VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Stuck valves Bent pushrods

I tried to fire up the old '51 1/2 ton this morning & I heard a helluva racket commin' from the old 216.
Pulled the valve cover & saw 3 intake valves sticking in their guides.
Pulled the rocker arms & found 3 bent pushrods.

I just did a valve job 3 years ago on this head.
& I installed hardened seats.

I use a fuel stabilizer in the gas all the time.

I got lucky & was able to free up all the sticky valves using carb cleaner & PB Blaster .
Didn't have to remove the head. Phew

Does anyone have suggestions on a fuel additive that will help keep the valves from stickin' in their guides ?

A few suggestions I have heard so far are:
Marvel Mystery oil.
A fuel lead substitute.
A small amount of diesel fuel.

I heard " Lucas " makes a top cylinder lubricant, but I dont know if it helps lubricate the valve guides or not.

Gonna drain the fuel & install a set of H.D. pushrods tomorrow, put it back together & start adjustin' the valves.

MT
You are lucky you only bent pushrods, I have seen a lot that broke rocker arms as well.
As for keeping valves free in the guides the best remedy is to run the engine more frequently than 3 years between starts, or at least turn it over.
Tony

Add at least 50% synthetic motor oil. And like the last response, you can't expect an engine to set 3 years with out running. If you must, don't try to start it without turning it over by hand (or wrench)before spinning it with the starter (coil wire OUT). THEN try to fire it up.

Got it back together.
Drained the old fuel. Added MM oil, a stabilizer & a lead substitute to the fuel.

Spent an hour getting a great adjustment on the valves.

It runs like a sewing machine again.

Hell, the truck only sat for 2 months since its last start up.

Hello MT, Sometimes I think that the Gremlins just decide to eat on old MT's stuff then they move over and eat on my stuff. I don't think just one cause can be nailed down as to why a valve or two stick, this time it may be one thing, then next time another thing. I just try to keep 'em lubed up and break them in slowly. I had a couple valves get a tad too tight on the lash and loosened all of them off a 1/2 round, now it is hitting good and had good power the compression checked 155 to 160 on all six cylinders (higher than I expected) the head may have been planed before I bought the car. I will run the valves loose a couple of short drives then set them. I don't know enough to anylize every ailment that the old cars get. I have hard enough a time just fixin' what goes wrong. Glad your engine is singing s happy song!