Hay all

My valve stem seals are slowely on there way out. I wanted to put a really good treatment to try stop it for a while. Wat do people recommend that has worked.?

Thanks Kurt

I realised nothing has worked for me. I've got mine booked in on the 20th to have them bloody replaced.

Thicker oil some times helps a little bit. At the end of the day, they are wearing out, only so much you can do. Try some engine "stop smoke" by Nulon or similar.

Long term fix, is replacement. Can be done with the heads on the car, but some purists like me pull the heads, and do the valves and lifters at the same time. Depends on total km though.

Long term fix, is replacement. Can be done with the heads on the car, but some purists like me pull the heads, and do the valves and lifters at the same time. Depends on total km though.

Wat additives have u used that have worked or kinda worked for u?

Haven't. If they have gone hard there's no point wasting money on snake oil. lol Get off the idea there is an easy cure. Thicker oil and keep revs down.

I had this problem in my crappy daily driver 4 cylinder and never knew you could change these with the head on. Thought the job would cost mega $$$ so I never replaced them and let them slowly worsen.

Eventually when it got to decision time (Fix it and junk it) I discovered it could be done for a few hundred bucks with the head on, so I booked it in and had them done.

It's now running well with no smoking.
The best money I spent! I'd probably spent just as much on oil over the period as it cost me to replace them.

You just need to be sure the problem is valve seals, not rings, or a combination of both.

I've heard Some mechanics don't want to do it, but mine had no hesitation.

I have used the Wynns on many occasions and have at least lessened the issue enough to get the owner by for a while, you will need to get hold of the workshop product though, not the shelf Reptiles crap.

You need to get the engine flush, give that a good go and then use the Wynns Tune-Up or similar

Depends on if is a second gen or third gen 4cyl as to ease with the head on, if second gen is an easy job, if third gen then not so easy but can be done.

I have used the Wynns on many occasions and have at least lessened the issue enough to get the owner by for a while, you will need to get hold of the workshop product though, not the shelf Reptiles crap.

You need to get the engine flush, give that a good go and then use the Wynns Tune-Up or similar

Depends on if is a second gen or third gen 4cyl as to ease with the head on, if second gen is an easy job, if third gen then not so easy but can be done.

Ill let my mate now to put the engine flush in. Then use the Wynns tune up. Can u use the stop smoke for the valve stem seals on the 3.0l 3gen?

Hve had good results in reducing it, often it is a build up of varnish on the valve stems, this can then get cleaned away and reduce the smoke, the only proper way to fix is to replace but you can often prolong the need to replace them until you have the time and or money

if you do decide to fix then, will usually be cheaper to get a lower k engine and pop that in, you get to upgrade to a good 3.5 then as well

Have also tried may things on my KJ which suffers only very slightly from stem seals.
End of the day, as Mal said, use a good engine flush and then replace oil with a thicker oil.
I am using Penrite 20W-60. This has helped heaps.
No more smoke at all even after long idle and a rev. You can still smell the burning oil slightly but can't see any.
I was running the usual 10W-30 before hand and had quite visible smoke after long periods of idle when reved.
Haven't noticed any improvement with any additives to oil and i have tried a few.

Mine is also starting to do it :( its now @ 210000kms so i guess ill sell it b4 it gets too bad or do the heads and a Cam hehehe

Mine is also starting to do it :( its now @ 210000kms so i guess ill sell it b4 it gets too bad or do the heads and a Cam hehehe

I wouldnt sell because of the stem seals. Madmagna memeber. Sells low km 3.5l cheap throw one of those in.