[urq] RE : Replacing WR Valve stem seals

[Louis-Alain Richard]

Hi Maurits,

Replacing the valve seals in situ is doable by any garage, but it is a bit
involving. These engines are identical, cylinder by cylinder, to a more
common VW engine of the same era. The only difference with the more recent 4
or 5-cyl engines is the fact that these engines are still using adjustable
shims-under-buckets tappets instead of hydraulic lifters. You may want to
ask the shop if they are able to adjust the valve gap too, (they need a few
shims of different thicknesses to do the job), because that's the best
moment to do it. They have to measure the gaps BEFORE removing the camshaft.

Roughly, your garage must remove the camshaft, find a way to keep the valves
shut (compressed air via an adapter in the spark plug hole, insertion of a
few cm of rope in the same hole, then turn the engine to TDC, etc). After
that, there is a special VAG tool to compress the valve springs and remove
the keepers, and then you'll have access to the valve stem seal. Now, I
don't remember if the seals are accessible without any other special tools,
I must look into my Bentley for that. Maybe someone knows ?

Let us know if this job cured the smoking engine. I hope so. 

Good luck !

Louis-Alain


> -----Message d'origine-----
> 
> I was wondering how difficult it is to replace all valve stem seals for
> the WR/GV, i.e. can it be done by any garage, or should I take it to the
> 'audi quattro' specialist?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Regards,
> Maurits
> 
> 1986 quattro GV (still smokin')