What does it mean if your valves are floating?

Valve float occurs when the valvesprings are incapable of holding the valvetrain against the camshaft lobe after peak lift. This happens when either the weight of the combined valvetrain components or the rpm speed of the engine creates so much inertia that the spring is no longer able to control the valve.

How do you stop a valve from floating?

Valve float can also be prevented by using lighter valvetrain components. Titanium valves, retainers, and pushrods are commonly used for this purpose. Undercut valves can both increase flow and decrease weight. Also, by using more than the traditional two valves per cylinder, smaller and lighter valves can be used.

Can valve float damage engine?

Valve float means the valve doesn’t fully close at the proper time, because the return mechanism (usually a coil spring) isn’t strong enough to close it. This usually happens at high RPM. It can damage an interference engine if the valves make contact with the top of the piston.

How do you fix a floating valve?

To fix a loft problem, increase your valve spring open pressure. When a valve bounces off the seat, the engine loses compression. To fix a bounce problem, increase your valve spring seat pressure. Lighter valvetrain parts can also help with valve float issues.

How do you know if you have valve float?

How is it identified?

1. Mild valve float can be felt as power falling off quickly at high rpm.
2. Severe valve float will be heard as a sputtering sound at peak rpm.

How do you diagnose a weak valve spring?

How To Check for Weak Valve Springs. You can’t tell if a valve spring is weak just by looking at it. You can line up all the valve springs once they have been removed from the engine to see if they are all the same height. Any spring that is shorter than the others has lost tension and should be replaced.

What happens when valve spring tension is too high?

If the spring pressures are too high, the added friction will result in: More heat, Faster valvetrain wear, Potential failure of other valvetrain parts (i.e. rocker arms, pushrods, etc.), and.

How can you tell if you have valve float?

How does a floating ball valve work?

Floating ball valves are shut-off valves that provide a tight seal in critical operations. The water can now freely flow through the valve to the other end of the pipeline. The onstream pressure moves the ball slightly so it is in contact with the downstream seat, making a seal.

What are the symptoms of a bad valve?

Symptoms of Bad Valve Seals

• Performing the Cold Engine Test. One sure-fire way to tell if you have a faulty valve seal is to perform a cold engine test.
• Idling.
• High Levels of Oil Consumption.
• High Levels of Smoke.
• Engine Braking Test.
• Acceleration Power is Compromised.

How do I know if my valves are floating?

Why does the valve float at high RPM?

Valve float means the valve doesn’t fully close at the proper time, because the return mechanism (usually a coil spring) isn’t strong enough to close it. This usually happens at high RPM.

What to do when a valve floats off the seat?

To fix a loft problem, increase your seat pressure. When a valve bounces off the seat, the engine looses compression. To fix a bounce problem, increase your open pressure. In most cases, New Valve Springs are the answer. Lighter valvetrain parts can also help with valve float issues.

What is the difference between Valve loft and valve float?

Valve loft is when the dynamic lift at high speed is higher than the measured static lift. Many times, the parts are actually still in contact. Valve bounce is when the valve opens again after closing and certainly means that the engine will not make power – and will break things.”

What does valve float mean on a Spintron?

“People often think that valve float means that the parts are coming out of contact, but that’s not necessarily true,” he begins. “It’s actually a combination of valve bounce and valve loft. Valve loft is when the dynamic lift at high speed is higher than the measured static lift. Many times, the parts are actually still in contact.