GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Cleaning Procedure

Tools Required

J 8089 Carbon Removing Brush


    Object Number: 562850  Size: SH

    Caution: Wear safety glasses in order to avoid eye damage.

    Important: Mark, sort, or organize components for return to their original locations.

  1. Clean the valve heads on a buffing wheel.
  2. Clean the following components in solvent
  3. • Valve stem keys (1)
    • Valve spring cap (2)
    • Valve spring (4)
    • Valve rotators (5)
    • Valve (6)
    • Cylinder head

    Caution: Wear safety glasses in order to avoid eye damage.

  4. Dry the components with compressed air.

  5. Object Number: 35201  Size: SH

    Important: Be careful not to scuff the chamber or damage the valve seat.

  6. Use the J 8089 in order to clean the carbon from the combustion chambers.

Visual Inspection Procedure

Inspect the cylinder head for the following conditions:

    • Damaged gasket surfaces
    • Damage to threaded bolt holes
    • Burnt or eroded areas in the combustion chamber
    • Cracks in the exhaust ports and combustion chambers
    • External cracks in the water chamber
    • Restrictions in the intake or exhaust passages
    • Restrictions in the cooling system passages

Flatness Measurement Procedure


    Object Number: 64318  Size: SH
  1. Measure the cylinder head for warpage with a straight edge and feeler gauge.
  2. • A cylinder head block deck with warpage in excess of 0.076 mm (0.003 in) within a 152.4 mm (6.0 in) area must be repaired or replaced.
    • A cylinder head exhaust manifold deck with an overall warpage in excess of 0.152 mm (0.006 in) must be repaired or replaced.
    • A cylinder head intake manifold deck with warpage in excess of 0.10 mm (0.004 in) must be repaired or replaced.
  3. A cylinder head block deck can be resurfaced up to 0.305 mm (0.012 in) maximum removal.
  4. Important: Excessive cylinder head resurfacing will affect compression ratio and emission control.

  5. A cylinder head that requires excessive resurfacing must be replaced.

Valve Inspection Procedure


    Object Number: 156174  Size: SH
  1. Inspect the valves for the following conditions:
  2. • Burnt or damaged areas (1)
    • Undersized valve margin (2)
    • Bent stem (3)
    • Wear, scoring or other damage to the stem (4)
    • Worn key groove (5)
    • Worn stem tip (6)

    Object Number: 156173  Size: SH
  3. Inspect the valve contact surface for the following conditions:
  4. • Undersized margin (1)
    • Pitted surface (2)
    • Burnt or eroded areas (3)
    • Acceptable edge (margin) (4)

    Important: Minor imperfections of the valve may be corrected during reconditioning.

  5. Valves with excessive damage must be replaced.

Valve Spring Inspection and Measurement

Tools Required

J 9666 Valve Spring Tester

  1. Inspect the valve springs for broken coils or coil ends.

  2. Object Number: 4960  Size: SH
  3. Use the J 9666 in order to measure the valve spring tension. Refer to Engine Mechanical Specifications .
  4. Important: Add a maximum of one shim up to 0.726 mm (0.030 in) thick to increase tension.

  5. If low valve spring tension is found, use a shim to increase tension.
  6. Recheck the valve spring tension, a valve spring that does not meet specification must be replaced.

Valve Guide Measurement Procedure

Tools Required

J 8001 Dial Indicator Set


    Object Number: 35214  Size: SH

    Important: Excessive valve stem-to-guide clearance may cause an excessive oil consumption and may also cause a valve to break. Insufficient clearance will result in noisy and sticky functioning of the valve and will disturb the engine assembly smoothness.

  1. Measure the valve stem-to-guide clearance.
  2. • Clamp the J 8001 on the exhaust port side of the cylinder head.

       Important: The indicator stem must contract the side of the valve stem just above the valve guide.

    • Locate the indicator so that the movement of the valve stem from side to side (crosswise to the cylinder head) will cause a direct movement of the indicator stem.
    • Drop the valve head about 1.6 mm (0.064 in) off the valve seat.
    • Use light pressure when moving the valve stem from side to side in order to obtain a clearance reading. Refer to Engine Mechanical Specifications .
    • 

    Object Number: 156172  Size: SH
  3. A valve guide (2) with excessive clearance must be repaired. Refer to Valve Guide Reaming, and Valve and Seat Grinding .
  4. Replace the cylinder head if the valve guide cannot be repaired.