How Many Kilometers Should Valve Seals Be Replaced?
2 Answers
Valve seals should be replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers. The valve seal is one of the important components of the engine valve group. Valve seals are generally made of rubber material. Over time, valve seals will age. External influences can also affect the service life of valve seals. After the valve seal is damaged, the car will experience oil burning, and blue smoke will appear during every cold start. Damaged valve seals can also affect the normal operation of the engine. The engine may begin to exhibit symptoms such as sluggish acceleration and vibration. In such cases, the valve seals need to be replaced promptly.
Valve stem seal replacement isn't determined by fixed mileage, but primarily depends on vehicle condition and symptoms. Having driven many older cars, I've found issues typically emerge after 150,000 km, such as severe engine oil burning, blue smoke from exhaust, or sudden fuel consumption increase. These abnormalities indicate the seals may have hardened or worn out, failing to properly contain engine oil. If not addressed promptly, oil leaking into combustion chambers can damage spark plugs and catalytic converters, potentially causing major engine failures. Therefore, I recommend owners have technicians inspect seal conditions during every maintenance, especially for vehicles over 10 years old or after long-distance trips. Spending extra effort on prevention saves money and hassle. Don't wait for problems to panic - cultivate regular monitoring habits.
