Im doing a head gasket, studs and cams and trying to decide whether I should visit the machine shop for a quick rebuild and replace any valves that need it. Was just going to check the head with a straight edge and feeler gauge, gasket and surfaces look fine. Motor has 125k on it. 1st time the head has been off. Exhaust side looks crusty on the face, couple of intake valves also.





should I just do it? Anything wrong with oem replacements?

 

Wouldn't hurt to bring it to the machine shop and have it vacuum tested. That will let you know if your valves are still good and not bent. Also since the heads off it would be a good idea to get it re surfaced

 

Can't tell from the pictures. Where valves go bad is the where they touch the valve seat, not what we're looking at.

 

I went ahead and dropped it off. He's going to let me know condition of them all early next week. Might just go ahead and replace them all. But not sure which ones to go with.

 

They won't need replaced unless you had a heat valve, or they some were bent from hitting pistons. But the car would not have been running well if that happened. Worst case you just get the head decked, do a valve job, and call it a day.

 

how long are oem valves supposed to last? Im at 125k. I just don't want to have to do this again any time soon.

 

Valves don't really "wear out" per say. The seat area tends to get beat up, but a valve job will almost always take care of it. 125k miles isn't too bad...

 

while you have it off it is good to have the machine shop look at it. I ended up going bigger valves and new valve seats which I only did because i broke a valve.