Valve spring

A small, humble question...


How the heck does something like that break?
Is this normal wear and tear?
Or could this be due to a defect somewhere?
Should I be worried?

DeathAngel69 wrote:

... How the heck does something like that break?

Yes... KNACK!

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Is this normal wear and tear?

Yes... it is possible.

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Or could this be due to a defect somewhere?

Yes, that is also possible.

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Do I need to worry?

Yes... definitely...

Okay, that's it for that.

What should one consider? What should be tested to rule out or minimize further defects? Thank you very much.

DeathAngel69 wrote:

... What should one consider? What should one test to rule out or minimize another defect?

You should tell me more about that.

Which engine?
What is the mileage?
What happened, and how was the damage repaired?


Valve springs are one of those things; they usually don't break. Unfortunately, all moving parts are susceptible to failure due to fatigue.
Valve springs that break shortly after installation were almost certainly damaged during the installation process itself. Often, it is enough to press a small indentation into the spring steel. Then the point of failure is intentionally designed.
In motors with a double spring design, the seemingly intact spring should also be replaced. This component has experienced pre-existing damage due to short-term overload, making it the next likely point of failure.
It's also advisable to avoid operating valve springs with larger travel using "sharper" camshafts. In the 1980s, VW caused some valve spring failures by using camshafts with 0.5mm more lift. By adjusting the valve timing more precisely (which was still done mechanically at the time), it was possible to increase the stroke slightly, thereby increasing the stress on the springs once again.



Okay, so that was the most important information, summarized in a very brief way. Without more details, there's not much to say.

Thank you very much for that.

The engine has been rebuilt. Unfortunately, not by me. New seals and piston rings, as well as all radial shaft seals.

It has been running perfectly for 2000 km without any problems. No oil or water consumption.
Dynamic. Perfectly centered.

The engine is a 1Z from a 1996 Golf, installed in a 1992 Passat 35i.

The incident occurred during a waiting period at a traffic light. Loud clicking sounds were heard, and the car was then pulled over to a disabled parking space and towed. Okay, runtime after failure > 10 seconds.

I'm mainly concerned about whether I might have done something wrong, or if it would be helpful to check something to prevent it from happening again. Or was it simply bad luck?

Hello.

So, it seems like you didn't do anything wrong, but perhaps the engine repair technician did. Normally, the remaining components (piston, valve, camshaft, etc.) should also have survived without significant damage, as the piston would push the valve upwards without encountering significant mechanical resistance, unlike what would happen in the case of a timing belt failure.

I would like to replace the entire set of suspension springs with new ones to eliminate the possibility of this happening again, and while I'm at it, I'll also install new hydraulic components.

Hi!