Valves: small components with a big job to do

Perkins valves cover both inlet and outlet options and they're designed to withstand the temperatures of the combustion process. Problems tend to occur as a result of poor or inappropriate maintenance of valves and they should be checked and, if necessary, changed when seals are changed.

Valves play an important role in your Perkins engine. They’re responsible for letting air into the main cylinder in the first stroke of the four stroke process and for allowing exhaust gases to escape on completion of the combustion cycle, which occurs in the fourth phase.

In the first phase, the inlet valve will open to allow air into the cylinder after it has passed through the air filter. During the second stroke, when the air is compressed to a very high temperature – around 1300°F – the inlet valve closes and forms a complete seal. Both valves stay shut during the third stroke, when the combustion process occurs, and on the fourth stroke, the outlet valve opens to allow the exhaust gases to escape.

Precision engineering

To make this happen, the valves have to be capable of operating for long periods – thousands of times a minute – and at extremes of temperature. That’s where the value of precision engineering comes to the fore. Perkins genuine parts are guaranteed to meet these demands because they’ve been designed and built for the specific needs of your model of engine and no-one else’s.

Worn valves will cause issues with your engine, with decreased efficiency the very least of your potential problems. Ideally, valves should be checked and changed in line with the recommendations in your Operation and Maintenance Manual.