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kumu
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2011
Posts: 10
Location: Inuvik-Argentina
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 Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:41 am Post subject: Machined Valves - New Gaskets neccessary? Please Help! |
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Hi,
I am writing this to you from Ecuador. We are at a VW Beetle mechanic here who has just taken out our engine to see why it has no power. It was evident that the valves were burnt and there wasn't a proper metal on metal seal, so he has taken it to a guy to make them sit properly. That's the good news. The bad news is that the only gasket kit that can be found around here is going to cost $280 for both sides. The mechanic is saying that it is way too expensive (I agree, found online for $130 in Canada and US) and he says we should just put in the old gaskets and it should be ok. The downside with ordering them is that we would have to wait WEEKS for them to arrive, while we sleep in the van at the mechanics garage..
Do you think it is a bad idea to re use the existing gaskets? There did not seem to be any problem with them according to the mechanic and I guess I agree...
Thanks for the help guys!!!!! |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10147
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:15 am Post subject: |
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If they haven't already taken the heads off, make sure they do a leakdown test, never tear into a wbx on a compression test alone because you can't rule out uneven valve openings at slow cranking speeds. A special leakdown tester is not strictly required, merely pressurising the cylinder with a spark plug hole adapter hose can let you hear and feel exactly where air is escaping each cylinder. It's best to remove the rocker sets entirely to get a completely clean and definitive test.
If the heads are already removed then you're moving ahead whether you like it or not.
The rubber water jacket channel seals can be safely reused so long as the rubber is still supple with no cracking, although of course its preferable to start with fresh ones. I would say that with more than about 40k miles on them, I would hold out for new ones.
The black cylinder base o-rings are often in good enough condiiton to reuse if they remain on the cylinders where they were first installed. If they are dislodged from the cylinders, I wouldn't count on them attaining a good seal on a second use. Same goes for the green silicone top o-rings, but most times you find they are crushed or distorted and if so new ones will be mandatory.
The laminated steel (no, they're not aluminum and they're not part of the head) compression sealing rings are absolutely single-use only. They crush when the heads are torqued and you will have little chance of attaining a seal in this, the most critical area, if you try to reuse them.
That said, you're going to be needing a gasket set or the individual seals whether you want to or not due to the absolute need for new steel sealing rings. If you want to get the parts piecemeal and don't need the rest of a full engine set, Gowestyautoparts.com has them individually, with fast service. I think US Postal Service (www.usps.com) would be the simplest and fastest way to go to get these seals to you. Look up small flat-rate box in Priority Express International service.
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52454
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| If you were in the USA or Canada, I would say trying to reuse the old gaskets would be stupid. In a place where new parts can't be readily had then reusing the old might work and it might not. How much are you having to pay the mechanic and how badly do you need the work to last? |
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kumu
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2011
Posts: 10
Location: Inuvik-Argentina
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| Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2024 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| If you were in the USA or Canada, I would say trying to reuse the old gaskets would be stupid. In a place where new parts can't be readily had then reusing the old might work and it might not. How much are you having to pay the mechanic and how badly do you need the work to last? |
I am back on the site now for another issue. Thanks for your reply on this.
We ended up ordering the parts and stayed for a couple of weeks living in the mechanics yard until they arrived. Learned a heck of a lot about engines in that time. Anyway, He did all the work including the machining and let us stay with him.... The total bill for the rebuild excluding gaskets (which were purchased online and sent to us) was US$120.
Van is still running great. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17176
Location: Brookeville, MD
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