M52 valve seals.

[macdon]

Has anyone changed the valve seals on this engine without removing the cylinder head?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Mine's an M54, so probably not that different, and I managed to do them without lifting the head. Pretty damn fiddly, and you have to be very careful with the cams. There should be stuff on youtube about it, and you may well find that a magnetic pick-up stick will be your very bestest friend.

 

[macdon]

Thanks for your reply, I am still considering my next move. You have probably guessed I am chasing the cause of oil smoke after a 'foot off throttle' freewheel downhill.
Is it normal to have a vacuum in the crankcase?