I just performed a vacuum test on my engine and it looks like I've got worn guides. It explains all my engine problems like:
excessive oil consumption
rough to very rough idle
slight rapid fluctuation on vacuum gauge
loss of low end power (i think worn guides can cause this)
my spark plugs look like i'm running lean, almost no deposits, grey to whittish appreance.
So am I screwed, if so can I replace them without removing the head?
Could all these problems be something simple like my cars too dirty!
Worn valve guides
-
speedracer
- 2GN Member
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 12:54 pm
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Worn valve guides
'04 black sxt mtx, crane #12, p+p head, oversize valves, tti lth, iceman, magnum manifold, mpx udp
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20306
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
How many miles?
No. I paid about $8 each to replace. That was labor/parts
Total cost for valve grind, 8 exhaust guides, and resurfacing the head was around $230 ish.
I prolly should have bit off some more, and gotten the Mancini Magnum bare casting. But the valves would've still need the faces cleaned up.
Vacuum fluctuation would be intake valves not seating properly tho. Those were immaculate on mine at 112,000 miles. Mine was mainly the exhaust side that had massive carbon build up, holding the valves off the seat. I would do a leak test to get a better idea of where the actual compression is leaking from. If you have an air compressor and a compression tester, just unscrew the check valve from the end that goes into the sparkplug hole. Just remember the engine will turn when the air is applied to the cylinder, so put it in park (ATX) or in neutral (MTX).
can I replace them without removing the head?
No. I paid about $8 each to replace. That was labor/parts
Total cost for valve grind, 8 exhaust guides, and resurfacing the head was around $230 ish.
I prolly should have bit off some more, and gotten the Mancini Magnum bare casting. But the valves would've still need the faces cleaned up.
Vacuum fluctuation would be intake valves not seating properly tho. Those were immaculate on mine at 112,000 miles. Mine was mainly the exhaust side that had massive carbon build up, holding the valves off the seat. I would do a leak test to get a better idea of where the actual compression is leaking from. If you have an air compressor and a compression tester, just unscrew the check valve from the end that goes into the sparkplug hole. Just remember the engine will turn when the air is applied to the cylinder, so put it in park (ATX) or in neutral (MTX).
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester