Valve stem seals

I think i need to change my valve stem seals as its using oil and smoking, any way, is there a link some where or video of how to do them on the pulsar? I want to do it with the head still on and the best way to do the timing etc! Any help or advise would be great. Cheers

What makes you think its them over the turbo mate ?

It was smoking before I put this 3071 on which was like new with no play in the shaft, so I think its something else

Compression test it first as could be a ring or ringland
I say that as it takes a fair amount of time to do the stem seals with the head in place which could well be a waste of time and money if it's piston related

It had an engine health check a month ago, compression was very good and there was no cylinder leaks

So does it smoke on boost or what?

Do a leak down test over a compression test. If stem sills were that bad you would have oil coming down the stem onto the valve seat which in time will contaminate the valve sill causing low compression.

Yea it smokes on boost, never heard of a leak down test?

We use to do these on other cars by connecting a drilled out spark plug to an air hose to hold up the valve and just replace the stem seals without removing the head. Is it possible to do this on the R?

I saw some one put a load of rope down into the the cylinder until it was full?!

PartyPete wrote:I saw some one put a load of rope down into the the cylinder until it was full?!

I've done it like that You just need special spring compressor and load of patience

I don't have much patience lol! Really want to stop it using oil though

We use to fill the cylinder with compressed air then put a socket over the spring and hit it with a hammer till the collets came out. Change the seal then had two screw driver or something like that that we used to use as a lever to compress the spring while we put collets back. Did it on mini's back in the day and it worked a treat

Yeah nylon rope down the plug hole works fine or air compressor but ropes easier unless you have a spring compressor it's not an easy job on the R getting the collets back in especially as they are double springs.

I still doubt it being those though
What were the comp readings?
check them yourself as sometimes too higher reading is as bad as too low. I've seen rings stick on Pistons (especially forge) when they get overly carboned which then can give you a high but false reading where oil still bypasses the control rings

Rule of thumb is: If its BLUE smoke!

Smoke on idle = Valve stems/Turbo seals
Smoke on boost = Rings
Smoke on overun = Turbo

That's usualy a dummys guide at what to look for, but to be honest it could be any 1 of the above as Forced inducted engines can have a mind of there own!

But as Bob says, Doubtfull its Stem Seals if it only smokes on boost :/

I used to own Renault 5 turbo's a few years back & they was renouned for blowing the valve stem seals of the head & just moved freely up & down the valve... Hence why a lot of people don't use valve stem seals atall on 5 turbos anymore!

But as said, they only smoked at idle on 5s, or on cold start up

I'm not sure what the readings were, he just said it was a very good engine, with good readings! I'll try and get one done soon and let you know, hope it's not oil control rings

just buy one pete from halfrauds there not expensive

as said though some garages see a high compression reading on these and mistake that for being good when in fact its far from it

iirc mark (buckym) on here bought his car to us some years back which was putting out lots of blue smoke on boost and compressions came out between 180 and 210psi on respective cylinders which threw me at the time but when we pulled the lump apart the control rings were seized solid with lots of carbon behind them and scraper rings also and this was letting by oil which then turns to more carbon and problem gradually gets worse

hope that's not the case with yours so need those readings really to scrub that out

Right I'll get a compression tester asap and let you know the results

Ok the results, this is taking the plugs out 1 by 1
Cylinder 1
155psi
Cylinder 2
152 psi
Cylinder 3
155 psi
Cylinder 4
162 psi
And now with all the plugs out at once
Cylinder 1
155 psi
Cylinder 2
158 psi
Cylinder 3
155 psi
Cylinder 4
162 psi
So what do you guys reckon?

Well that's pretty much spot on tbh which is a good thing

So that can only really leave the stem seals so give it a go with those but don't get patent ones use the genuine nissan ones as the others are not a good fit and tend to go brittle after a bit

That's what I thought tbh! So we're going with that then bob?

what about cometic or supertech stem seals?? Are they any good??