Valve stem seals

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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seabeelt
Patron 2019
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Posts: 1614
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Valve stem seals

Post by seabeelt »

Anyone ever change these. PO on the 71 bought some because the car was burning oil. My experience is that this really doesnt cause a lot of oil burning, but rather the rings seem to be the more likley culprit. Thoughts out there :?: :?:
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
baltobernie
Patron 2020
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Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Valve stem seals

Post by baltobernie »

If the engine smokes only at startup, the valve seals are probably bad. If the engine smokes under high vacuum (downhill, in gear, throttle closed), then the piston rings are probably bad.
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seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1614
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: Valve stem seals

Post by seabeelt »

It's not just at start up, I'm thinking rings, so a rebuild may be in its future. In the mean time I may drop the 1800 into it so that I can have a little driving fun while the other one gets done up
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
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