Do you want to know about Bad Valve Symptoms? If yes, this article is for you.
A car’s valves either direct the air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber of the engine or release the burned mixture through the exhaust system. These resemble the valves of a car’s body, allowing blood to go from one part of your heart to another as they open and close. They aid in ensuring that blood flows appropriately and in the right direction. Similarly, a car’s valve assists the engine in operating smoothly by opening and closing at the appropriate times.
Inside the car, numerous valves perform various functions. But, overall, a car has two essential valves: The inlet and the exhaust valves. The entrance valve lets the mixture enter the cylinder while the exhaust valve sends the used gases outside.
The valve is one of the most crucial components of regulation in any system. The valve seals, which support the valve, are designed to regulate oil consumption and valve lubrication in various types of engines. These seals are heavy-duty rubber seals, enclosed in a little collar and simply positioned over the top of the valve. To guarantee the seal’s performance, the seal must be very carefully developed. When we say that a car’s valve is worn-out, it generally happens because of the seals.
So if one is aware of the signs of faulty valve seals, one might quickly identify when the valves begin to wear out. Pay close attention to the details below to learn about your car’s bad valve symptoms.
What are the Common bad valve symptoms?
Properly sealed valves are essential for your car to operate at its best. Any issue with the car valve is necessary, especially if the engine is involved. Any seal or valve problem will necessitate an engine rebuild to get your car back in operating order and will cost you way more than the servicing cost. Therefore, to avoid contributing to a significant car expense, it is crucial to be aware of the bad valve symptoms beforehand or get in touch with an auto mechanic shop at the right time. Here are a few of the symptoms:
1. Popping/Ticking Noise
The first sign of faulty valve seals in your car is popping noises. The engine makes a louder roar as you go faster. It indicates that some of the valve’s train parts are misaligned or have worn out. Another possible cause is the car engine not receiving enough lubricant.
Most vehicles feature hydraulic lifters. These lifters need steady pressure and continuous lubrication. If there is damage, you can hear a popping/ticking noise.
2. Blue Exhaust Smoke
Blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is the most typical sign of a damaged valve seal. This may be brought on by an intake valve seal leak, which allows oil to enter the combustion chamber and burn there. The oil may evaporate because of a leaking exhaust valve seal, forcing oil into the exhaust pipe. The smoke gets thick as the issue gets worse. You’ll observe that the blue smoke is more persistent than previously and is visible at fast speeds.
3. Excessive Oil Consumption
One of the bad valve symptoms is Excessive Oil Consumption. Oil consumption will be extremely high due to faulty valve seals. Bad seals will result in an oil loss which you can witness on the oil dipstick. A noticeable oil reduction caused by the oil being burned alongside the fuel can be found by accurately recording the oil level on the dipstick.
A typical engine holds about 4 litres of engine oil, and if you continue to drive your car while the valve seals are leaking, you can see the oil level dropping. If there are no visible engine oil leaks to account for the loss, faulty valve seals are the reason.
4. Rough Idling
Bad valve seals typically appear when the car is idling at stop lights. The cause of this symptom is that prolonged idling of the vehicles causes significant levels of vacuum to build up at the intake manifold. This causes oil to be drawn into the heads and collected at the valve stems. When there is a poor valve seal, the oil will be drawn to the valve guide and pass through the rapidly disintegrating seal when accelerating. Checking your valve seals is necessary if you have rough idling and blue smoke.
5. Cold Engine
To test if your valve seals are leaking, perform a cold engine test. If you leave a car sitting for a long time or overnight, the top of the valve cover will retain some leftover oil.
The rubber valve seal has cooled during the period of non-operation, which causes it to compress and leave a small gap. If the car has been sitting idle overnight, the head top inside the valve cover will be covered with the remaining oil that was pushed up before engine operation. When the engine starts up, the remaining oil enters the combustion chamber through the defective seal. The exhaust will emit a noticeable blue-white smoke shortly after starting.
The next time you drive, the oil gets caught at the faulty seal and produces blue smoke. This test is the best method for identifying defective valve seals.
6. External oil leaks
If the intake valve seals on your turbocharged car are obsolete and have worn off, the turbo pressure might pass through them, increasing the crankcase house pressure. Increased crankcase pressure can cause various engine seals to burst out of the engine and create exterior oil leaks.
