Valve stem seals?

[OTTO 1303]

Reconditioning stock heads on a 74 1600DP, engine did not burn oil.
The Bentley and Haynes refer to a “stem seal ring”, however, there are no such seals on the valvetrain. I also YT’d VW head builds, and saw no reference to the seals.

Are they necessary?
Any info appreciated

Thanks
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74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[modok]

At the time the bentely manual was written they were using a o-ring looking seal on the stems.
This was abandoned in the future because these seals usually fell apart and were found in the sump at oil changes.

[frenchroast]

Some gasket sets used to come with the o-rings but I've never used them. I have a used head I plan to rebuild that has the o-rings on the intakes. It's got what looks like original valves and guides and has probably never been rebuilt. That's the only time I've actually seen the seals installed before.

[oprn]

Valve stem seats generally are used on engines that have the valves in a vertical or near to vertical running position where the oil could tend to pool around the base of the valve spring. Our air cooled VWs actually have valves stems that slope a bit down hill so the tendency of the oil is to run away from the base of the spring, not pool around it. The little bit of oil that gets pulled into the valve guide in my view is essential to valve guide life. That is the ONLY lube the valve guides get!
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We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age)

[sub-hatchtim]

The new mexi motors came with valve seals
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58' pg/sg silo fridge westy
58 Dove blue singlecab
76 911S