How Much Does a Valve Job Cost?
It is hard to pin down precisely how much a valve job can cost. However, you can expect to spend most of your money on labor, as a complete valve job is highly labor-intensive but requires minimal cost in parts.
The average cost of a valve job is $835. This includes replacing up to 8 valves and 7 hours of labor. If you are lucky and do not need to replace any valves, it will cost an average of $770. Factors affecting the cost include
- the number of valves in your vehicle
- how many parts need to be replaced instead of resurfaced
- labor time
First, when getting a valve job done, your mechanic will inspect each part as they resurface and clean them. If you must pay for new or replacement parts after this inspection is complete, you can expect to pay an average of $7.50 per valve.
There are a total of 8 to 16 valves per engine. You could be advised to replace only one or all of them, depending on the state of the valves. The average cost of replacing all of the valves is around $75 for the parts alone.
The valve cover and cylinder head are also resurfaced and inspected. The covers can cost up to $65, while the cylinder head can cost over $500.
If this part needs to be replaced, it can drastically affect the cost of your valve job. If your mechanic finds severe damage, you may need to replace the cylinder head, the cover gaskets, and valves. You could spend over $1500.
The most expensive part of a valve job is the labor. It can take up to 7 hours to complete the job correctly, meaning each piece is resurfaced, the seats are drilled out, and the valves reseated.
Labor can cost between $70 and $150 per hour, meaning you could expect an average of $770 for labor alone.
Average Valve Job Cost by Engine Type
| Engine Type | Valves per Cylinder | 3-Angle | 5-Angle | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INLINE 4 | 2 INLINE | $295.00 | $340.00 | $390.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 2 CANTED | $305.00 | $350.00 | $400.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 2 HEMI | $315.00 | $360.00 | $410.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 3 | $325.00 | $370.00 | $420.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 3 | $325.00 | $370.00 | $420.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 4 | $335.00 | $380.00 | $430.00 |
| INLINE 4 | 5 | $375.00 | $420.00 | $470.00 |
| INLINE 6 | 2 INLINE | $370.00 | $485.00 | $555.00 |
| INLINE 6 | 2 CANTED | $380.00 | $495.00 | $565.00 |
| INLINE 6 | 2 HEMI | $395.00 | $510.00 | $580.00 |
| INLINE 6 | 4 | $445.00 | $560.00 | $630.00 |
| V 6 | 2 INLINE | $415.00 | $485.00 | $555.00 |
| V 6 | 2 CANTED | $425.00 | $495.00 | $565.00 |
| V 6 | 2 HEMI | $440.00 | $510.00 | $580.00 |
| V 6 | 4 | $465.00 | $535.00 | $605.00 |
| V 6 | 5 | $515.00 | $585.00 | $655.00 |
| V 8 | 2 INLINE | $490.00 | $570.00 | $650.00 |
| V 8 | 2 CANTED | $505.00 | $585.00 | $665.00 |
| V 8 | 2 HEMI | $515.00 | $595.00 | $675.00 |
| V 8 | 4 | $540.00 | $620.00 | $700.00 |
| V 8 | 5 | $600.00 | $680.00 | $760.00 |
| V 10 | 2 INLINE | $615.00 | $715.00 | $815.00 |
| V 12 | 2 HEMI | $735.00 | $800.00 | $910.00 |
| V 12 | 4 | $790.00 | $855.00 | $975.00 |
What Do the Valves in Your Car Do?
Engine valves are mechanical components used in internal combustion engines to allow or restrict fluid or gas flow to and from the combustion chambers or cylinders during engine operation.
Valves Prices by Make and Model
| Model | Price | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| DNJ EV3165 Exhaust Valve | $7.94 each or $63.84 for 8 | 1997 to 2015 buick, cadillac, chevrolet, gmc, hummer, isuzu, pontiac, saab, 9-7x, ascender, avalanche, avalanche 1500, camaro, canyon colorado, corvette, cts Envoy |
| DNJ IV3160 160 Intake Valve | $7.94 each or $63.84 for 8 | 1997-2015 buick, cadillac, chevrolet, GMC Hummer Isuzu Pontiac Saab 9-7x ascender avalanche avalanche 1500 camaro canyon colorado corvette CTS Envoy |
| X Authohaux 16pcs Intake Exhaust Engine Valves 12615936 12622329 | $29.99 for 16 | GM 2.0L 2.2L 2.4L Ecotec Engine |
| Motoku 16 Pcs Engine Intake | $31.96 for 16 | golf GTI Tiguan A3 A5 TT Q3 Q5 2.0T 31.96 |
| R6616 BMARCR L3k912121 Glossy | $39.00 for 8 | Mazda CX-7 Speed 3 6 2.3L MZR 2007-2013 |
| VKCNV756 22212-33000 | $53.65 for 16 | Hyundai Elantra Sonata for Kia Optima for Mitsubishi eclipse galant for plymouth colt |
| DNJ EV1163 Exhaust Valve | $8.61 each or $68.88 for 8 | 2009-2015 chrysler dodge jeep ram/ 1500 2500 300 3500 Aspen challenger charger commander durango grand cherokee ram 3500/5.7L/ OHV/ V8/ 16V T |
| Labwork 16 pieces intake exhaust valves | $32.99 for 16 | 1990-2001 honda crv acura integra B18B1 B20Z2 B20B4 |
| DNJ IV1163 Intake Valve | $125.99 for 16 | 2009-2015 chrysler dodge jeep ram/ 1500 2500 300 3500 Aspen Challenger charger commander durango grand cherokee ram 3500 5.7L OHV V8 16V 345cid |
Why get a valve job?
