N62 engine valve stem seals

[jpcallan]

Originally Posted by X5only

... An endoscope is a must have for the difficult to see areas. It makes a significant difference I have to say. They're cheap - a good one goes for around $25.

If you notice in the picture (the green cord), I'm using the bungee cord technique- no air compressor! I'm at peace with my neighbors and my wife as I quietly work late evenings.

"... difficult to see areas" pretty much defines the entire job. Would you tell me what you used for a camera to get those big, sharp, images?

When I did the seal job on my buddies 2008 X5, I used a Ridgid brand micro CA-25 Camera. It really didn't work very well as it couldn't focus up close; it also had a tiny view screen. Each day after doing a couple of cylinders, I would come inside and look at your photos in this thread with envy.

[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.

[Westlotorn]

X5only, curious how many miles on your engine when you changed the Valve Stem Seals.

[X5only]

May be 120k miles thereabouts. I don't know why they deteriorated that much as I've owned it CPO from around 40k miles and diligently changed oil twice a year.

[bgoX5]

Just completed this job on a RHD 4.8is 2004.
Thankyou X5 Only for all your tips.


Here are my tips

1. I used the AGA tools - I had difficulty mastering the collet tool
2. Collet tool mostly worked in easy to get to valves.
3. I removed the lifters completely for better access.
4. Take care removing the lifters from the inlet valves because the cam followers
can drop out from the eccentric cam.
I proteceted this from happening by 'safety wiring ' these up onto the eccentric cam
when that cylinder was at top dead centre.
5. I used 'rope' or bungey cord to stop the valves from dropping out, about 800mm
fed down the spark plug hole. You will never get the piston to TDC whilst working on

the VSS, but this is areally safe approach compared to compressed air.

6. I used Elring VSS kits and valve cover kits
7. Cylinder 4 and 8 inlet valves at the rear of the head are difficult.
Patience and more patience

I tried endoscope, Snap On and mirrors.
Mirror and curved pick with grease worked a treat.
8. Make notes of your dissasembly or lots of photos.


Result - No more smoke!!