Re: 4.3L Mercruiser valve job?
What does a valve job on a 4.3L Mercruiser entail? Engine has low compression in one cylinder and mechanic is recommending a valve job.
Howdy,
If an engine has low compression on 1 cyl, the only way it could be determined (without removing the suspect cyl head) as a "valve" would be by doing a compression "leak-down" test.
It could also be a broken ring, cracked/broken piston etc.
If the head is still on the engine then your mechanic won't know until he removes the head and inspects the valves for that cyl.
The actual valve job can actually be repairing only the one valve/seat or ALL the valves on both heads.
Most people would want to do all the valves if the engine has a lot of hours on it.
A lot depends on what the cyls look like too. Some might want want to re-ring the engine too.
Now we're talking about a "top overhaul" which could approach the cost of just pulling the whole engine and replacing it with a long block. (depending on how long your "mechanic" takes to do the job)
It's VERY hard to make a judgment of what your engine will need going from your description.
If you want to know what a "Valve-job" might cost by itself (the actual head job) give a call to any reputable automotive machine shop like NAPA etc and ask them what they charge to do a complete valve job on 1 head you bring them. Ask for prices that include replacing ALL the valves and guides and the price if they don't have to then you'll get a range of cost. (sometimes you do not have to replace the valves and/or guides)
Here's an example of a machine shop that does heads etc....
http://www.citymotorsupply.com/machineshop.htm
Understand that none of the above prices indicated include labor to remove and replace the head, gaskets, etc.(Parts are frequently in addition to the above prices)
Cheers,
Rick
