Valve stem seal leak - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

EA1191 · 09-07-2004, 18:08

Has anyone tried sealing the collets as a fix for leaking valve stem seals?
At this early stage the result is a cure for my engine.
The valve spring retainers and collets are washed a number of times with a small brush and mineral turps. Silicone rubber is forced down onto the collets. A suitable spatula is the back end of a nail file.
A better way may be to mix silicone gasket rubber with mineral turps to a fluid consistency and apply to the collets in the spring retainers. Try this mix on some loose metal bits, such as nails or screws first.
Or there may be a better way.

If you have not removed the rocker cover before.
Lots of bits in the way.
After removing the air filter assembly the large air tube is unclipped and using a bent wire hook is lifted and hooked as high as possible above the engine. The cable conduit fastening on the drivers side is freed by slitting the adhesive tape and the air tube clip removed from the rocker cover can be twisted out of the way and hooked to the water gutter in front of the windscreen and another hook further along. The accelerator cable which is held on a bracket and the plastic nut on the bracket can be loosened on the plastic guide and unscrewed to allow the cable to pivot at an angle and the cable held as high as possible with a cord to the front of the bonnet. The plug leads are numbered with white crayon or labels. After the nuts holding the cover are removed a piece of 2cm by 3cm timber or other lever will lift the buttressed projection on the drivers side at the back of the rocker cover. The cover is lifted, tilted at about 45 degrees and moved sideways to the drivers side to clear the rocker gear and then pulled towards the front of the car to slide under the accelerator cable.

Soxx · 09-07-2004, 18:24

Mmmm why wouldn't you just fit new stem seals? If you already have the retainer off, it's only another couple minutes to fit seals.

Rick.

EA1191 · 09-07-2004, 18:45

The rocker assembly is not touched. It is just a matter of removing the cover and sealing the collets in the retainers. Takes about 10 minutes after removing the cover.
Where can I buy rebuilt or good secondhand bits in Sydney?

MLS · 09-07-2004, 19:33

Good luck with the rebuild of your engine EA1191 after the silicone comes of the retainers and clogs up your oil galleries.

This fix is definitely not one I'll be doing, I'd rather take another hour and do it properly with stem seals.

Soxx · 09-07-2004, 19:50

It's really not a good idea to have silicon applied in such a way as it will come off in time and enter your oil galleries.
Far better to change seals considering the short time it takes.

Rick.

TIKFD6 · 09-08-2004, 03:25

HHHRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm, OK.
Very odd!

rawlinna · 09-08-2004, 06:58

I'd make the voting at least three to one against sealing collets like that. The risk of clogging things up when the silicone comes off is too high.
Change the stem seals and you know its done correctly.

EA1191 · 09-08-2004, 17:34

The silicon cannot come off as it is a circular disk. If bits did come off would it go straight down to the sump? I thought this may have been tried before. Will check it in a few months.

Soxx · 09-08-2004, 23:26

Silicon can always come off, heat and oil will do it.
The bits would end up in the sump and likely in the filter, however there is always a chance they end up blocking an important gallery somewhere.

Rick.

EA1191 · 09-09-2004, 17:03

So - I may have sacrificed my engine to prove that sealing the collets will replace stem seals. Perhaps someone can find a way to seal them in a safe way.
The engine now idles well and it can be started from cold, run, stopped and restarted without the plug fouling. The idle could be better but the spark is orange and I have been told that orange is not good.