Checking the valve guides (VW Transporter T4)

When carrying out repair work on an engine with leaky valves, it is not enough to treat or replace the valves. It is imperative to check the wear of the valve guide rods. This is especially important on engines with high mileage. If the wear is significant, it is necessary to replace either the valve guide rods (factory work) or the cylinder head.

1. Remove combustion products with cleaning foam.

2. Install the new valve. The bottom of the valve stem should be flush with the guide.

Caution! Due to differences in stem sizes and disc diameters, only insert the inlet valve into the inlet valve guide and the outlet valve into the outlet valve guide.

3. Measure the gap. VW factories use a special tool VW387 for this. Inlet valve wear limit: 1.0 mm; exhaust valve: 1.3 mm.

4. If the gap is too large, the guides must be replaced at the factory.