Stem Seal Replacement - How Much?!

[Guest Kar_uk]

Hi guys,

 

Just wondering if any of you could give me some idea of how much it should cost me to get my stem seals replaced by my local garage? Just after a rough idea.

 

Thanks,

 

Keith

[hengti 2]

It's possible to have them changed without taking the head off; last time I had this done (about 4 years ago), it cost about £160 with Pug Performance in Alton (near Southampton) 01420 587377

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

If you do think about going to Pug performance you may want to read a recent topic about different peugeot specialists first.

 

It should basically be the cost of a HG change. whilst its being done you may want to get a cambelt kit complete with tensionerand also replace the water pump. Also you can check the condition of your liners, valves relapped when doing stem seals.

 

Parts wise obv youll need a head set, cambelt kit, head skim, possibly water pump, headbolts, prob exhaust downpipe kit. plus around 3-4 hours labour. Obv cost depends on where you take it. some places charge £25 others £45 an hour, it varies a lot.

Edited December 9, 2005 by j_turnell

[Guest Kar_uk]

Thanks for your help guys. You've given me an idea of what sort of cost etc is involved. It's something that has got to be done but I might now wait a few months until my cambelt is due for replacement and get it all done at the same time.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

[eddie_1.9 1]

Should be easy to find somewhere to do it with the head on so that will cut labour cost a lot. BUT if they're gone then the rest of the top seals and head gasket will be pretty tired too so well worth gettin it all done in one go as its actaully cheaper (and more convenient) in the long run.

I've heard Pug charge a flat rate for a head gasket change (£250?) so they may well actually be cheaper than an independant charging you for the actual time it takes him.

[Veero 1]

I did mine myself with the head on.

 

Cambelt and tensioners £56

Valve stem seals £9

Dizzy seal £free

6-point socket for removing camshaft clamp nuts £2

Head-on valve spring compressor from Machine Mart £15

 

Took me a whole weekend but I had quotes from £280-400 to do it. Wasn't that bad plus I leanred the ins and outs of changing a cambelt...

 

Veero

[M@tt 77]

how do you actually change the seals then?

 

it was that long ago whn i had mine doen i cant remember what the engine shop did. i have a vague recollection that they needed pressing out and in but are you saying you can just pull them out?

Edited December 12, 2005 by M@tt

[jshep205gti 3]

how do you actually change the seals then?

 

it was that long ago whn i had mine doen i cant remember what the engine shop did. i have a vague recollection that they needed pressing out and in but are you saying you can just pull them out?

 

When a mate and I did mine, you get the valve compresser and tighten until it pops down... get the seal out with long ended pliers (mine were FECKED) and slide a new one on in its place. Then loosen the valve clamp and put the weird half round bits of metal on to keep it there. Times 8.

 

 

Shep

[Veero 1]

That's about the long and the short of it.

 

I've sent a 7 page guide on doing it with the head-on to Cybernck so hopefully it'll be up on the site soon.

 

Long nose pliers get them out fine, just need a bit of grunt to shift em if they've been in a while. I suspect mine were original ones judging by their condition...

 

Veero

[jshep205gti 3]

Just wondering if any of you could give me some idea of how much it should cost me to get my stem seals replaced by my local garage? Just after a rough idea.

 

Rough idea: £180 - £300 all in (worth getting a few quotes)

[sideways danny 0]

it's well worth changing the guides at the same time IMO, mine at 120k had massive amounts of play and were letting oil trough very badly, it should cost about £10-12 per guide on top of the fitting work and other parts

[Guest SmokingMesaMan]

I've just got a quote from someone who specialised in head work. They said to take head off properly decoke it, re-seat valves and reseal along with new gaskets and bolts etc (about 4 days with car) £250

[Ahl 4]

4 days!? It'd take a couple of hours at most.

 

Is there noone on here that will do it for you for a good price? Its a real shame to pay so much, as it really isn't too hard and even the tools required wouldn't cost much.

[hengti 2]

2 hours to take the head off, fix things up, and put it all back together ?!!!!

 

'Formula 1 pit mechanic' ... ?!

