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Can anybody tell me their experience with the dropped valve seats in their Ford 2L SPI engines?
I have a 99 Ford Escort and momentarily heard a loud lifter on start up, but as soon as the oil made it to the top of the engine it quieted down and I didn’t think anything of it. Just yesterday I started it and after it idled awhile I heard it again. Again only momentarily. I put a screwdriver up to the valve cover and heard the lifter tapping louder on #4. I have shut it off and parked it until I can decide what to do. A friend of mine that owns a machine shop offered to take the head off and regrind the valves. He sort of thought I was nuts when I told him I thought it needed new valve seats if I haven’t already caused a lot of damage. Either way, I’ll have to pull the head and see what’s going one. If I replace the valve seats where do I get them and how do I find a good brand that won’t flake away again?
I also have to drive it 40 miles to get it to the machine shop so I can pull the head and have it machined. Gosh, I am so amazed that it’s such a major problem with these engines. It’s a great little car and I am heart crushed. But hopefully I can get it fixed. So please tell me anything and everything you have experienced with bad 2L SPI valve seats. Thanks..
Linda
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Talk to the machine shop.They should know what to get.
hopefully your engine/head does not look like this.Dropping valve seats is a very common problem with that engine and has been for many years. Ford never seemed to be able to correct the problem. When it falls out it breaks and the pieces destroy the piston in that cylinder as well as the pieces find their way into the other cylinders also.
In your case it could be a lifter losing it’s prime while sitting or a valve seat can be slipping out of place and causing a wide valve clearance until it slips back into the head.
A reputable engine machine shop should be able to recondition the cylinder head for you and replace the seats with quality parts. Be sure you tell them your concerns.
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