Valve Stem Seal Question

[Gold Member]

Hey all
I have not long finished replacing my cam shaft and lifters due to excessive top end noise. The engine now sounds great. However, while I was bolting on the rockers I noticed that three of the valve stem seals had popped off and were just floating around on the valve stem.
As far as I know, my engine does not smoke or burn oil, so it's not causing any problems right now.
Anyway, I decided that I couldn't afford to fix the valve seal problem. Instead I just pushed the seals back in place for now.
For the first one hundred miles the engine sounded great, but then a strange knocking/rattling noise appeared at idle from the top end. I have heard this noise prior to the rebuild but guessed it was apart of the whole lifter gone bad problem.
My question is, could a valve stem seal or two popped off again and be causing this noise?

Thnx.

1999 TJ, 2.5 4 banger with 78k on the clock.

 

[SteelHeadz]

I doubt that the Valve stem seals are causing the Knocking/Rattle noise your hearing. have you since checked the torque on the rockers?, and what's the oil pressure like?

 

[Gold Member]

I did torque the rockers to spec but I haven't checked them since. The oil pressure looks pretty normal. Could it be piston slap? Although I have no idea what that sounds like.

 

[Itchee96]

You would know if the piston was hitting the head.

 

[SteelHeadz]

My best description of a piston slap would be a Deep or low frequency knock as opposed to a lifter noise , i would call that a ticking noise. Valves would also cause a knocking noise depending on the severity of it's worn condition. . Fuel can also create a Spark Knock . Try to isolate the noise so we can narrow down the possibilties.

 

[Gold Member]

My best description of a piston slap would be a Deep or low frequency knock as opposed to a lifter noise , i would call that a ticking noise. Valves would also cause a knocking noise depending on the severity of it's worn condition. . Fuel can also create a Spark Knock . Try to isolate the noise so we can narrow down the possibilties.

Thanks Mikey. I'll have another listen when the weather is better (snowing right now).

 

[Itchee96]

Then you should be out wheelin' it!

 

[Gold Member]

Then you should be out wheelin' it!

You totally read my mind...here is a shot from 30mins ago...

 

[SteelHeadz]

:lol:Man i wish i could do that.

 

[Vanmantraveler]

OH MAN, something is wrong with the ground and trees.... what is that white stuff all over the place? I had on shorts all day at work. Great weather to work on the subs in the wife's Mini van.

I do miss the snow from time to time.

 

[jeffrey919]

im confused ! what is expensive about valve stem seals? do they need machining or something on that motor? I just replaced mine on a gm 350 for like $19.59. 4 hrs of work. i just looked up valve stem seals for tj. there $12.00??????