Hi all and merry Christmas, just wondering what is the average cost to have valve stems seals replaced on a 3.5 litre, I have read in the Haynes manual the heads do not have to be removed to replaced the valve stems seals, cheers

To be honest if a good flush and decent oil does not cure issue is cheaper to replace motor. Can be done heads on but is a pita and often doesn't work due to varnish build up on the valve stems

Hi Madmagna, the car is a KH Verada, its done 222,000 k's I just changed the oil, I used Wynns engine flush and use Penrite PHR10 oil. I let it idle for about 5 minutes gave it a rev and blew out a big cloud of blue smoke still, I can't afford a new motor so looks like I will be topping it up with stop smoke from now on.





To be honest if a good flush and decent oil does not cure issue is cheaper to replace motor. Can be done heads on but is a pita and often doesn't work due to varnish build up on the valve stems

If you are handy with a spanner you can pull the heads off and do the work the easy way, ie pull valves, clean things up, replace seals. Good time to clean and test lifters too.

Hi Madmax, I am handy with a spanner but maybe not that handy with one, not sure if I would trust myself to do the job right. I just let my car idle again for 5 minutes and it didn't blow no where near as much smoke as the other day, not sure why but maybe it will be ok. I have put penrite PHR10 oil in it this oil change, the last oil change I used castrol Magnatec and it burnt it up pretty fast.



If you are handy with a spanner you can pull the heads off and do the work the easy way, ie pull valves, clean things up, replace seals. Good time to clean and test lifters too.

Hi Madmax, I am handy with a spanner but maybe not that handy with one, not sure if I would trust myself to do the job right. I just let my car idle again for 5 minutes and it didn't blow no where near as much smoke as the other day, not sure why but maybe it will be ok. I have put penrite PHR10 oil in it this oil change, the last oil change I used castrol Magnatec and it burnt it up pretty fast.

Magnatec.. Tis the devils oil I tells ya!

I'm a little biased with Motul myself, used it in my last few cars and its been good, but Penrite was used in the old TF for yonks and she's still going 310,000ks on!

SuFz :ninja:

The Magna doesn't seem to like the Magnatec stuff.
I hope the HPR 10 works better for you. At 220,000 km the motor should still be pretty healthy.
If it still blows smoke after idling, you could try a 20w-50 oil next change. Works ok in the Magna.

Thats what I thought the motor should still be ok at 220K it had 203k when I bought it and on the way home after I purchased the car I looked in the rear view after taking off at some traffic lights and seen a cloud of blue smoke, I thought to myself just my luck I bought another Verada that blows smoke, I thought I was safe with a 3rd gen as you don't seem them blowing smoke like the 2nd gens do. I'm going to let it idle for a few minutes tomorrow and see what happens as I think I slightly over filled the engine when I changed it the other week, I put all the 5 litres in with a new filter. If it still blows smoke, next oil change I think I will go back to nulon oil for worn old engines as I have used that before and it seems to be not too bad.


The Magna doesn't seem to like the Magnatec stuff.
I hope the HPR 10 works better for you. At 220,000 km the motor should still be pretty healthy.
If it still blows smoke after idling, you could try a 20w-50 oil next change. Works ok in the Magna.