have i worn valve guides?

[the_GTI_new_guy]

I believe my car, 1990 16V, has worn valve guides (or so a mate says) I changes my spark plugs and found (from left to right) normal deposits, oil pouring off the plug, oily plug, oily plug. The car is terrible to drive for the 1st minuite until the oil is burn off. Bit of a struggle to start but always goes. The engine sounds a a bit like a diesel from the tapping inside under all temperatures. The exhasut looks normal and drives fine when the oil is burned off. I have just bought this car a week ago from a dealer and seemed fine then, started 1st time, no driving trouble at all. I did get standard warrenty with it so would they have to fix it if it is valve guides? Problem i will have is if i drive it there (30 miles away) it will be hot and will work perfect. It has to be cold for it to do it. Any advice appreciated. seemed such a great car. 

[Veedubgt18v]

make them keep the car overnight and then they can see it from cold? they must have known about this!

[animaniac]

if its tapping when hot the top ends worn!!

sounds like it needs a top end overhaul....

but it could just be the valve stem oil seals.... so ive been told the valve guides dont wear much ... but also i read about overhead cam vs overhead valve on the internet and how some dont wear.... on some ohc engines like the vw's the valves are vertical and the force when there being pressed is vertical so there isnt any diagonal force applied to them so by just bobbing up and down wear is kept to a minimum!

probibly just... valve stem oil seals, and new tappets. but it all depends on how loud the tapping is....

[Gambit]

when your car starts in the morning does it take about 30secs or so to sort itself out? if it is then i'll say the heater element in the warmup regulator aint working. my car has this problem at the mo and that is the cause of it

oily plugs will not cause it to run bad

if your car sounds like a sewing machine then it could probably do with 16v new hydralic lifters. this will quieten down the top end big time!

valve guides aint really a problem on 16v's, its more likely to be worn piston rings. does it only smoke at high rpm's??

[the_GTI_new_guy]

It does not actually smoke as far i can see. The engine is super responsive when it starts to warm up, ie 500 yards down the road. Before these 500 yards are up it will splutter when doing under 3000rpm. It fires up fine, idles perfectly but when under load for 500 yards or so it really struggles to pull (like i lost half my power). When you dip the clutch, it drops to low rpm but recovers. As i say, it only has a problem at the start of a journey but will do hours of driving without fault.

probibly just... valve stem oil seals, and new tappets. but it all depends on how loud the tapping is....

The taping is happening all the time. It sounds like a normal diesel engine would do not really excessive but it just doesnt sound as smooth a petrol unit should be.

oily plugs will not cause it to run bad

so your saying that the plug fires perfectly fine when oily (fair bit of oil). If thats the case then what i thought about the oil would mean my problem is elsewhere.

then it could probably do with 16v new hydralic lifters

Is this a big job? Would i get it done under my 3 months standard parts and labour warrenty i got witht he car?

Thanks.

[Gambit]

have you had the car setup correctly since buying it, or did you assume that it was setup correctly from the people you purchased it from?

its a pretty big job -  a cam's out jobbie to replace the lifters, so id be looking to take it to a VW specialist - not a dealer to get it done. as u really want somebody who knows the 16v lump inside out to be fitting them & then getting it up & running correctly

if you where getting the lifters done, id get timing belt, tensioner, timing chain all changed at the same time - u may aswell do it all now cause sooner or later it'll need done. parts total for the above is about £170 then it just depends on the labour - id ring around a few VW specialists and get prices. tell them you'll provide the parts

i doubt you'll get the lifters fitted under warranty as they are a general wear n tear iteam. u could always try!!

i had my lifters etc all replaced there just at easter and the difference it made to the engine was unreal, the engine really is super smooth now at idle, not a rattle out of it anywhere

[the_GTI_new_guy]

I have not had the car setup. What i have done is service things, filters, oil, plugs leads dizzy cap. (The car had problem before i did this so i know its not me. I hoped this would sort it out) What does a "setting up" involve? If there is oil in the cylinders, is it easy to get the seals replaced and do you think this is most likely cause of oily plugs (clean oil, not ancient black fouled plus) Cheers

[animaniac]

to get the seals replaced is like replacing the tappets....... but its more harder than replacing the tappens you have to get the head off, and compress the valve springs etc take them out and then pull the oil seals of and replace them..... your normaly have to tape the end of the valve stem where it holds the valve spring..

they sometimes come with a little plasitc bit which slides over the top of the valve stem...

other wise if you just slide the seals on the bit on the valve stem rips the sealing lip on the oil seals...

also the before putting the seals on you have to coat the inside of the seal with grease!

if your going to have the valve oil seals dont its better doing the tappets at the same time..

[Gambit]

see the new sticky at the top of the forum about setting up 16v's