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I few other related items...
Should have added to my prior post.
1) Some suggested the greenies could be valve seals. They are not. My valve seals are black and are not damaged (leaking maybe, but not coming apart).
2) Some have suggested driving the far with damaged actuators could damage the engine. It will not damage the engine. It wont perform as well, but it will not harm anything. Valves and piston cannot intersect due to a broken actuator.
3) This COULD contribute to the death rattle at startup, but rather unlikely. My actuator chain guides shown normal wear and clearly need to be replaced. These can be replaced independent of the actuator assemble, but you have to remove the actuator to install them. Yes this means removing the cams and most likely removing the engine. I've seen posts of people doing this with the engine in the car, but once you are doing this much work it may be easier just to pull the engine for good access and a better overall reassembly. There is a spring in the actuator but the hydraulic fluid should also increase the forces and in turn increase the chain tension. Thus with damaged "greenie" seals the tension forces could be less creating some increased chain rattle at startup.
4) I believe my occasional blue smoke is either a weakening air-oil-seperator or aging valve seals. Im replacing both...
In the end im doing a full rebuild so I expect that it will fix all my small issues with a 16 year old car, and I wont be able to root cause some of my issues (smoke, chain rattle, valve timing). Updates will include:
- New seals throughout, including valve seals.
- New Variocam actuators L & R.
- Valve Job (independent machine shop)
- New L&N dual row IMS bearing. (old original bearing looked great BTW, but I have not torn it apeart)
- New Piston rings
- New chain guides
- New chains (all 5)
- New chain tensioners (all 3)
- New clutch and pressure plate
- New bearings on both block and con rods
- New engine mounts
- New AOS
Its a roughly $6k project for a DIY'er. It should last another 15-20 years. With so much sweat equity tied up, I wont be able to ever sell the damn thing!
On the plus side... my wife enjoys driving it. I can track it occasionally. Both kids have learned to drive stick on it. And on the summer day with the top down its a pure simple pleasure. Its a classic that is never going out of style. Not may other cars check all those boxes. Overall, cheap thrills!
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