The valve guide is a crucial part of a car's cylinder head. The guide acts as a seal between the cylinder head and the inlet and exhaust valves. It also ensures the valve stem can move smoothly. The valve stem constantly moves up and down through the guide. This constant movement subjects the part to wear and tear. Wear on the valve guide manifests as play between the guide and the valve stem. As a result, the sealing function of the guide no longer works, and engine oil can leak into the combustion chamber.
Play in valve guide
Play in the valve guide is the result of wear. The valve stem of the inlet and exhaust valves constantly moves through the guide. Even though the part is very sturdy, wear will eventually occur. The wear will manifest as play, resulting in leaking engine oil into the combustion chamber. This can be recognised by blue smoke from the exhaust. Do you suspect wear on your valve guide? Then replace the part as soon as possible. This will prevent further engine damage.
A worn valve guide leads to several defects such as:
- Worn rocker arms;
- Increased oil consumption;
- Burnt valve seals;
- Broken valve.
Replacing the valve guide
You need to replace the valve guide when the play becomes too large. The play around the inlet valves should be between 0.01 and 0.07 millimetres. For the exhaust valves, the permitted play is between 0.25 and 0.85 millimetres, depending on the valve diameter. You can measure the play with a dial gauge. Play in the guide leads to defects in the inlet valve, exhaust valve and the rocker arms. To minimise wear and the need to replace parts, it is advisable to replace the valve guide. Replacing the guide is a complicated repair. The valve guide is pressed into the cylinder head, a garage has the tools to get the guide out of the head. This also ensures that the guide will not need replacing again any time soon.
You can save on material costs by ordering the valve guide from Winparts in advance and delivering it to the mechanic yourself.
Buying a valve guide
You can buy a valve guide for your car quickly and easily at Winparts. We offer a choice of different top brands. Enter your registration number or car details on the website. The matching car parts will then be shown to you. Besides guides, you will also find: valve stem seals, tappets, valve shims, cylinder head gaskets and inlet manifolds.