N62 engine valve stem seals

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Purplefade

From everything I have read, heard and seen to date, rope is the way to go for sure.

That said, no, with the piston at TDC there is not enough “drop” to actually lose the valve, but you will play heck getting around and under everything to retrieve it.

Rope

Oh, and I believe it’s cylinder 2 that has to be just beyond TDC, so there is a bit more pucker factor there.

I will be starting this very job next week.. and I will be going with rope.

Do you know if you have to follow instructions provided with the tool kit (if any), or are there step by step instructions available somewhere other than videos that can be lost or deleted from YouTube?

[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Do you know if you have to follow instructions provided with the tool kit (if any), or are there step by step instructions available somewhere other than videos that can be lost or deleted from YouTube?

X5only (and others on here) have posted BEAUTIFUL step by step “instructions” for this job.

I will be using the post by X5only to do my own VSS job and am very confident that it will be successful.

Actually not sure if the tool really comes with a “how to” per say, just more of a guideline on how to use the tool - you are way further ahead to use one of the guys posts on here - they have GREAT experience

[X5only]

You can review this video by AGA for usage. I advise to review as many videos as you can before tackling the project. I spent almost a whole month reading and reviewing about the project. I didn't want to leave anything to chance and end up messing up my X5 instead of fixing it. But that's just me as I tend to be slow but thorough and sure in my DIY projects.

https://youtu.be/0I61gyCeCfE

[X5only]

Originally Posted by Purplefade

From everything I have read, heard and seen to date, rope is the way to go for sure.

That said, no, with the piston at TDC there is not enough “drop” to actually lose the valve, but you will play heck getting around and under everything to retrieve it.

Rope

Oh, and I believe it’s cylinder 2 that has to be just beyond TDC, so there is a bit more pucker factor there.

I will be starting this very job next week.. and I will be going with rope.

That is true. See post 103 by JPcallan.

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-seals-11.html

In fact I hear experienced mechanics change the seals that way - no air or cord. I think for the average DIY'er it would be tempting fate to attempt this project without any form of caution to prevent the valve stem from dropping, if accidentally the cylinder is beyond the point of easy valve retrieval, in which case you will curse the day you were born. Don't tempt fate. Many have accidentally dropped it. Do a search on the web and see how they struggled.

[LVP]

Anyone in Southern Ontario (Niagara to London to GTA) have this tool for rent? My shop is in Mississauga and I'll likely be dropping the engine for a few pending repairs. Seeing as it'll be out, I might bite the bullet and tackle this too.

Thanks in advance!

[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by LVP

Anyone in Southern Ontario (Niagara to London to GTA) have this tool for rent? My shop is in Mississauga and I'll likely be dropping the engine for a few pending repairs. Seeing as it'll be out, I might bite the bullet and tackle this too.

Thanks in advance!

If you already have the engine out just pull the cams and make the job SUPER easy WAY easier to just set the cams back in and re-time than most people will admit - pull the cams and save yourself a dictionaries worth of 4 letter words and frustration.

[nypapaya]

Has anyone tried valve seal conditioner like Forte?
https://youtu.be/smRjx5Ykgqw

[Westlotorn]

Before tearing into valve stem seals check the intake manifold for Oil inside, check the crankcase ventilation hose where it plugs into the front of the intake manifold. If they are wet with oil that is most likely your oil and smoke issue. True valve stem seal failures smoke on start up and quickly clear up while running. If you have an air leak in the engine it will suck oil into the intake manifold and cause the smoke at idle problem many report. Many items can leak air into the engine. If you have an oil leak externally you know air can also leak internally at that point of oil leak. Common leak is the valve cover gaskets, oil filler cap etc. Seal the engine before changing valve stem seals. My 2008 4.8L X5 was a smoker 35,000 miles ago, does not smoke today. OEM valve stem seals still in it. Original problem was at 100,000 miles, now at 135,000. Just food for thought. We also fixed my son's 4.4L X5 same way, no valve stem seals. Test is pretty simple, check for oil inside the intake manifold, there should be zero oil there if the engine vent system is working proper. Valve stem seals can fail but they have unique smoke issues when they fail. When you replace all the gaskets, Orings etc as you change valve stem seals you will also re seal the engine. How do you know at that point which issue caused your smoke. There is a ton a labor involved in sealing one of these engines so I understand if you are paying a shop to do this, change the valve stem seals while you are doing the job since the valve covers are off. If you do the work yourself you might measure the need for valve stem seals differently. There is no way for valve stem seals to put oil in the intake manifold so if you find oil in your intake manifold you most likely found the oil use issue on your engine.

[stiubhartach]

Originally Posted by Westlotorn

Before tearing into valve stem seals check the intake manifold for Oil inside, check the crankcase ventilation hose where it plugs into the front of the intake manifold. If they are wet with oil that is most likely your oil and smoke issue. True valve stem seal failures smoke on start up and quickly clear up while running. If you have an air leak in the engine it will suck oil into the intake manifold and cause the smoke at idle problem many report. Many items can leak air into the engine. If you have an oil leak externally you know air can also leak internally at that point of oil leak. Common leak is the valve cover gaskets, oil filler cap etc. Seal the engine before changing valve stem seals. My 2008 4.8L X5 was a smoker 35,000 miles ago, does not smoke today. OEM valve stem seals still in it. Original problem was at 100,000 miles, now at 135,000. Just food for thought. We also fixed my son's 4.4L X5 same way, no valve stem seals. Test is pretty simple, check for oil inside the intake manifold, there should be zero oil there if the engine vent system is working proper. Valve stem seals can fail but they have unique smoke issues when they fail. When you replace all the gaskets, Orings etc as you change valve stem seals you will also re seal the engine. How do you know at that point which issue caused your smoke. There is a ton a labor involved in sealing one of these engines so I understand if you are paying a shop to do this, change the valve stem seals while you are doing the job since the valve covers are off. If you do the work yourself you might measure the need for valve stem seals differently. There is no way for valve stem seals to put oil in the intake manifold so if you find oil in your intake manifold you most likely found the oil use issue on your engine.

This is my experience too. Smoking from oil in the intake manifold. Fixed by cleaning the CCV system. It happens about every 20k miles and needs recleaned. Still on my original valve stem seals.

[X5only]

My experience was totally different. Intake had oil, pipes had oil, replaced all seals imaginable and prayed- valve cover seals and every other seal while at it ... twice! Still smoked on extended idle 10-15 minutes when engine is hot. I tell you I really tried to avoid doing the valve stem seals. Nothing worked. When I finally decided to change the valve stem seals, they were in fact brittle and most would barely seal the stem, the gaps between the seal and the stem visible on many of them. Smoking and foul exhaust smell stopped after the valve stem seals replacement.