Valve Springs: Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The valve springs are made from chrome silicon alloy wire and incorporate a "bee-hive" design. Valve spring retainers and locks are common from valve-to-valve. The valve spring seat is integral with the valve stem oil seal, which incorporates a garter spring to maintain consistent lubrication control to the valve stem.

The valve springs are unique for intake compared to exhaust. Both have different lengths and are wound in opposite directions. The valve springs are color coded, intake spring is right hand coil direction with orange dye on the top coils, and the exhaust spring is left hand coil direction with a yellow or white dye on the top coils (Fig 1 ).

Fig 1: Identifying Valve Springs

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

The exhaust spring with the white dye on the top of the coils has an increased open and closed load when compared to the exhaust spring with the yellow dye. A yellow and a white exhaust valve spring should never be used on a single forked rocker arm. Color coated exhaust springs should always be used in pairs for a forked exhaust rocker springs.