Valve stem seals

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cheshire190e
Posts: 283
Joined: 07 Apr 2008 12:40 pm
Location: Macclesfield/Chester

Valve stem seals

Post by cheshire190e » 20 Nov 2008 10:25 am

Hi everyone, I was just wondering. Im going to look at a car at the weekend but it has hardly been driven recently. well 3000 miles since 89' does this mean its likely the valve stem seals are likely to be perished and burning oil?

Cheers

Matt
1987 Volvo 340 1.7

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mac
Posts: 1403
Joined: 19 Apr 2006 11:02 am
Location: Needham Market U.K.

Post by mac » 20 Nov 2008 11:18 am

Hi Matt,

3000 mls in nigh on 20 years - I should think quite a lot has perished !

Seriously - stem seals may well have perished but they're not the first things I'd worry about.

1. 20 year old tyres - bad news - they will have degraded and flat spotted (kept in the dark with car on blocks might have helped - but DON'T TRUST 20 yr.old tyres).
2.All rubber items in the braking system - seals and hoses. Master cylinder WILL have absorbed water and has probably rusted (brake fluid is hydroscopic (well hygroscopic actually and adsorbs rather than absorbs - but you get the idea)).
3.If car has not been moved regularly then wheel bearings (front and rear) may have "spotted" tracks.
4.Depending on where car has been stored you may have problems with door seals, window seals, and door hinges.
5.Exhaust is probably on the point of rotting out due to water not having been "boiled off"
6.Engine internals MAY have surface corrosion (above oil level).
7.If car is a 360/B172 then cam belt will have deteriorated.
8.General corrosion of electrical connections - rear lamp cluster bulb holders will be favourite.

A lot depends on where and how the car has been stored - and don't be too put off by the above (which are just my first thoughts) - BUT go into things with your eyes open and understand that any car not used for 20 (however well it has been stored) will require a gooooooood deal of recommisioning before it can be driven.

Mac.

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trabitom99
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 4398
Joined: 06 Jan 2007 02:38 pm
Location: Bonn, Germany

Post by trabitom99 » 20 Nov 2008 11:29 am

Mac, I believe this is the car in question:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=7028

EDIT: point 2 in your list was a major problem for me, after my '75 Merc had been standing for only 9 months ...

Cheers

Tom
343 GL Touring B14.1E CVT (155) 98000kms 1980 (sold)
343 L Junior B14.3E MT4 (155) 229000kms 1981 (scrapped)
343 DLS B19A MT4 (155) 167900kms 1982
360 GL Injection B200F MT5 (231) 348598kms 1988 (scrapped)
360 GLT B200F MT5 (302) 230000kms 1988

cheshire190e
Posts: 283
Joined: 07 Apr 2008 12:40 pm
Location: Macclesfield/Chester

Post by cheshire190e » 20 Nov 2008 12:31 pm

Yes, that is the car in question. by the looks of the pictures it looks in real good shape. door seals look pretty good etc.

from the old mot's it has been driven a steady 500 miles a year. its just passed an mot without an advisory.

ill keep my eyes peeled for perished parts :D

cheers guys
1987 Volvo 340 1.7

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