Engines need maintenance and repairs to continue to work correctly. After about 80,000 miles, your engine’s valves could be in danger of bending or cracking, which will cause you to burn excess oil and lose engine power.
This will result in burnt oil in your exhaust and damage your vehicle in other, more severe ways. When you get a valve job, your valves are resurfaced, taking away and dirt build-up, preventing them from bending or cracking.
If you have already damaged your valves, you can also have them replaced, giving your engine’s lifespan more time.
Symptoms of Bad Valves or Signs of Bad Valve Seals
Excessive oil consumption is one of the main signs that your valves or their seals are bad. If you notice you are going through more oil than usual, check for leaks first.
If you cannot find the leak, you may have a bad valve or seal. This is an excellent time to get a valve job. A Bluish white smoke leaving your car after you start the engine, accelerate, or gear shift are all signs that your valve seals are bad and you are dumping oil over the valve head.
You should definitely get this check by a professional if you notice excess exhaust in your vehicle. Loss of engine power can also happen when you have bad seals or valves.
How do you know you need a valve job?
A valve job may be necessary when an engine has 80,000 or more miles on it, or you notice signs or symptoms of having a bent or broken valve or seal.
You can also perform a Cold Engine Test. To do this, you need to let your car sit outdoors overnight. Then check the top of the cylinder’s head inside the valve cover.
If you notice that there is residual oil on the head, you probably need a valve job! If you have a manual transmission, you can check your valves by performing an off-throttle brake or engine brake.
To do this, you simply take off your foot from the gas pedal and shift the car down into lower gears until the vehicle is stopped. Then hit the gas pedal.
If you notice a burnt exhaust or blue-white smoke exiting the tailpipe after accelerating from the stop, it’s time for a valve job. If you also notice a lot of burnt oil in your exhaust or a bluish-white smoke coming from the tailpipe when you are idling at a stop sign or traffic light, you may have a bad valve.
This smoke may not be noticeable when you are idle, but when you hit the gas and start to move forward, you will see this cloud escaping behind you.
How Much Does a Valve Job Cost on a 4 Cylinder
Cars have at least 2 valves per cylinder. So a 4-cylinder vehicle should have at least 8 valves, a 6-cylinder vehicle will have at least 12 valves, and an 8-cylinder will have at least 16 valves. The number of valves your vehicle has will dramatically alter the cost of a valve job.
Each additional valve will increase the labor required to complete the job. Each valve and seat must be resurfaced, inspected, and replaced or reinstalled.
More valves equal more time. Time adds to your cost. Also, the cost of 8 valves will be significantly less expensive than 16 valves if you find you must replace them.
The 4-cylinder valve job will cost less than a valve job on a V6 or V8. However, it will vary between $413 and $815. The leading cause of fluctuation in the price of a valve job is the labor cost of your mechanic.
How Much Does a Valve Job Cost on a V8
Most large trucks are going to be either a V6 or a V8. If you have the Chevy 350, you have a V8 engine which means you will be spending more for your valve job than a V4 or V6.
The labor for resurfacing the valves and punching out the seats will cost $800 and $1200. If you need a complete set of replacement vales, you could be looking at costs over $1500.
What Is a Valve Job?
A valve job is removing the cylinder head(s) from the engine so the valves, guides, and seats can be refurbished to restore compression and oil control. A valve job may be necessary when an engine has 80,000 or more miles on it or to fix a “burned valve,” compression, or oil burning problem.
- Remove the intake manifold and clean out all dirt, debris, and gaskets.
- Remove the cylinder head from the manifold. Be careful not to damage it.
- Steam the head and check for cracks or damage. If there is warpage or damage, found it may need to be resurfaced.
- Remove the valves from the seats.
- Use a bench grinder with a wire wheel to resurface them.
- Valve guides may need to be replaced or knurled.
- Then after the valves are cleaned, the seats for the valves will be cleaned with a stick grinding tool.
- The seats can also be punched out or replaced.
- Then the valve springs, rocker arms, pushrods, and lifter are inspected to make sure all parts are reusable and do not need replacement.
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