renewing valve stem oil seals & guides

[nunny]

Hi, i was about to get my valve stem oil seals & guides replaced, but a few people have told me it probably cheaper to do an engine swap?  How hard is it to replace the valve stem oil seals?  I'm not going to attempt it myself as i am no mechanic!  But i have a few mates who are!!!  Just wondering if it would be worth my while or should i go for the replacement engine?  Thanks in advance!

[golf8v]

you have to remove the head to do this job ..so replacing the head gasket and seals would be nessary. also recomend cam belt. but when buying second hand engine how do you know it wont be the same!!!

[nunny]

so repair the existing engine then? the car had a new headgasket about 6 months back... :embarassed:  Just trying to weigh up the options as the MOT will be due just shortly, the car still runs great apart from the cloudy start up, its a defo fail just on the emissions.

[golf mk2 tornado red]

do the head rebuild
its much safer than getting a second hand 1
you never no what thats like
once you do your own you no its rite for anothe 4 million miles lol

[DarnPB]

If the head gasket was done, then surely the stem seals would have been done at the same time???
Check with who ever did the job first. What makes you think the seals have gone in the first place?? What are your symptoms?

[nunny]

he never done the seals when the head gasket was done, he did mention about getting them done as that wouldve been a perfect time to do it, i can get another engine for about £200 including fitting, which seems like a good price, but its like you say about the condition of the new engine, it could have the same trouble!

symptoms are:

smokey on start up, - stem seals?

smokes a bit when you floor it! (blue haze) - piston rings?

like i said earlier i'm no mechanic! 

cheers for the help!

[DarnPB]

A blue haze when you nail it does, I'm afraid, indicate rings and pistons. if you intend to change the engine, see if you can get some kind of warranty with it. I myself would repair the exsisting one. But then I know (in theory) what I am doing. Lots of aeroplanes flying in the sky as a result of my handywork!!!

[nunny]

  yeah if only it was just the stem seals!!!!  the engine i was enquiring about does come with a 3 month warranty & is meant to have been tested!  i looked into the route of using bigger engines etc but then you have to start changing wiring looms which is just gonna be a hassle as i can't really afford to have the car of the road for too long. Ahhhh what a situation to find myself in!!!! only thing i know for sure is that i need to keep my golf!  it's without a doubt one of the best cars out there! always puts a smile on my face! 

[DarnPB]

Job done then. Fit new engine and keep fingers crossed. But a little advice. Get a little genned up on Golfs and engines in general. It will save you lots of money, and is also very satisfying working something out and getting it sorted. Nothing wrong with cheque book ownership, but a twenty year old Golf is more of a hobby rather than ownership. There is a heap of information out there just for the asking. And it 'aint rocket science. (Engineering that is) Otherwise I would be doing something else for a living!!

[nunny]

  schweet! Yeah the old girls 21!!!! & deserves to be looked after!!!  So aye a new engine me thinks!  I've done most of the work needed on my other car, but its always been simple jobs!  But yeah i need to get more clued up on the VW for sure!