Valve Stem Seals for '98 V70 AWD

[bockdharma]

I am reasonably sure that the puff of blue smoke on start (or after at
least a ~30 min rest) indicates an issue with deteriorating valve stem
seals.

The actual seals are cheap, but are they "easy" to remove/replace? I
can't seem to find any DIY info on their extraction/replacement. Where
is a good place to get the tools? I think at least two specizlied seal
tools are needed.

If it's not a good idea to attempt oneself, can anyone give me a
reasonable labor estimate (in hours) so I can budget?

Thanks!

 

[Niels Bengaard]

I am reasonably sure that the puff of blue smoke on start (or after at

least a ~30 min rest) indicates an issue with deteriorating valve stem
seals.

The actual seals are cheap, but are they "easy" to remove/replace? I
can't seem to find any DIY info on their extraction/replacement. Where
is a good place to get the tools? I think at least two specizlied seal
tools are needed.

If it's not a good idea to attempt oneself, can anyone give me a
reasonable labor estimate (in hours) so I can budget?

Thanks!

Looks like a big job, according to my workshop manual it takes 9.3 hours to
install new ones.

Niels

 

[Mike F]

I am reasonably sure that the puff of blue smoke on start (or after at
least a ~30 min rest) indicates an issue with deteriorating valve stem
seals.

The actual seals are cheap, but are they "easy" to remove/replace? I
can't seem to find any DIY info on their extraction/replacement. Where
is a good place to get the tools? I think at least two specizlied seal
tools are needed.

If it's not a good idea to attempt oneself, can anyone give me a
reasonable labor estimate (in hours) so I can budget?

Thanks!

I would say this is not a job for the do-it-yourselfer. If you don't
have the special tool to pull the upper half of the head straight up,
one end of the casting *WILL* crack off. Also, if you don't use the
right amount and kind of sealant between the 2 halves of the head, then
you will have oil leaks or block oil passages. This is a job best left
to an experienced Volvo specialist.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

[bockdharma]

I would say this is not a job for the do-it-yourselfer. If you don't
have the special tool to pull the upper half of the head straight up,
one end of the casting *WILL* crack off. Also, if you don't use the
right amount and kind of sealant between the 2 halves of the head, then
you will have oil leaks or block oil passages. This is a job best left
to an experienced Volvo specialist.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

Thanks for the info. Checking around different forums, there is a
suggestion to actual use Auto-RX. I may do that, but I won't hold my
breath. At least I'll know I won't be having any sludge issues.

9.3 hours sounds like a TON of time to do this job. Wow. But I have
to agree that it sounds best left to a shop.

 

[Niels Bengaard]

Thanks for the info. Checking around different forums, there is a

suggestion to actual use Auto-RX. I may do that, but I won't hold my
breath. At least I'll know I won't be having any sludge issues.

9.3 hours sounds like a TON of time to do this job. Wow. But I have
to agree that it sounds best left to a shop.

Have you seen any other with bad valve seals when you looked on the net? I
havent heard of that problem before, so I wouldnt look there first. Perhaps
a bad turbo if its a turbo?

Niels

 

[Tim \(remove obvious\)]

I am reasonably sure that the puff of blue smoke on start (or after at
least a ~30 min rest) indicates an issue with deteriorating valve stem
seals.

The actual seals are cheap, but are they "easy" to remove/replace? I
can't seem to find any DIY info on their extraction/replacement. Where
is a good place to get the tools? I think at least two specizlied seal
tools are needed.

If it's not a good idea to attempt oneself, can anyone give me a
reasonable labor estimate (in hours) so I can budget?

Valve stem seals are VERY unlikely- i've not known any to start seeping down
the stems on any white block 5 or 6 cylinder even after 200k+.

You're problem is likely crankcase pressurization from a blocked breather
tree on the throttle body.

As an aside, lifting the cam carrier / cams in / out / etc etc is not for
the faint hearted and definately NOT without the correct pullup/pulldown
tools, else it will end in disaster.

Tim..