Just bought a 2001 Wagon with Split Port Engine

[Edgenet]

Hi Guys

Yes yes I did read all kinds of threads that the Split Port engine was a piece of junk. I could not walk away from the deal this is a one owner 2001 wagon auto with 122k kms (76k miles) The guy just spent $700 on a set of tires and new rear shocks. I paid $420 I figure how could I lose.

I guess I just keep the oil changes current and keep my fingers crossed that the valve seats do not drop off and enjoy the car. Later

[sleepyboy]

I'd drive it till the motor blows myself for that price, that's if the rest of the car is in nice shape which it sounds like it is.

[sleepyboy]

Oh and I moved your thread to the General car chat area since your not having a technical problem.

[mikeeshaq]

Hopefully , you will get another 50 to 75,000 miles out of it

[calebstubstad]

my SPI sedan is at 122k miles and still going fine, even in ND and MN winters. no idea how many other owners, and it did spend awhile in a barn in Southern MN lol. glad to see another spi guy on here, enjoy. and you got a fabulous deal! mine cost 2500

[sleepyboy]

Some go forever others not so long, it may go tomorrow, it may last for years. It's really a crap shoot with the valve problem.

[Edgenet]

I will keep you guys posted on my real life experience with the Single Port engine and yes the rest of the car seems to be in great condition.

[Top-Ace]

Dont drive it until the motor blows, that is a nice car. Remove the head and take it to a mahine shop and have them cut out the old valve seats, and press in the new oversized strengthened ones. Maybe peen them just incase. The local machine shop where I live even had a set of four in stock just because he sees them a lot.

It will be a lot cheaper to just have that done right now, then dealing with damage that occurs from the seat dropping. The SPI is a great econo motor other than the valve seat thing.

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Valve seat drop damage = complete engine destruction. We've seen these where the valve seat drops, engine won't start, combustion chamber and that piston are scarred and slightly damaged. Then we've seen where the valve seat drops, the piston has a hole on it, the head is cracked, and there is a hole in the cylinder wall. It's hard to say how it will happen.

Yes, new valve seats can fix it forever, but unless there is a reason to disassemble the engine- like a new head gasket is needed, or a timing belt must be replaced- then I don't see as you should bother with it. Yes, there's a chance it will KO everything, but I don't see at 120k miles that there's a point to it unless you're experiencing some of the problems associated with imminent valve seat drop. You might want to purchase a compression tester, it's not an expensive tool, and then do periodic compression tests to see if you have a valve seat problem.

[Capt. Obvious!]

A guy in my shop had one throw a rod through the oil pan out of the blue one day. Don't know what caused it. On the upside, I was able to go to the junkyard and pull the vents out of it to replace the ones the previous owner painted red.