coldamus
26-01-2007, 04:29 PM
At last a day with no interruptions, so I replaced the valve stem seals on my TP wagon.
It took me 6 hours but should only have taken half that. At first, I had trouble turning the crankshaft because I couldn't get a socket onto the pulley nut (not enough space). A shifter was too slow and painful.
I thought about cutting a hole so that I could get at the crankshaft pulley nut through the wheel arch but decided that would be messy. I tried to turn it via the alternator pulley but the belt kept slipping. Then I adjusted the belt up really, really tight and was just able to turn it. The engine is surprisingly hard to turn. I thought it would be easy with the spark plugs out.
Since I don't have a compressor, I used the old rope through the plug hole trick. The screw down valve spring compressor off ebay was a bit sloppy but did the job. Several times it sprang off and I felt lucky not to get my hand pinched.
I also had trouble getting the old seals off until I got the hang of it. A good sturdy set of pliers is required.
I was happy to finish the job without dropping anything into the engine and with very little blood spilt. I haven't driven the car yet but fired it up and there is no sign of any smoke in the exhaust.
The seals should put a stop to the oil consumption and smoking in traffic. The spark plugs that I put in about 2000 km ago were already sooty and oily. I had a spare set so replaced them again. Hopefully that will be solved also.
It took me 6 hours but should only have taken half that. At first, I had trouble turning the crankshaft because I couldn't get a socket onto the pulley nut (not enough space). A shifter was too slow and painful.
I thought about cutting a hole so that I could get at the crankshaft pulley nut through the wheel arch but decided that would be messy. I tried to turn it via the alternator pulley but the belt kept slipping. Then I adjusted the belt up really, really tight and was just able to turn it. The engine is surprisingly hard to turn. I thought it would be easy with the spark plugs out.
Since I don't have a compressor, I used the old rope through the plug hole trick. The screw down valve spring compressor off ebay was a bit sloppy but did the job. Several times it sprang off and I felt lucky not to get my hand pinched.
I also had trouble getting the old seals off until I got the hang of it. A good sturdy set of pliers is required.
I was happy to finish the job without dropping anything into the engine and with very little blood spilt. I haven't driven the car yet but fired it up and there is no sign of any smoke in the exhaust.
The seals should put a stop to the oil consumption and smoking in traffic. The spark plugs that I put in about 2000 km ago were already sooty and oily. I had a spare set so replaced them again. Hopefully that will be solved also.