Valve seals on 1.8t

donc · 6th March 2021, 13:40

a mechanic has diagnosed leaking valve stem seals on my 1.8t as the cure for white smoke. Is there anything else that could be replaced while he's doing this? He's replacing them without replacing the head. And incidentally what do people think is a fair price for him to charge? Would welcome comments.

chris75 · 6th March 2021, 14:36

In my experience , valve stem oil seals leaking produces blue smoke as the oil burns , especially on startup

Are you sure of the colour ?
You're not losing any water , are you ?
If you have any tappet noise , whilst he has them out to access the seals would be a good time to dismantle them and clean the internals . I wish him luck replacing the valve collets with the head still on the car ; they're fiddly little things !

Yorkshire GOC · 6th March 2021, 14:54

I always though with faulty stem seals - the smoke (blueish/whiteish) was only on start up but once underway it dies down - as opposed to HGF where you get white steam all the time when moving.

TourerSteve · 6th March 2021, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by donc

a mechanic has diagnosed leaking valve stem seals on my 1.8t as the cure for white smoke. Is there anything else that could be replaced while he's doing this? He's replacing them without replacing the head. And incidentally what do people think is a fair price for him to charge? Would welcome comments.

Usually passing Valve stem seals give a puff of blue /white smoke on start up and will often do the same after engine over run when putting your foot back on the throttle ( eg after dropping down a hill) Now your engine is turbo charged so that adds another potential as turbo seals can pass and let oil into the engine via the inlet manifold , This usually is continuous smoke on open throttle
Martin (Yorkshire GOC) gave another avenue of potential
Personally my advice would be for you to measure your engine fluid consumption
Any Coolant top up is an issue as coolant system should not use any fluid and as for oil I, don’t have the figure but defiantly shouldn’t be over a pint per 1000 miles
Both my K series engines for example will run between services with out a top up
Hope this helps

Brunty · 6th March 2021, 15:27

My 1.8 non turbo gives a short burst of oily smoke after standing overnight, goes away within a couple of seconds. Had head gasket replaced last year and no wish to strip it off for new valve seals. Not causing any smoke once driving so will leave well alone.

Yorkshire GOC · 6th March 2021, 16:54

You can fettle the valve seals without recourse to removing the head.

-you just need the right equipment.

TourerSteve · 6th March 2021, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkshire GOC

You can fettle the valve seals without recourse to removing the head.

-you just need the right equipment.

Martin

We use to do this with compressed air with a fitting through the spark plug hole
This would also highlight any bypass via the valves or pistons !

Brunty · 6th May 2021, 18:10

I have come to the conclusion that my problem is NOT valve stem oil seals! Noticed after a long motorway trip mid April that the next morning there was no oily smoke, same again the next day, then topped up from just showing on dip stick to halfway mark, smoked again for a few days. Let oil go down to just above minimum and no smoke on start up. For the last couple of weeks checked every couple of days and put 1/4 litre in to bring level up to just above minimum, again no smoke. Got to be wear on pistons / bore and burning until heated up as if it was valve stems it would still smoke on start up. Has anyone noticed this before?

Saga Lout · 6th May 2021, 18:37

I think your Turbo is on the way out.

6th March 2021, 13:40	#1
donc Avid contributor Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Kirk Ella Posts: 141 Thanks: 9 Thanked 43 Times in 14 Posts	Valve seals on 1.8t a mechanic has diagnosed leaking valve stem seals on my 1.8t as the cure for white smoke. Is there anything else that could be replaced while he's doing this? He's replacing them without replacing the head. And incidentally what do people think is a fair price for him to charge? Would welcome comments.

6th March 2021, 14:36	#2
chris75 same car since 2005 2001 Rover 75 2.0 v6 Connoisseur Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ellesmere Port , Cheshire Posts: 3,811 Thanks: 379 Thanked 549 Times in 466 Posts	In my experience , valve stem oil seals leaking produces blue smoke as the oil burns , especially on startup Are you sure of the colour ? You're not losing any water , are you ? If you have any tappet noise , whilst he has them out to access the seals would be a good time to dismantle them and clean the internals . I wish him luck replacing the valve collets with the head still on the car ; they're fiddly little things ! __________________ Who said it was simples ? Last edited by chris75; 6th March 2021 at 15:02..

6th March 2021, 14:54	#3
Yorkshire GOC I really should get out more....... Rover 75 connoisseur se v6 auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hull Posts: 2,063 Thanks: 1,842 Thanked 623 Times in 469 Posts	I always though with faulty stem seals - the smoke (blueish/whiteish) was only on start up but once underway it dies down - as opposed to HGF where you get white steam all the time when moving. __________________ She came off the Longbridge Line on 20-05-2003 The Silver Machine was the 13th of 160 Rover 75's to come off the production line that day and is the 100th of 527 Starlight Silver Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Auto saloons listed in the build records produced world wide.

6th March 2021, 16:54	#6
Yorkshire GOC I really should get out more....... Rover 75 connoisseur se v6 auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hull Posts: 2,063 Thanks: 1,842 Thanked 623 Times in 469 Posts	You can fettle the valve seals without recourse to removing the head. -you just need the right equipment. __________________ She came off the Longbridge Line on 20-05-2003 The Silver Machine was the 13th of 160 Rover 75's to come off the production line that day and is the 100th of 527 Starlight Silver Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Auto saloons listed in the build records produced world wide.

6th May 2021, 18:37	#9
Saga Lout This is my second home MG ZT and Rover 75, Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Wigan Posts: 3,276 Thanks: 2,556 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,037 Posts	I think.. I think your Turbo is on the way out.

6th March 2021, 15:27	#5
Brunty Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Newtown Posts: 415 Thanks: 273 Thanked 95 Times in 65 Posts	My 1.8 non turbo gives a short burst of oily smoke after standing overnight, goes away within a couple of seconds. Had head gasket replaced last year and no wish to strip it off for new valve seals. Not causing any smoke once driving so will leave well alone.

6th May 2021, 18:10	#8
Brunty Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Newtown Posts: 415 Thanks: 273 Thanked 95 Times in 65 Posts	I have come to the conclusion that my problem is NOT valve stem oil seals! Noticed after a long motorway trip mid April that the next morning there was no oily smoke, same again the next day, then topped up from just showing on dip stick to halfway mark, smoked again for a few days. Let oil go down to just above minimum and no smoke on start up. For the last couple of weeks checked every couple of days and put 1/4 litre in to bring level up to just above minimum, again no smoke. Got to be wear on pistons / bore and burning until heated up as if it was valve stems it would still smoke on start up. Has anyone noticed this before?