And how long are engine valves expected to last, anyway?

Knowing that engine valves are so important, how can we tell when one or more of them is about to go bad?

And how long do engine valves last, anyway?

Here's just a partial list of few bad things that can happen to an engine valve and why:

So we haven't yet answered the question - how long should an engine valve last?

Well, there's really no set lifespan for engine valves.

For more information about engine valves and other related topics, follow the links on the next page.

When the engine valve is closed, the lifter is free to fill with oil.

Chevrolet did not finish the race, having to drop out on the 77th lap when an engine valve failed (he placed 20th in the results).

But current piezoelectric devices must be about 8 to 10 inches high to operate engine valves.