 

Don't forget - you want it all to work once you've done as well!!

 

 

My advice is, if it's burning oil and it's got good compression, it's likely to be the stem seals. Don't waste money fixing up a load of other stuff that might not need doing. Don't take the head off!!

 

Take it to someone who can renew the seals with the head in situ - as before, approx price £160

[Guest Kar_uk]

Hi all,

 

I've just checked back in here after being away for a couple of days and found more replies to my question so many thanks to you all for your ideas etc. I'm pretty sure it is just the stem seals that need replacing. I'm going to have to have a think about it all and ask my local garage for a quote. I'm not up to doing the job myself so it's got to be a garage job. At the moment I'm having to top up my oil every couple of weeks after doing, say, approx 300-400 miles on average. Any thoughts on this level of consumption for a 1992 car that's done 84K miles? I don't appear to have much evidence of black smoke from the exhaust. I presume I would see some if the stem seals had really gone badly? I know that my car, on mileage terms, is well overdue for the seals to be replaced. My oil pressure seems to be okay according to my dial in the car.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

[Ahl 4]

2 hours to take the head off, fix things up, and put it all back together ?!!!!

Yep, or thereabouts if you do one thing after another, in my experience. What so unbelievable about that?

[hengti 2]

Ahl - 2 hours ...

 

take off manifolds and related ancilliaries

remove head

strip head ...

teleport head to machine shop for skim, guide replacement and freshly ground in valves

head received back (via time machine) for refitting

 

45 mins to go ...

 

head back on!

 

Car running perfectly - problem solved - Stop the clock!!

 

Sheesh

 

 

Kar UK - as Flav once said to Chuck, 'Don't believe the hype'!!!

My 1.9 used to burn from max to min every 150 miles (!!); it could have been the rings, the guides, or the stem seals. It had good compression (therefore wasn't the rings) - so had the stem seals replaced - problem solved.

 

Save yourself some money and go for the most likely cause - stem seals; have it done with the head on

 

Good luck

[Ahl 4]

Whatever smartarse.

I've done it in 2 hours or so including relapping the valves. Wheres the strict rule that says you need new guides and a skim whenever you take a head off?

Internet mechanics...

[Guest SmokingMesaMan]

I'd say a car that needs stem seals should have a decoke and a regrind seats as standard. Why f*** around with a half assed job just to save £100? Some people are happy to waste £200 on a s*it K&N induction that does the same as a replacement element in a fancy coloured housing but not on the important long term stuff.

 

IMO

[Ahl 4]

Dunno if you mean me really, but have you ever decoked a head or relapped valves?

It doesn't take long. Definitely recommended for optimum power though.

[jshep205gti 3]

205 gti heads don't need skimming very often. Just clean it and obv use a new head gasket.

 

 

Shep

[ashlee205gti 1]

It should only need skimming if its overheated, still while its off its better to check the mating surface isnt warped. The heads corrode quite badly (certainly the two ive seen) but if its only corroded between the adjacent waterways then its nothing to worry about, just remember to use the correct mixture of coolant when you put it all back together to prevent further damage.

[Guest Kar_uk]

Kar UK - as Flav once said to Chuck, 'Don't believe the hype'!!!

My 1.9 used to burn from max to min every 150 miles (!!); it could have been the rings, the guides, or the stem seals. It had good compression (therefore wasn't the rings) - so had the stem seals replaced - problem solved.

 

Save yourself some money and go for the most likely cause - stem seals; have it done with the head on

 

Good luck

 

Cheers hengti. I defo think it's my stem seals. At least my oil consumption's not quite that bad yet though!

 

Keith (Kar UK)

[madmat 0]

That's about the long and the short of it.

 

I've sent a 7 page guide on doing it with the head-on to Cybernck so hopefully it'll be up on the site soon.

 

Long nose pliers get them out fine, just need a bit of grunt to shift em if they've been in a while. I suspect mine were original ones judging by their condition...

 

Veero

Hi,need to do this job myself soon-what has happened to the 7 page guide,did you send it?some photos would be nice showing the tool,matt.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

sorry, not online yet, waiting for a few more people to send their articles in .