Hello!My name is jörg and come from germany.I have a rs from 87 in grey metallic.In this year i will finished the overhaul.
One of the biggest problem is to collect all the parts that ford no more deliver today.
On a german escort site we have a big discussion referring the exhaust valves.A book from england for overhaul the cvh engine say that the exhaust valves are generally sodium filled.But you can by original exh.valves from manufacturer mahle without sodium only.I don´t now if i can rework my old valves.I will ask my engine rebuilder.But if i need new valves i have a big problem.Burton sells only valves without sodium.In ouer german escort site we are different views concerning this item.Maybe one of you can help or have experience with this problem.I will not destroy my rebuild engine if i install the normal valves.

 

you don't need the sodium filled valves, as long as it's setup right you won't have a problem, series 2 escort rs turbos didn't use them, nor did fiesta rs turbo's if i remember correctly.
if you do need them, i'm sure they could be sourced over here through a dealer and shipped to you.

 

I've been running a normal XR3i head on an RST for two years now and had no problems whatsoever. It's not exactly standard either.

Just make sure it's set up correctly. If the EGTs aren't too high it shouldn't be a problem.

I understand if you're worried though as from my experience German forums are usually full of idiots who tell you that your engine will explode if you don't use genuine Ford washing bottle fluid...

Whereabouts in D are you?

 

Ideal world you would use nimonic80 valves

Sodium filled is great as it allow heat to be conducted up the valve well, but on the down side it means the head is poor attached to the stem, so more likely to come off at mega high rpm.

very application specific what is best to use out of the things cheaply available

 

It is so that i will drive with approximately 0,8 bar (13 psi).I think it is not to much power and the loading is not to high.Do you think you can get the valves with sodium? I will post here if it required.But it is still interesting are the valves necessary or not.

 

Yes as xr2whishy said it is only the Series 1 RST's that had sodium filled exhaust valves so they are not needed.
Standard Valves or Stainless Steel valves are what most of us use without any problems

 

I´m not sure.I think sodium valves are installed up to the middle of 88.One german seller declare this valves with this date.You can look on this site: motomobil.de
But i´m not sure is this the right valve with sodium.I can only say that the exhaust valve ist labeled with an LN mark at the highest point of the valve stem.I think it is a indentifcation for it.

Oh,in Geman call it "Auslaßventil" for exhaust valve.If one of you look on this site.

 

Dont forget that on an autobahn, cars will see loads that they NEVER see in this country, like 10 mins of full throttle in top gear potentially, so german tuners need to have a different approach to heat management to that which we need over here.

 

That´s right.In the past one college drive with the rs from the west to the south of germany.Back on the way (only full power) one of the ex.valve burns and is broken.Ok,he had more power with a chip and a new wastegate.He was lucky that it was enough to change the valve and all other was ok.

 

People over here often make the mistake of thinking its power that almost solely dictates the need for component strength, they dont take into account the massively different loads.

So I would avoid taking much advice on this forum on some subjects, as people dont have the relevant experience, they could own an RS Turbo for 20 years over here and still never learn what 200kms of use at absolute full chat the entire way does to it, as its just not possible to drive like that over here, you'd be in prison!

 

There are many mistakes in these Motomobil spare parts list. But concearning the sodium filled exhaust valves it seems to be right this time. According to Ford, from '89 on they put the solid valves also into the ERST. And the FRST also didn't have them.

Maybe you'd like to talk to one of the people here in Germany who had CVH turbos with much more than standard power running fine, also on long runs on German motorways troubling big hp cars from Munich, Ingolstadt or Stuttgart. Many non-standard turbo engines had problems with underfuelling under full load and higher boost. Many owners didn't care for a good fuelling, just wanted more power and many engines became too hot, especially on motorways. Try to ask Hauke, Möhle or turboandreas on www.ford-escort.de, they've built and blown several high power turbo engines. They can tell you more about what exhaust valve you should use...