318 valve seals, HELP!

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by OldChrysler, Sep 7, 2008.

  1. OldChrysler

    OldChrysler Guest

    I've been running Pennzoil synthetic 10W-30 in my 318 "P"-code in my
    M-body for years now, and a peculiar problem has cropped up causing
    excessive oil consumptionl. At around 90K, I replaced both intake and
    exhaust valve seals with Fel-Pro kit SS70014, which is their "premium"
    polyacrylate valve seal kit for just about every LA engine out there,
    and all was well...maybe a half quart consumption in 3K miles and it
    ran as new.

    Suddenly, it started gulping oil at around a quart in 1K, the plugs
    were becoming oil fouled and everything started going to crap. After
    some investigation, I popped the valve covers and lo and behold, BOTH
    intake and exhaust seals were swollen to the point of not even working
    at all, and the exhaust umbrellas had loosened up and wound up right
    underneath the retainers! I replaced them all again, and went back to
    near-zero oil consumption, but it happened again! Bendix is useless
    for consumer complaints, but I think it's the synthetic oil swelling
    up these polyacrylate seals.

    Anyway, I rummaged through my rollaround and found an old set of
    Chrysler umbrellas for the exhausts that appeared to be Viton, and
    stuck those on the exhaust while putting new polyacrylate on the
    intakes...the problem with the exhaust seals went away, but the
    intakes are swelling up again!

    Anyone have a clue as to WTF's going on here? Surely, if these
    Fel-Pro seals are having trouble with synthetic oil, SOMEONE must know
    there's a big problem! I know one thing...I'm going to have to go to
    reuseable rocker cover gaskets soon!
     
    OldChrysler, Sep 7, 2008
    #1
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