What Is a Valve Spring & How Does It Work?

You may be somewhat familiar with how a valve spring works to power your car’s engine, but these springs also play an essential role in the world of marine engineering.

As long as the springs are able to maintain the required amount of pressure, they’ll be able to help you avoid sudden engine failure and damage. In short, they help to keep your valves running smoothly.

But there’s much more to it than that.

Read on to learn the issues a spring valve can help to prevent, explore the different types of spring valves, and understand how to recognize common signs of a problem.

What Do Valve Springs Do?

First, let’s discuss the role that a valve spring plays in the world of naval engineering.

A valve spring is placed around the stem of a valve and held in place by a retainer. Its main job is to control the entire valvetrain, ensuring that the proper amount of spring pressure is applied consistently to prevent valve bounce.

Since valve bounce can lead to complete engine failure, power loss, and even breakage within the valve, these springs have quite an important job.

Additionally, a pressure valve spring also helps to prevent valve float, or a disconnect between the camshaft love and the valvetrain that happens when the engine’s speed has outpaced the valve springs.

The springs help to protect the axle, cylinder walls, pistons, and the bearings of the engine because they force the valves to completely close, securing the proper amount of compression.

They also help to stop problems with hydraulic lifters, working against the oil pressure in the internal piston and preventing the lifters from moving up.

 

Types of Valve Springs

Just as there are many types of valves, there are also lots of options when it comes to valve springs.

Conical springs have a smaller upper half, which means that there’s less reciprocating mass and a higher level of natural frequency.

If you need higher lifts that better spread the weight out, go for an ovate wire spring. Beehive springs are also ideal for weight reduction and spread, and are good for engines with a high RPM.

Cylindrical springs are the most familiar option, but they often just don’t make enough pressure to properly manage your valvetrain.

Having Trouble With a Valve Spring?

In order to avoid catastrophe, you need to both invest in high-quality valve springs and learn to recognize the first signs of a problem with the springs in your engine.

To do this, place a vacuum gauge on your engine and turn it on. If the vacuum gauge keeps rapidly changing every time you increase the engine speed, you’ll know your valve springs likely need to be replaced.

If you consistently run your engine at a higher speed, it’s likely that the valve spring has been burned — meaning that the cylinder will consistently misfire.

 

Need a High-Quality Valve Spring?

We hope you’ve found this guide to the valve spring helpful.

However, remember that in order to get the results you deserve, you must invest in high-quality, well-designed valve springs, valves, and other fittings.

That’s where our products come in.

Browse through what we offer to learn more about the CPV difference, and reach out to us with any questions.