7. Loss of Power
Automobile designers ensure that the seats are tight and that there is as little room for movement as possible. If the valve guides and seals are leaking, the oil may build up on the valve’s top, resulting in the valve losing its seat or developing a gap. Further complications with compression could result in poor combustion leading to a power loss.
A burned valve is devoid of material and has significant holes, which allow gases to escape and reduce the compression rate. Leaking guides and seals are the most typical causes of burnt valves.
A burnt valve is more likely to occur when this problem is coupled with a cooling system or EGT (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) problem. Overall, this will lead to the power loss of your car.
What happens when the valve fails?
Most modern engines have fewer components, and you hear less about valve issues. Older cars frequently require valve adjustments, hence the phrase “having a valve job,” which you may have heard. Although some of these issues may still exist in older vehicles, the valve trains in modern vehicles are essentially trouble-free. Many individuals don’t immediately recognize the signs of valve failure because these issues are so uncommon in current automobiles. But how does it affect your car’s performance and operation if such matters happen?
- If you have trouble with your valves, you can hear a ticking or popping noise. Often, before you discover any issues, you will listen to this ticking. As the engine is accelerated, this noise increases. It generally denotes that your machine is not receiving adequate lubrication or that some valve train components are either worn out or out of alignment.
- Blue smoke from the exhaust is a well-known indicator of systemic engine failure. Despite not being a direct result of valve issues, blue smoke is one of the most typical symptoms, especially when accompanied by ticking and popping sounds.
- You may also have valve issues if you frequently notice engine performance and power decline.
All the above issues are easy to avoid or postpone with regular engine care. Regularly change your engine’s oil and solve any other problems right away. It would help if you had an expert inspect the engine because these symptoms may signify something more severe and may cost you too much.
How do you know if your valves are bent in your head?
The engine valves of your car manage the fuel delivery and gas removal in your engine. An issue with engine timing or a faulty timing belt typically results in bent valves. But how do you know if your valves are bent? You may hear loud noises from the exhaust if your valves are bent. Let’s look at some signs that may detect a bent valve in your head.
1. Increased Fuel Economy
The engine runs rich, increasing the overall fuel economy. The bent valve can impact the combustion process, making it significantly less efficient. The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may read this drop in efficiency as a lack of fuel, which may adjust the fuel-to-air ratio in response.
2. Low Engine Power
A decrease in pressure in the impacted engine cylinder is the primary factor that causes bent valves to reduce engine power. A bent valve that no longer fully closes or does not sit properly in the valve seat may be the root of the problem.
3. Idling engines will shake and cut out
The engine’s performance will be impacted when the engine is idling or operating at low speeds if a broken timing belt has damaged one or more valves. The engine may shake, cut out, and generally perform poorly after damage to the engine valves due to cylinder leaks and reduced fuel combustion efficiency. You might be able to keep driving the car until it stops running, depending on the extent of the valve damage.
Can you hear a bad valve?
The most typical sounds you will hear when your valves are acting up are ticking or popping noises.
Often, before you discover any issues, you will hear this ticking. As the engine is accelerated, this noise increases. It typically denotes that your engine is not receiving adequate general lubrication or that some of the valve train components are either worn out or out of alignment. The hydraulic lifters in most cars require continual lubrication and pressure that is maintained at a specific level. A slight difference in pressure causes the valve train to move excessively. This causes the engine to make a popping or ticking noise.
Conclusion
The car’s valve controls how much air and fuel can enter the cylinders for combustion. The top of the valve stem is covered by seals that fit inside a tiny collar and are typically made of high-strength rubber. These seals stop the engine from sucking up oil from the valve cover. A valve seal can last for around 150,000 miles under normal conditions. But infrequent oil and filter changes and incorrect installation can cause valve seals to degrade and eventually lead to bad valves.
Other bad valve symptoms include external oil leaks, poor fuel economy, and rough idling. Depending on the car model and labour expenses, the typical cost to repair a valve seal ranges from $250 to $2100! If your car is experiencing rough idling and blue smoke, you should take it to a service centre as soon as possible.
