'05 RXT Valve Failure

[GeeBee]

Hi all
I have had a 2005 RXT since new and after 20 months (70 hrs running) it had a valve snap off causing substantial engine damage. The dealer claimed that the engine had been submerged and that caused severe corrosion to the valve stems. This of course could not be further from the truth and in fact the ski is meticulously flushed and cleaned after EVERY use.
Seadoo supported the dealers view however after long discussions agreed to contribute $500 towards the cost, leaving me with a $4000 bill.
Included in that bill was the installation of a "mist kit" which is a modification designed to introduce oil to the upper cylinder area following flushing and cleaning. The dealer stated that the problem should not re-occur if the engine is regularly misted!!!! And there is not an intrinsic design problem?
Has anyone else had such problems and if not take a warning of a potential problem with the engine.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Supercharger?......

I can't say that we've really had anyone have that type problem, here in the forum anyway. Yet, there are several that own the supercharged 4-TEC engines.

When I look at these powerhouses, it always makes me wonder where the weakest link would be from the turbulence of these super high performance engines at full revs, leaving the top of a wave, motor rev up to limiter, then re-engage the water when landing. That's a lot of shaft horsepower and hard hitting wave pounding that seems that there has to be a limit on how much an engine can take.

Now I know. It's the valve train. In my opinion, it appears to me that if the engine were performing to specifications and you did not abuse the craft and flushed and maintained it properly, then the valve likely had a defect in it. It could have started from the smallest fracture, from the day it was bought, that got by the inspectors. But, do you think a dealer is going to accept responsibility?..........no way. They have to much clout to use against you in court. The object for them is, you have to prove that it wasn't your fault...............for them, that's the ethics of business. You basically got screwed. But without a high priced metallurgist on your side, what can you do? Sorry to hear of your misfortune. The $500 bucks they put in is a disgrace. I'd have told them where to put it.........:rant:

 

[Dennis]

Valve failure

Here is what the guys at the local SeaDoo dealer told me about 4TEC valve failure.......
The main reason for valve failure is because of water injestion and here is why.....
Once water goes thru the air intake manifold( ski has been rolled, sunk, etc. ) and is drawn into the engine it will more than likely leave a rust mark on the valve stems. This rust mark will become like a glowing red ember when the engine is run later and that area of the valve stem will be overheated and lead to the valve actually melting and falling off onto the piston. I don't have to tell you what happens next!!!
I don't know, for sure, if this is the only reason for 4TEC valve failures but that's their story and they're sticking to it!! It would explain why they want you to fog the engine.
DAWG

 

[6KJR]

That story sounds like a load of crap too.. I dont even think thats possible on an intake valve stem to glow red no matter how hard an engine is being put to use. And what about all of the engines out there running meth injection? You dont see people with valves falling apart in their engines....

 

[Dennis]

Melted valves

I don't know if it's a load of crap either but I've had 2 4TEC engines apart that have blown up. They were both supercharged and it was the exhaust valves that (melted?) fell down on top of the piston. I know that one of the failed engines had taken in some water about 10 hours earlier (customer told me so). I don't know the history on the other one. I'm thinkin' there's some truth to what they're saying. I've also been told that SeaDoo has updated their exhaust valves because of this problem. I was told the earlier valves were sodium filled and it was causing a problem. Sounds backwards to me.
DAWG

 

[seadoosnipe]

Backward?...

Seems a bit backward to me also DAWG.....since Sodium quickly oxidizes in air and is violently reactive with water, why in the hell would they fill the valve with Sodium that is normally in a sodium chloride (sea water) environment?.......

The other thing here that I find strange is rust forming around the part of the valve that is rusted. I don't want to go into the reason or ways rust forms, or the formation of rust......since it's been done before. But, if the rust were possible in this situation, it would act as an insulator, not an added element to create higher heats to induce melting point to the valve stem, unless it were made of plastic. This I find highly unlikely. It sounds like someone talking smack in a professional way!.....

As for the idea of water ingestion causing it? I was actually formulating my opinion on the fact that the thread starter said he took meticulous care of it and that it was never submerged. If you did dump a ski (supercharged 4-TEC) and ingest water while running at WOT or high rpm, I'd think something more than a valve would come un-glued first........:cheers:

 

[Dennis]

Valves

I hear you SNIPE,
sounds like crazy talk alright. Some 4TEC's are having exhaust valve problems and I'm very curious as to why. Maybe the guys at SBT will shed some light on this. I'll let you know.
DAWG

 

[Dennis]

Ex valves

OK, talked to the guy at the SeaDoo dealer again and he said 2007 and newer 4TEC engines are built with the new style exhaust valves. These new valves have solid valve stems ( old style were sodium filled) and this has solved the exhaust valve issues.
Talked to the guys at SBT and they said they weren't aware of any exhaust valve issues but went on to say that their reman 4TEC engines have always had solid stem valves installed when being rebuilt.
CONCLUSION: I don't know any more now than I did when I first started looking in to this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe some day, DAWG

 

[seadoosnipe]

Research........

O.K......well, now, I'm going to have to dive into this one. Not because I don't trust you (that I do with a blind fold on), because I don't trust dealerships..........or should I say, I have a really hard time till they proove to me that their moral values are above the greed of the green..........

I'll see what I can find out on this. For the most part, I have always thought these valves were solid. It doesn't make sense to me that they have a valve moving with a crank at over 7k rpm, that isn't solid.........:cheers: