[V8] Sodium-filled Exhaust Valves

[Tony and Lillie]

I work at a VW shop where we have done quite a number of 1.8T's with broken 
belts. We don't use sodium filled vasves for the replacements. The ones we 
get are about $8 each, as opposed to the dealer's ones of $61, our cost. 
BTW, every 1.8T I've seen go has bent nearly every valve. Check them very 
closely. The easiest way is to fill the combustion chambers with fluid, with 
the head upside-down. If there is even the slightest leak in each of them, 
you have a sealing problem. Also, check the lifters very closely for dents. 
Usually the hit valves have damaged lifters. If these are re-used, they may 
damage the camshaft in short order.

I don't know the source of our valves, as I don't order them. But, I can 
find out, if you are interested.

On a side note, say it with me, TB, tensioner, and water pump every 60K. 
Tell everyone you know with a 1.8T!!! I just finished doing the head rebuild 
on a 2002 Jetta, factory 105K interval. The car had 82K, the tensioner went 
bad. Think VW covered it........think again. $2500 later, the car is back on 
the road. If it was mine, I'd do it every 60K. It's a lot cheaper (and 
easier) than this.

I'm copying the list for the reason of hoping this saves one 1.8T, maybe 
more.

Tony Hoffman

BTW, I don't believe the V8's have sodium filled valves. But, anyone out 
there know differently?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stafford, Kenneth A." <stafford at WPI.EDU>
To: <v8 at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:39 AM
Subject: [V8] Sodium-filled Exhaust Valves


> Slightly off-topic...I believe the V8's have sodium-filled exhaust 
> valves--do any of you know where I can get some (actually for my wife's 
> TT) other than from the stealership?  Online, I see TT valves from Osvat, 
> TRW, and Intervalve.  I've confirmed that Osvat doesn't make any 
> sodium-filled valves.  Where do I go?  (Btw, rather than the $6600 repair 
> estimate for the TB failure on my wife's 1.8 225Hp TT, I opted to repair 
> it myself.  It seems as though we encountered no damage other than 2 bent 
> exhaust valves and 1 bent intake valve--should cost me less than $500 
> total.)
>
> TIA,
>
> Ken
> 91 V8Q (x2)
> 01 TT225