[wren57]

Need help confirming the valves are closed.

07 335i, 112k miles. Been about 30k miles since last walnut blasting (by shop), most of the miles since then have been untuned and IC only. Recently went FBO. Have had a BMS OCC for ~10k miles but it's empty. I figure all the blowby was just going out the leaky VCG.

Finally got my VCG seated and VC on thanks to some permatex between the gasket and the cover itself to keep it from slipping. Lost one VC bolt in the process. Blows my mind where it could be but whatever, it's gone. I want to blast the valves before I put the new plugs and coils in. Have all the equipment but am stuck trying to determine which valves are open/closed. Really don't want to walnut-lock my engine.

Pics of each cylinder's valves below.



To me it looks like 1, 3, and 4 are closed and safe to work on. Am I an idiot?

Have some sea foam, but for whatever reason it didn't come with a spray top, just a regular pour top, so I poured about 1/3 capfull in cylinder 1. Can't tell if it's pooling, didn't want to go further without consulting the e90 oracles.

[3.1L Z]

Why not get a long pick and try to insert where the valve seats?

[TrollToll]

Or spray a little carb cleaner in each one. If it puddles, you're good. If it drains into the cylinder you may get a puff of white smoke on startup and then you're good. You could also pull the plugs and put a dowel in the holes to find tdc which may help you determine when they're open or closed.

[ssdara]

Originally Posted by 3.1L Z

Why not get a long pick and try to insert where the valve seats?

This is what I did, also I used a remote starter switch and worked 1 cylinder at a time making sure it was raised and obvious that it was closed. I agree with you on 3 and 4 closed, 1 may be a little open like 5. Use a flashlight and a pick, hard to tell with the screenshot glare.

What are you using to turn the valves?

[NA55]

Originally Posted by ssdara

This is what I did, also I used a remote starter switch and worked 1 cylinder at a time making sure it was raised and obvious that it was closed. I agree with you on 3 and 4 closed, 1 may be a little open like 5. Use a flashlight and a pick, hard to tell with the screenshot glare.

What are you using to turn the valves?

I tried bumping the starter like you mentioned, but couldn't tell if the valves closed fully.. I ended up just removing radiator fan and closing valves with 22mm socket on crank pulley.. It's easier to see the valves open and close...

[asquared]

I've done plenty of walnut blastings and I can attest that a remote starter switch is by far the easiest and safest way to get the valves to seat. Based on the picture you posted, 2 and 6 are still open. You will be able to work on the others, then bump the starter to close the other two. It literally only needs one or two taps of the remote starter switch

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by asquared

I've done plenty of walnut blastings and I can attest that a remote starter switch is by far the easiest and safest way to get the valves to seat. Based on the picture you posted, 2 and 6 are still open. You will be able to work on the others, then bump the starter to close the other two. It literally only needs one or two taps of the remote starter switch

+1

2 and 6 are definitely open.

Mike

[=C=]

When a shop does a walnut blast, how do they ensure that the cylinder valves are actually closed before cleaning?

[j1gilles]

Originally Posted by =C=

When a shop does a walnut blast, how do they ensure that the cylinder valves are actually closed before cleaning?

By bumping the starter as mentioned before... Watch the valves open and then they close. It will be pretty obvious :

[wren57]

Cleaned 3 and 4 this afternoon. Got pretty clean but the stems and top of the valves still had some carbon crusted on so I'm soaking them in sea foam. Will scrub with a gun brush then paper towel out the liquid. Need to make some contraption to get the shells out of the very bottom on the edges of the valves. Don't want them falling into the cylinders when I start it up.

[asquared]

For those still unclear about the remote starter switch. I found an old video I made to help another forum member. If anybody has any questions about walnut blastings, feel free to reach out to me. I'm gonna be doing my car as soon as it's delivered (bought it out of state) and I plan on doing a time lapse to show everybody the process. I'll post the video as soon as I do.

[wren57]

Thanks for that video asquared. Got it all set up and working well. Valves for cylinders 3 and 4 are now clean. Came up with a good method of doing it:

1. Blast shells while vacuum attached
2. Use compressed air to stir up the remaining shells and suck them out
3. Soak in seafoam
4. Dry with rags
5. Use barrel brushes and screwdriver to get the hard gunk
6. Blast shells while vacuum attached
7. Use compressed air to stir up the remaining shells and suck them out

Worked very nicely. Then used your video to turn it over. Was funny, I have shop towels in the spark plug sockets (they're pulled) and the turnover made them shoot out like fireworks. Now I have cylinders 2, 5 and 6 soaking with seafoam. Should have it all back together tomorrow just in time for the thunderstorms to get here...

[wren57]

A huge thanks again to all who helped in this thread and my other. Just wrapped up a major service. Completed the following:

New VCG
New plugs
One new coil
Cleaned AFE air filters
Tapped intake manifold for 1/4" barbed line
All new vacuum lines
RB PCV Valve
Walnut blasted intake valves

Doesn't seem like much typed out but it felt like a ton of work. Gonna run a bottle of injector cleaner in a tank of gas then change the oil. Also leaving the engine cover off for a few heat cycles then re-torquing the VC bolts. Car runs so well now it's a world of difference from before.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by wren57

Cleaned 3 and 4 this afternoon. Got pretty clean but the stems and top of the valves still had some carbon crusted on so I'm soaking them in sea foam. Will scrub with a gun brush then paper towel out the liquid. Need to make some contraption to get the shells out of the very bottom on the edges of the valves. Don't want them falling into the cylinders when I start it up.

Would a shop vac help with the shells??

[asquared]

If you have the blasting wand and intake adapter for the walnut blasting, it makes the job super simple, easy, and clean. You would basically run the shop vac while blasting

[wren57]

Originally Posted by jwebb335xi

Would a shop vac help with the shells??

Yeah I used one, but to get in the crevices is difficult, even with micro attachments. How I solved this was hooking up the shop vac to the special fitting that goes over the port and has a hole in it for the shells want. But instead of the shells want I used a compressed air "pistol" with a 45 degree tip on it. Stirred them up in the ports with the compressed air and the vacuum took care of the rest.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by wren57

Yeah I used one, but to get in the crevices is difficult, even with micro attachments. How I solved this was hooking up the shop vac to the special fitting that goes over the port and has a hole in it for the shells want. But instead of the shells want I used a compressed air "pistol" with a 45 degree tip on it. Stirred them up in the ports with the compressed air and the vacuum took care of the rest.

Nice work! I chickened out a just paid to have the job done at a shop. Perhaps I'll tackle it next time!