Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Valve Springs: Description
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 ).
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.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.