To begin with, broken valve seats are expensive.

How would you feel if you had to repair them once again….in a calendar week?

Exactly!

This is a partial list of vehicles and engines nosotros take seen with this problem:

  • Ford Escort 1.9 SOHC, Engine VIN Code J, 1986 thru 1996
  • Ford Escort ii.0 SOHC, Engine VIN Code P, 1997 thru 2005
  • Ford Focus 2.0 SOHC, Engine VIN Code P, 1997 thru 2005
  • Jeep Cherokee 3.seven SOHC, Engine VIN Code K, 2002 thru 2010
  • Jeep Freedom 3.7 SOHC, Engine VIN Lawmaking K, 2002 thru 2010
  • Jeep Cherokee 4.7 SOHC, Engine VIN Code J,N,P 2002 thru 2009
  • Dodge Dakota 3.seven SOHC, Engine VIN Lawmaking K, 2002 thru 2010
  • Dodge Durango three.seven SOHC, Engine VIN Code K, 2002 thru 2010
  • Contrivance Pick Upward 5.7 Hemi, Engine VIN Code D, T, Z, 2003 thru 2009
  • Contrivance Ram Van 5.7 Hemi, Engine VIN Lawmaking D, T, Z, 2003 thru 2009
  • Dodge Ram Railroad vehicle 5.7 Hemi, Engine VIN Code D, T, Z, 2003 thru 2009
  • Dodge Charger 5.vii Hemi, Engine VIN Code H, 2005 thru 2009
  • Contrivance Magnum 5.vii Hemi, Engine VIN Lawmaking H, 2005 thru 2009
  • Dodge Charger SRT half dozen.1 Hemi, Engine VIN Code W, 2005 thru 2009
  • Contrivance Magnum SRT six.1 Hemi, Engine VIN Code W, 2005 thru 2009
  • Dodge Viper SRT 6.1 Hemi, Engine VIN Code W, 2005 thru 2009

The post-obit is an excerpt from an industry tech bulletin:

"Repeat engine failure has been reported presently after kickoff engine starting time on engines that had failed due to valve seat breakage. In these instances the original failure had been in the number 1 cylinder at the intake seat [but can occur in whatever] location. Subsequent engine failures in these instances has been traced back to droppings that remained in either the intake or exhaust manifold. The debris establish that re-entered the combustion sleeping room included particles of valve seat, piston/ring material from the original failure."

When a valve job is to be performed, it may be common procedure for the technician to just pull the intake and exhaust manifolds back to provide but enough room to get broken valve seat repairthe cylinder head off of the engine. Doing so does not allow ample ability to clean either manifold. When a valve seat comes out of its counter-bore it shatters into many pieces from impact. Those pieces from the valve seat may enter the intake and/or exhaust manifolds as the result of normal air turbulence. The cylinder head for this engine originally uses PM (powder metal technology) valve seats with an judge depth of .286″ (vii.264 MM). When these seats shatter, many pieces result.

For the reasons stated above, it is imperative that both manifolds be removed from the engine compartment and all debris removed. Failure to clean out the intake and frazzle manifolds could cause a echo engine failure. 1 aftermarket PM valve seat manufacturer has institute using unlike seat materials; processes and designs that take resulted in improved seat insert retention in the cylinder head for this engine. An boosted tempering process has been implemented, which eliminates the embrittleness usually institute in PM [powdered metallic] valve seats. These seats also have boosted seat depth and a reduced leading edge chamfer. Those features provide increased seat to cylinder caput contact area for meliorate estrus transfer. Inadequate heat transfer may accept had a office in the original seat coming out of its counter-diameter in the original failure. In one case new seat inserts take been installed, they should be machined according to the machining angles the [OEM] has supplied. Doing and so will offer optimum engine operation for this engine.'

On the Ford plenums, they're like shooting fish in a barrel to have autonomously, clean and put back together. The Chrysler Hemi'due south are exactly the opposite. They are 2 pieces that are glued, for lack of a improve word, together. Chrysler doesn't offer them separately, only as a consummate unit. At that place are belatedly model headlight assemblies in use that are glued together, you oestrus them to separate them. I take passed that idea along to some customers only haven't had any feedback. We accept an ultrasonic cleaner that does an excellent job. To avert any issues, we clean these suspect manifolds for our customers at no accuse.

The worst role about this type of repeat failure is the vehicle owner is usually left holding the bag. The shop or mechanic says it's non his (or her) mistake, 'All I did was install information technology!' If the mechanic or shop has never seen this before, they'd have no way of knowing. On the other mitt, most of us don't read all the printed cloth we get with products. Most builders I know enclose a "warning" label or instructions pertaining to this. The machine shop or engine builder checks, all the new valve seats they installed are in place so it's non his (or her) error. If the engine was purchased through a broker or third party, it'south non their error either. Who's left?

In my opinion, Chrysler doesn't want to admit (neither does Ford) they fifty-fifty have this upshot. Presumably that is why I was unable to find whatever TSB'due south (Technical Service Bulletin) listed for the suspect engines from Chrysler or Ford. I also chosen our local Chrysler and Ford dealers. My contacts there also confirmed in that location are no bulletins pertaining to this failure.

If this article saves 1 of you from the horror stories I read and see surrounding this problem, it's worth the time I spent researching and writing it.

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