Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: vauxsull on 14 April 2013, 14:17:07

Title: astra valve seals
Post by: vauxsull on 14 April 2013, 14:17:07
Is it possible to change the valve seals in an astra ( v reg) in a 1.6 16v petrol without taking cylinder head off??
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: symes on 14 April 2013, 14:37:37
think there was a tool years ago that enabled an airline to pressurize cylinder through spark plug hole so you could-but to be honest i would remove head :y
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: Andy H on 14 April 2013, 14:39:09
I imagine so.

I have done it on a Landrover by using compressed air, introduced through an adapter screwed into the spark plug hole. The compressed air stops the valves from falling into the cylinders when you take the valve springs off. I think I set the regulator on my compressor to about 25psi. Leakage is quite high so I wouldn't want to try it without a compressor.

The hardest part was compressing the spring and holding it down while I took the collets out. I imagine that the dainty little springs on a 16v engine will require less strength but be a whole lot more fiddly to extract. There is probably a special tool for the job that costs more than the car did ::)

PS must type faster!
I made the adapter by breaking the porcelain insulator out of a spark plug and welding in a PCL hose connecter. Worked like a charm :y
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: Andy B on 14 April 2013, 15:00:41
Stopping the valve from falling into the bore is usually the least of you problems. Feeding a length of string/cord into the spark plug hole & then gently wing the piston up will do it far easier than faffing about with compressed air.
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: vauxsull on 14 April 2013, 16:06:52
Thanks for the info guys.. Its not my car its my stepsons so its his problem really..
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: serek on 14 April 2013, 20:37:44
Is it possible to change the valve seals in an astra ( v reg) in a 1.6 16v petrol without taking cylinder head off??
possible as other say just need laser tool and air compressor
if you need I have tool here  :y
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: andyc on 15 April 2013, 13:34:34
Cams need to come out as well plus the belt
Title: Re: astra valve seals
Post by: symes on 15 April 2013, 18:07:12
better off removing head then you can do valves as well IMHO  :y