The right valve seal ?

mtb_tuli

Active Member
Just finishing my ERC0216 heads (SD1, RR...). Bought them with new valve stem seals, you can see them in the photos. But, as the heads were sold as "overhauled by a specialist in the UK" and were in terrible condition, I´m not sure, if these seals are correct as the valve guides do not have a recess...

K1600_DSC_0259.JPG K1600_DSC_0261.JPG
 
These are not the standard seals. These heads have standard a flat rubber washer which is a crap solution. I fitted valve stems with a recess like the later Range rover heads

DSCF3768.jpg


Peter
 
Definitely the wrong type. And the correct type for the flat topped valve guide (inlet only) is so useless as not to be worth fitting, it'll just end up in the sump. Maybe this was an attempt at an upgrade?

Did you have the valve guides renewed? If so then there is no reason not to fit the later valve guide and the later seals which work.

It might actually be better not to fit them anyway, you'll get better oil control but potentially shorten the life of the valve guides.
 
The black seals from my photo are from the earlier Range Rover, the blue ones from Peter-1 are the latest ones. I have also blue ones, they have a smaller inner diameter. But you´re right, the black ones can never sit correctly on the valve guides I have. Very simple upgrade...
The guides are ok, but I will now think about fitting new ones.
 
I was not correct....
Just spend some time on various sites getting more information about the stem seal issue. It sounds like a big issue and there are many statements even from specialists.
Ok, let´s start.
P5 and P6 heads = no seals at all.
SD1 heads from 1976 = flat type (washer) rubber seal for the inlet valve. Exhaust valve no stem seal.
From 1976 to 1993 (for 3.5, 3.9, 4.2) the (bigger) black cap-style stem seal was a replacement solution for the flat one and requires no different valve guide. Only for inlet valve. Exhaust valve still without seal.
From 1994 the (smaller) cap-style stem seal came, together with a valve guide showing the recess. Now stem seals for all 16 valves.
MG RV8 engines = came with no stem seals, although available at this time.
Flat rubber seals = tend to split after short time, maybe result of poor OEM quality.
Black cap-style seals = tend to come off, no-one knows why.
Blue (latest) cap-style seals = you read a lot of seals coming off.
One well known guy from the forum here said, late series 4.6 replacement heads from Rover came with no stem seals as they might tend to come off.
Sticking valves seem to be a sole problem with the latest blue seals.

So, as my guides and valves are generally ok, I´m now a little bit confused what to do :confused:
 
In this area now, doing up my 94 3.9l heads. Does anybody know the part no for the 57mm valve guides please? these are called up for the late 'carbon break' valves.
Update -found some part nos for valve guides - LGJ100900, LGJ000030, even VAG92385,but these seem to be 62mm long.
thanks
 
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Harvey wrote "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.... ". The other version is "if it ain't broke, fix it till it is".
 
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