it is VERY EASY to loose the 'valve collets', it pings off somewhere or down the engine. so use rags around the valve springs. you need a special tool, you can make it yourself. 1ft aluminium tube with r/c brushless motor magnets on the end. so you use this tool to compress the valve spring, so the magnet will catch the collet inside the tube. On other end of same tool will help you install the collet by placing collet on valve stem first and then use tool to compress the valve spring. it should pop back in. this is most hardest part of job of doing this....sorry if I waffle with bad English 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vrooom Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 If it smokes all time. you have broken piston rings... Engine out job or remove the sump, if you feeling bit crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pistonhead Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 If it smokes all the time then it can be rings, badly gone valve stem seals, head gasket leak from an oil gallery to cylinder, or a combination of all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 i have heard that the cambelt dont need to be removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggy8 Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 just been looking all day on this and i dont think i need to touch the cambelt just the crank shaft, i think that is what it is called. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl160180 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 You will need the camshafts out so will need to remove the timing belt as the belt drives the camshafts, soon as you remove the cams the belt will come off and you'll knock out the timing so best to set the timing, remove the belt then remove the cams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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