Reinforced inlet valves VW SEAT SKODA 2.0 8V

VW, SEAT and SKODA engines covered

The Volkswagen group's 2.0 eight-valve four-cylinder, rated at 115 to 116 hp, powered from 1990 to 2010 the Golf III and IV, the Bora, the New Beetle and the Passat B3 / B4, as well as the Seat Toledo I, Ibiza II, Cordoba and Alhambra and the Skoda Octavia I, under many engine codes: ABA, ADY, AGG, AKR, AEG, APK, AQY, AZJ and related ones.

It has only one inlet valve per cylinder, 4 per engine, operated by hydraulic tappets. VW parts 078 109 601 B then 078 109 601 E (06A 109 601 E on some versions) have a 39.5 mm head, a 7 mm stem and a length of 91.9 mm, with valve stem seal 027 109 675. Sharper camshaft, supercharger or track use: tuning adds heat and impacts on these large heads.

SUPERTECH and FERREA reinforced inlet valves

Each inlet valve lets in the fresh charge, snaps shut onto its seat and slides constantly in its guide; its head works between 400 and 550 °C. A conventional chrome-silicon steel goes from 500 MPa at 500 °C to 250 MPa at 600 °C: it loses 50 % of its strength, and a weakened head of nearly 40 mm distorts, marks its seat and then lets compression escape. On an 8 valve engine, each cylinder relies on this single valve to fill.

The SUPERTECH valves are stainless steel with a black nitride treatment that hardens the stem and slows its wear in the guide. Their stem is thinned under the head and the back of the head is reworked to let air through more easily, while the face of the head is slightly dished. The 7 mm stem stays in VW format and fits the standard guides. Each set groups the 4 valves of one engine, all at the same size.

The three sets enlarge the head: 40 mm (+0.5 mm), 41 mm (+1.5 mm) or 42 mm (+2.5 mm, length increased to 92.2 mm). Fresh air passes through a wider section, the cylinder fills better and the engine gains power, provided the 4 inlet seats are machined to the chosen diameter.

Inlet valve technical specification

Fitting details

The SUPERTECH valves have three grooves and are fitted with the KPR-VW7-T 3 groove collets for a 7 mm stem, which the manufacturer lists for these engines.

The 40, 41 and 42 mm heads exceed the 39.5 mm factory size: the 4 inlet seats are machined to the diameter of the chosen head before reassembly.

The hydraulic tappets take up the clearance on their own: no adjustment is needed after the valves are replaced.

Technical guide

The brand offered

Based in California for more than thirty years, SUPERTECH Performance designs and machines valves, springs and guides for racing; every batch is checked by ultrasound, X-ray and laser, and its valves are offered in stainless steel, Inconel and Nimonic.

How to choose

The groove is the notch machined at the end of the stem, in which the collets lock the retainer: their profile must match the number of grooves. On this engine the choice is mainly about the size:

When reinforced valves become necessary

• Camshaft with more lift or stiffer valve springs
• Rev limit raised above the factory cut-out
• Supercharger or turbo added to the 2.0 8V
• Cylinder head rebuilt for track, rally or hill climb
• Worn original valves or seats already recut

Compatible vehicles

OEM part number (inlet valve): 078 109 601 B, 078 109 601 E, 06A 109 601 E

Related products

The 2.0 8V cylinder head is off: also replace the exhaust valves and the inlet valve stem seals made for this engine.