Valve stem seals
 

So after working everything out with the O2 sensors the truck started to run funny again. Not the same as last time. IT sounded funny kinda of hollow. Anyways I started going through everything and figured I would check the gap on the spark plucks. While pulling them one spark plug was oily so I peered down into the cylinder and noticed it had a ton of gunk in it. My buddy said that it usually indicates a bad valve stem seal.

I know the general idea of doing a vavle stem but, I've never actually done one. How hard is it and do all of think that the valve stem being bad sould actully cause the cylnder to feel up with gunk. I deffinetly have an oil consumption problem. It uses about 2 to 3 quarts every 2000 miles. Also is there an easy way to clean out the cylinder really good. I don't really want to pull the heads beacause I've been told that if you take them off and they have a crack you'll never get them back on.

You sure everything is good with the Hughes plenum?

I'm going to be doing some work on the intake and I plan on replacing it then but, I'm fairly sure that it's fine. The cylinder that has all of the build up is the only one with the build up inside all of the rest look clean when I look down in there.

Well if you do the valve stem seal, there is a couple way to do it. With air (you make an adapter for the sparkplug hole) or a rope. You stick the rope in the cylinder and rotate the motor by hand to bring the piston up to where it just touches and holds the valve up. Do a search here, I've seen a couple threads talkng about recently.

use the rope, much more reliable and foolproof.

ting = the sound made by a valve falling down into the cylinder, generally followed by a lot of cussing.

Not to jack the thread, but, DV I always see one of the mods you have done to your truck in your sig ,and was wondering how you did the cracked dash mod?

yea i did the valve stem seals on sunday and it was really easy, i just rented the tool to compress the spring from autozone, and i used the rope

To do that mod first you buy a dodge. Then you let it sit in the sun.. Wait a while till you hear the ding. Then you have the cracked dash mod. IT's really cool and adds 12 pig power to your truck.

This is exactly why I posted. I was a little nervous about using air. The rope idea is a great idea. I really don't want to take the heads off.

Does anyone have an idea on how to clean the cylinder?

LOL ! Good tips, but I just can't seem to get it to happen on my 98. ;)