SUPERTECH bronze inlet valve guides Toyota 4A-GE 20V

Toyota engines concerned

This kit fits the inlet side of the 20-valve cylinder head of the 1.6 litre Toyota 4A-GE 20V, fitted to the Corolla AE92, AE101 and AE111, the Corolla Levin, the Sprinter and the Carina VII.

With three inlet valves per cylinder, this engine has 12 of them, each guided by a bush pressed into the cylinder head: the kit supplies these 12 guides.

SUPERTECH manganese bronze inlet valve guides

On the inlet side, the guide keeps each valve aligned with its seat, lets some of the stem's heat flow into the head and holds the oil seal. With wear its bore opens up: the valve gains play, seats crookedly, wears faster and lets oil slip into the combustion chamber, resulting in blue smoke, oil consumption and lost compression.

SUPERTECH machines these guides from manganese bronze; the brand states that it dissipates heat markedly better than factory sintered guides. They are usually fitted together with reinforced valves, for an engine meant to rev high. The kit gathers the 12 inlet guides of the head under a single part number.

Valve guide technical specifications

Valve guide installation

Technical guide

For the 4A-GE 20V, reinforced valves exist on both the inlet and exhaust side:

Our brand

From San Jose, SUPERTECH has produced valves, retainers, springs and guides over three decades; its parts undergo finite element analysis, ultrasound, X-ray and laser checks before development with engine builders.

Manganese bronze

This bronze adds manganese, iron and aluminium to copper and zinc; it offers high mechanical strength and copes well with wear and corrosion, which makes it a common material for bushings and guiding parts working under heavy loads.

When valve guides must be replaced

• Oil getting past the inlet valve stems into the chamber
• Reinforced valves going into a well-used head
• Head preparation for track or rally driving
• Complete overhaul of the valvetrain

Vehicle compatibility

Remember the exhaust guides

Heads are usually rebuilt on both sides: the 4A-GE 20V exhaust guides are listed below.