How much does a valve job cost?
Posted by dampersand@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 29 comments
I have a 2009 mini clubman (in Los Angeles) that started missing on cylinders 2 and 4. Took it into the shop, and they confirmed full on zero compression in cylinder 2 at least, and none of the obvious problems (coils, for example). Mechanic believes it's an issue more internal to the engine. He mentioned that if it's a valve job, it might be somewhere around $4000. Is that a reasonable price for a valve job, given my location and car?
tl;dr, Mechanic in Los Angeles estimates$4000 for a valve job. Is this a reasonable price, or astronomical?
helios2702@reddit
That sounds like a decent ballpark. A valve job is basically a head gasket job plus a bunch of work on the valve train.
It might need some machine work or it might have bent valves and need new ones. It's not quite a full motor rebuild but it's pretty close.
DemolisherV@reddit
How much would it cost if I take the head and valves to a shop?
No_Sherbert1602@reddit
Call your local machine shop
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
No way should it cost that. It’s a 3hr job to change valves. I know because I’ve done it and timed myself doing it.
KnownPresence233@reddit
Wow you’re a bit late to the party and so am I. Im sure this mini is either in the scrapyard or back on the road by now .Assuming a mini cooper is anything even close to gm’s 5.3 is pretty hilarious. I believe someone could rip the heads off a 5.3 slap some new valves in there and slam it back together in 3 hrs but if you did it in 3 hrs I bet it was quite sloppy and you didn’t check everything a professional engine shop would. 4 grand is definitely a rip off though for sure it’s LA though so I’m not surprised.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
I’m a 4th generation mechanic with a family background of racing, go pound salt somewhere else. I know my capabilities do you know yours?
KnownPresence233@reddit
Oh wow! In that case you’re overqualified! I didn’t realize I was messing with someone so powerful.Holy crap you know your capabilities too? That’s incredible! Congratulations! Also Thanks so much for clearing that up about it being a clubman. I should have noticed that. The clubman is way more comparable to a 5.3 engine.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
I’m more qualified than you 😉😘. Just because I can do it in 3hrs and you can’t shouldn’t give you a reason to hate 🤓😎
KnownPresence233@reddit
Ok ok settle down not a hater .so the only point I was trying to make is you can’t compare a mini to a gm engine saying the cost/time required should be similar. If you can’t understand that I don’t think you are qualified for much.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
Yeah you don’t work on supercharged or anything like that either I can tell by the hate lol. While you were playing with GI Joes/ He-Man or whatever at the age of 9, I was helping pull wrenches with my grandpa, dad and uncle. I doubt you could rewire an entire vehicle little lone work on one 😆.
KnownPresence233@reddit
I dont have any reason to prove anything to you bud. Thanks for the insults though!
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
Ah deleted your previous post I see lol. Everything you just said,👆you did first. Anyway move on ✌️
xXPrincess-AzulaXx@reddit
"Knownprincess" went from talking shit to acting like a bitch real fast 😆 thanks for the read
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
Yeah you don’t work on supercharged or anything like that either I can tell by the hate lol. While you were playing with GI Joes/ He-Man or whatever at the age of 9, I was helping pull wrenches with my grandpa, dad and uncle.
KnownPresence233@reddit
Hmmm.. ok then. Well best of luck to you bud. Have a great rest of your life. Keep up the great work!
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
Thanks I continue to do so.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
Yeah you don’t work on supercharged or anything like that either I can tell by the hate lol. While you were playing with GI Joes/ He-Man or whatever at the age of 9, I was helping pull wrenches with my grandpa, dad and uncle. I doubt you could rewire an entire vehicle little lone work on one 😆.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
More qualified than you 😉😘.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
More qualified than you 😉😘.
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
I’m a 4th generation mechanic go pound salt somewhere else
Legitimate_Cloud_452@reddit
Chipped valve
DemolisherV@reddit
I'm working on a 2015 Kia soul and when I pulled the valves out I found out the cylinder of which I was getting low compression had a chipped valve :< Do you have any tips for lapping new valves and the used one for the other cyls?
justj1206@reddit
H
DumbestAutoTech@reddit
I can't fathom compression testing a engine, finding zero compression on a cylinder, and then not figuring out why. No compression is only an internal engine problem, and the quality of borescopes makes it easier than ever to see what's going on in there. I don't know, it sounds like you definitely want a paid 2nd opinion. If a valve job fixed a zero compression condition, let's just say it would be the first time I've heard of that. A Mini is also a car I would strongly suggest you take to a shop that specializes in European cars.
GINGE-022@reddit
Late to the party; engine work is new to me but from my understanding doing a compression test doesn't necessarily tell you much more than you don't have compression on that cylinder vs doing a leak down to actually diag whether its head gasket, i/e valves, or rings though no?
All-Out-OfFucks2Give@reddit
That’s way overpriced for some valves. The job should take no more than 3hrs
Steve_Baum@reddit
sound about right, question is, is he getting into the valves or is he buying a new head and replacing the whole valvetrain. If its the later, great, if its the former...I don't trust a mechanic to not induce more problems than there were working on individual valves on a non japanese engine.
CheapBison1861@reddit
I guess i should ask my guy what he's doing. he quoted me 6300 to fix oil leak which he then said "we may as well do a valve job at the same time since we have it open".
False-Lie1776@reddit
if you give the heads to a shop on the easy coast its currently 600 for a gm v8. 2v per cylinder.