Thread: What's the safest place to head but a 2l engine?

check that the little drain pipe at the rear of the head isn't blocked, or the hole in the head under the rocker cover that goes to the little pipe




oops, I just realised this is s1, not sure if your engine has that pipe.

I suspect that your valve guides are sloppy and the valve seals are shot and on opening the throttle the oil is being sucked down into the combustion chambers.

These old engines do need their o-rings around the inlet valve stems replacing regularly, as you have noticed the oil pools around those valve stems and when the o-rings go hard they allow the oil to be drawn down past the inlet valve stems when there is high inlet manifold vacuum.

Good chance to give the exhaust valves a lap in and to replace those seals.

Don't forget to get a new o-ring that goes between the waterpump and thermostat housing if you decide to lift the head.

I haven't tried this yet but you could try it, dry all the oil away from around the inlet valve stems then pour neat engine stop leak around those stems and let the stop leak sit for a couple of weeks. The engine stop leak works by softening seal surfaces so if you have got the time it maybe worth a try.
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Hmm valves within spec( near new). Lapped , new o rings in guides, oil line metering valve replaced( was absent)....would it be worth using o rings( as in the older style valve stem seals......fit on valve shaft rather than in guide.......is replacing the guides a backyard job or of to an engineer ?