Valve Stem Seals

coxmattycox · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:15

Hi all,

Just wondering what a reasonable price is for a garage to charge to replace the valve stem seals on my Fiesta? I'm gathering this is not something someone with no experiance in cars can do!

Thanks

moss · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:19

Would depend a lot on the engine, 8v or 16v etc. Either way it wont be a cheap job though and prices will probably vary a hell of a lot.

mattyprice4004 · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:30

Head off job, so cambelt off, aux belt off, new headgasket... overall damn expensive!

What symptoms do you have?

Dogbreath · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:32

rover416i said:
Head off job, so cambelt off, aux belt off, new headgasket... overall damn expensive!

Not necessarily, they can be changed without removing the head.

coxmattycox · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:39

The car burns oil, the symptoms have all been gone through before on here and is basically valve stems and/or piston rings.

I've heard about it without removing the head, but would garages realistically do this or is that more of a shortcut that people at home do?

I'm going to be keeping the car for a few more years so wonder if its best coughing up for this.

Muncher · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:42

Certainly on my engine there is no need to remove the head, it would probably only be a 2 hour job tops as well.

Thomas. PLease. · 25 Nov 2009 at 00:58

Yeh I know it can be done on my merc without removing the head.

Clarkey · 25 Nov 2009 at 01:32

If it's the rattly old engine (forgive me, I dont know anything about Fords) it deffo doesn't need the head off, I've seen it done. My mechanic actually has a special tool for it that he made himself when he started out, basically a lever with a cutout on either side.

Scania · 25 Nov 2009 at 03:22

If its a CVH engine, then indeed you don't have to remove the head.

You may well want to remove the engine & put something nice in its place though!

OP Have a look here & see if it looks familiar with what is under your bonnet. http://www.escortfocus.com/html/cvh.html