How do you determine if you shouild re-use the existing valves or install new ones, specially on fouling cylinder.

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Thanks, Juan

the edges and see how worn they are. if not too worn they can resurface them and go. on a diesel the exhaust take a beating and often the intakes are good even after 200k miles.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thanks, what does it mean a burnt valve? Is actually a valve that has a section burnet away, edge wise or carbon buildup on a valve?

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Thanks, Juan

A section burned away. Always an exhaust valve AFAIK. It leaks so you have low or no compression in that cylinder. Often exhaust valves have to be replaced but not intake, in my limited experience.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Thanks for the info, the exh valve has carbon build up but nothing burnt away. compression was ok.

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Thanks, Juan

You should also carefully mic the valvestems. If the wear is close to or exceeds .001" the valve should be replaced.

Duke

I agree with duke, measure at the top and bottom there should be very little taper, look for pits and grooves were the valve sits on the seat

thanks guys.

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Thanks, Juan

Valves rarely burn in a Diesel engine.

I have indeed seen a burnt intake on a gas engine. It was a 56 Ford with a leaky intake manifold which leaned out one cylinder burning the intake valve at that cylinder.

Your machinist will be able to tell by looking at the valves if they can be reground or not.

Good luck,

Not at all unusual for intake valve stems to be worn out on a MB diesel. The valve does not rotate (it is held in a fixed orientation by a pin sliding up/down in the guide to keep the intake shroud oriented.)

Wear is th econsideration, and how the engine will bedriven. Racing purposed argues for all new. Normal operation (anything less than WOT and redline) means reused determined by condition--worn stems, worn spring keeper grooves, warped, pitting, top too thin after re-surfacing--all mean use new one.