Valve Guides on a 355 - problems once fixed????

The problem was not fixed until somewhere in mid 98. I know of four 1998 cars (this one included) that have had valve guides replaced (I would assume these are all "early 98" cars). Just from my own observation at dealerships and monitoring posts, it seems like 95 was the worst year (perhaps 50% failure)...but from 96 to mid 98, it seems like only 20 to 25% of cars experience failure. Not all cars fail....there are many cases of folks having absolutely no problems and running tens of thousands of miles. I'm crossing my fingers that I will be one of those. When I bought my car last fall, the compression/leakdown numbers were excellent.

I wouldn't have any concerns once the car is fixed...but wait for Brian Crall (Rifledriver) to respond, he's your man on this.

 

The car will burn oil, at little at first (most noticable on start up) but it will get progressivly worse over time
You will foul plugs
You could if it get bad enough, burn out valves and in some cases the valve will loose peices.
You could wash a cylinder liner to the point where the rings won't seal anymore, requireing the cylinder liner to be replaced along with piston rings.
You could even burn out a piston.

I highly doubt you would ever let it get this far, as you would be adding 2 liters of oil for every 10miles driven. If you keep on top of the oil consumption and have a look at the plugs every 2000 miles or so you will be able to monitor the conditon of the guides. With the data you have collected you will be able to determine if indeed a guide replacement is needed "right now" or if it can wait.

 

Excessive oil burn can also hurt the cats prematurely.

 

No..If the guides were replaced, and you engine is running fine..then no worries. But if it was left too long and was allowed to get to such a point..the above is what "could" happen. have the car checked over completely. Compression and leak down of course..and plug readings. If everything checks out, then drive and be happy!

 

ade in uk forum has been through all this pm him

 

Hi tbakowsky,
What are plug readings ? I recently had compression and leakdown tests done. I want to make sure I did not miss anything.
thanks,
--tony

 

My 1998 355 had the valve guides done last year (at almost 28k miles); though it was an early 98 car: July 97 production. It's insane how many cars have had them replaced and Ferrari hasn't stepped up to recall or even at least do the work at a heavily discount rate.
--
http://www.ryansnodgrass.com/
'98 355B | '04 GT3 | '04 Z04 | '89 E30 M3

 

You are right on target with these facts. I was hearing about some smoking from one side of my exhaust. Then noticed higher oil consumption. Took it to a driving instruction day at Motorsport Ranch and at the end of a session heard the exhaust change pitch. Knew something was wrong but had committments that night, so I took it easy getting home and to the shop the next workday. Ended up being an exhaust valve with a chunk knocked out of it. Also scored the cylinder liner and had to replace that liner. This was also on the same side I had 3 months earlier had the exhaust header break, which may have added to the problem with this valve. Went ahead and fixed all the guides and she's good as new.

 

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A silly question perhaps, but is this a problem where the fix involves replacement with updated parts that will not have the same problem in the future, or is it something that will just have be replaced periodically on some cars?

 

It should be a one time fix, if they use the updated steel guides. The earlier cars used bronze guides.