[SierraDan]

My Sierra is pretty smokey on a cold start up, but doesn't smoke that I've noticed while warm and driving other than some take offs, but it's not much.

So I'm thinking it's my valve stem seals that have shit themselves.

Just wondering what I'm likely to pay to have them done as I'm not that confident on doing a good job of it.

And would it be worth getting the rings done while I'm at it?

Cheers

[skyman]

I would check compression. If the compression is good, just do the seals.

Maybe check the oil pressure too. If oil pressure is down it might be time for bearings.

[SierraDan]

Should I do head gasket too as the head will be off anyway?

How do I check oil pressure?

[FullyZooked]

Never re-use a head gasket!

New valve stem seals $80-$100 Max installed.

[shakes]

FullyZooked wrote:

Never re-use a head gasket!

bah, quick run around with a squirt of roofers silicon on each side and it's good for another 10,000k (was with a mates old sigma )

[SierraDan]

Really? I thought it was in the ball park of $400 for a head gasket, and more to do the seals. That's good!

[Rusho]

SierraDan wrote:

Really? I thought it was in the ball park of $400 for a head gasket, and more to do the seals. That's good!

Maybe if your paying a mechanic.

[shakes]

I think that price is if you drop the head itself in.

Drive in your $400+ figure is much closer

[royce]

I wouldnt do valve stem seals mates rates for $400!!!

they are damn hard to do with the rocker gear on, still hard with teh head on so you really wanna pull the head off, theres a gasket set, then youll want to get it cleaned and checked, all ads up

[SierraDan]

Rusho wrote:

SierraDan wrote:

Really? I thought it was in the ball park of $400 for a head gasket, and more to do the seals. That's good!

Maybe if your paying a mechanic.

Thats what i plan on doing. Dont feel confident enough as yet to do any major engine work as its my daily and cant afford to have any hiccups.

[Scrawny]

I would suggest there won't be much change out of $1000 if the mechanic does it properly. There will be other issues along the way that will need to be attended to as well.

[BAZZOOK]

pretty easy to do with the head on. I did a valiant years ago. The valve springs would be a lot stronger than a zook. take off rocker gear. get a spark plug and remove ceramic centre and braise on an air hose fitting . fit plug and connect air to 100 psi. Use a ring spanner to knock out the cotter pins . it prob took me about an hour. to do six cyls. I got inside the engine bay and used my foot to push down on the springs with a ring spanner. use some bullnose pliers to remove cotters. I've still got the plug somewhere but can;t find it.

[FullyZooked]

Depends how confident you are with your mechanical work. Removing a head is something you should take the time to master aswell as installing ofcourse. If you take it to a mechanic you will pay 90% for his labor and 10% for parts/machining.

I helped with a mates patrol head gasket only Friday gone. Pulled the a head and took it into advance engine dynamics. $180 later we had a head machine 28 thou(wow I know) new valve stem seals and cleaned up nice. Plus another $150 for full gasket kit and some new head bolts and jobs done.

Mind you an EFI patrol is alot more hand work than the ole Sierra, but well worth the time.

[stockman]

Scrawn wrote:

I would suggest there won't be much change out of $1000 if the mechanic does it properly. There will be other issues along the way that will need to be attended to as well.

^This would be close to the mark.
I'd be putting in the extra $500-$600 and getting an exchange engine. But then add another couple of hundred for everything else, and that's if you do it all yourself.
But at the end of the day you would have a fresh motor.

[SierraDan]

Yeah I don't wanna get rid of it as yet. 150k motor. If I was to go to the extent of a new motor I'd be going 1.3 gti

[royce]

whats it like it you drag down a long hill in low range when you get to the bottom?

[SierraDan]

Normal. Nothing I've noticed to be a problem.

[paulv]

The hardest part in doing the valve stem seals on a 1.3 with the head on is getting the damn screw headed rocker gear retainers off.

Doing the valve steam seals with the head on is pretty straight forward.
If this a once off and you are going to take your time - I would put soft rope down each cylinder to hold the valves shut - rather than a compressed air.

Just need to make sure it is actually the valve stems seals that are the problem - before charging ahead.
Suggest you follow the earlier posted advise and complete a compression test. All 4 plugs out. jam throttle wide open. Crank and check compression in each cylinder.

[FullyZooked]

royce wrote:

whats it like it you drag down a long hill in low range when you get to the bottom?

This is a good test as oil will pass through seals and or rings under the high vacuum created. Reaching the bottom and revving the engine would produce smoke.

When doing a comp test check all cylinders dry and then with a teaspoon of oil in each cylinder. If compression raises significantly by adding oil your rings are worn.

[DMAC]

paulv wrote:

Doing the valve steam seals with the head on is pretty straight forward.
If this a once off and you are going to take your time - I would put soft rope down each cylinder to hold the valves shut - rather than a compressed air.

Have you done this? Not that straight forward from personal experience. Things are very tight in a 1.3 when all the rockers and cams are in. Specialist tools are required to compress the valve springs. Ever tried to get the springs out with the cams in?

It was easier to take the head off and do it.

Takes about 3-5 hours to do a straight head gasket replacement.
I would say another hour for the seals. (Seals are cheap. about $5 each)
Another 2 hours to check head, cylinders, ect.
Parts and consumables about $100-$150

Around $800 -$1000 I would expect.

[DMAC]

Found my stem seal thread. Should give you some an idea whats involved.

http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... stem+seals

[SierraDan]

I think I might just leave it a little longer and beef up the motor while it's all apart.

[zooky08]

I got my hole head recon for 450
Stuff paying a mechanic for fitting valve stem seal when you can get a head recon done cheaper IMO

[SierraDan]

Would having the head done fix my leaky seals though?
Cos thats my issue currently.

[zooky08]

Head recon includes new seals

[SierraDan]

So how is getting the WHOLE head done cheaper than just the seals?

[JrZook]

SierraDan wrote:

So how is getting the WHOLE head done cheaper than just the seals?

Most likely because of mates rate and the head has been already taken off and refitted by the individual not an engine shop/mechanic

[royce]

head reco isnt a standard price either, the whole thing might of needed a skim and seals

others might need straightening, machining, valve seats, valve guides, valves etc

plus remove and refit

not really apples with apples in that comment

[zooky08]

No mates rates
Done from w and h auto which I've never be there before
for recon only thing that wasn't done was can regrind cost 450

I took the head of myself and took it in
I never get a mechanic to do any thing on my car
All done by myself

[JrZook]

zooky08 wrote:

I took the head of myself and took it in
I never get a mechanic to do any thing on my car
All done by myself

To the OP this is way its cheaper all other work done by the owner. If you were to do the valve stem seals all yourself, head off etc no labor costs you would be looking at the cost of a VRS kit, oil etc. So about a few hundred.

Thus way zooky08's comment isnt really comparable to what you are after.

Dan