Quick question for the chemists here

At the moment I am doing a valve job on a very old Porsche cylinder head, I need to grind down the valve stem tip a large amount, I do believe that the exhaust valve is sodium filled, here is my question ;

When exposed to moisture or the atmosphere, does sodium burst into flames ?

 

[Electric Amish]

Yes.

I can't believe that it's elemental sodium, though. It surely must be some Sodium salt of some sort, doesn't it??

amish

 

[minendo]

Pure sodium burns on water.

 

Found my answer, thanks

HANDLE WITH CARE: Sodium will burn when it touches anything moist so even by mistake never cut open a sodium-filled exhaust valve.

Time for new stainless steel exhaust valves 🙂

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: Roger
Found my answer, thanks

HANDLE WITH CARE: Sodium will burn when it touches anything moist so even by mistake never cut open a sodium-filled exhaust valve.

Time for new stainless steel exhaust valves 🙂

Interesting. I wonder why they fill them with pure Sodium??

amish

 

Interesting. I wonder why they fill them with pure Sodium??

Exhaust valves on water cooled engines reach 1,000 F, on air cooled engines they can reach 1,400 F, this will cause failure, filling the exhaust valves with Sodium dramatically increases the ability of the valve to shed it's heat to the valve seat and valve guide.


Oh well, back to work 🙂