Valve Stem Seal Color

[evomaki]

Anybody know which color valve stem seal goes on exhaust side vs. intake? I ordered a full engine gasket set and as could be expected none of the individual gaskets has a part number. I could have sworn this topic has been covered before but I cannot locate. My new ones are either greenish or blackish. Factory manual says intake should have some white marking and exhaust black. White, Hmmm? The exhaust side I removed from the vehicle appeared greenish. So something is not quite adding up. Appreciate the help if anyone knows. Thanks,

 

[nckwltn]

pretty sure I read something about the intake and exhaust seals becoming the same part at some point..... I don't recall any specific difference between intake and exhaust seals that I used on my '99.... no differences in the part of the head the push onto either.

 

[mudraider]

^^^^^^ That's correct. The info you ar e going off of evomackie is the original ones that go bad. Been updated since.

sent from my pretty good Android phone

 

[emmagator]

Anyway, i bought a Fel-Pro valve stem seal kit from Rock Auto and they came in different colors, and did not notice that they were different colors until i had them installed. I know this is probably hard to believe, but i was under the impression that the valve stem seals were the same and didnt check before hand. Are the exhaust and intake valve stems different diameters on a 2002 3.5 limited?

 

[coffeegoat]

It's in my build thread, check in my signature, I'm on my phone and can't easily look it up. The oem ones are still different colors.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Rubber can be formulated in a variety of colors. The simplest and lowest cost color to manufacture is black. Black colored rubber usually has better physical properties than the same material in other colors.

Contrary to what the guy at the parts counter may tell you, there is no industry standard color code for the various types of rubber on the market.

 

[emmagator]

Rubber can be formulated in a variety of colors. The simplest and lowest cost color to manufacture is black. Black colored rubber usually has better physical properties than the same material in other colors.

Contrary to what the guy at the parts counter may tell you, there is no industry standard color code for the various types of rubber on the market.

Agreed, but are the exhaust and intake valve stems different diameters? If they are, then there is a reason for the color coding.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Agreed, but are the exhaust and intake valve stems different diameters? If they are, then there is a reason for the color coding.

If the valve stems (and seals) are different diameters, the vehicle manufacturer could require its seal supplier to make them in different colors to avoid assembly line screw ups.

Even if that were the case, once you go to aftermarket parts, all bets are off.

I cannot speak to the specific stem diameters.

 

[evomaki]

At the moment I am on a valve stem seal replacement on my second Montero. Exhaust side is the greenish color and intake is black. I would not hesitate using the green on the intake as well. Green all around. Valve stems are the same diameter intake and exhaust, at least on the two gen 2.5's I know about. I had an aftermarket engine gasket kit laying around and was going to use the valve stem seals from that kit. The first seal that I installed split. The rubber gasket failed. Yikes, but glad it was the first one. Ordered the factory parts. That is a job you do not want to do twice on the same car. My preferred tool for tapping the seals on is an 11mm deep twelve point socket. There is a fine line for tapping these things on. When they stop traveling, stop tapping. Get a little heavy handed on the install and you can damage the seal.