Valve float is an adverse condition which can occur at high engine speeds when the

poppet valve A poppet valve (also sometimes called mushroom valve) is a valve typically used to control the timing and quantity of petrol (gas) or vapour flow into or out of an engine, but with many other applications. It consists of a hole or open-ended ch ...

s in an

internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal comb ...

valvetrain A valvetrain is a mechanical system that controls the operation of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine. The intake valves control the flow of air/fuel mixture (or air alone for direct-injected engines) into the combu ...

do not properly follow the closure phase of the cam lobe profile. This reduces engine efficiency and performance. There is also a significant risk of severe engine damage that can include valve spring failure, pistons contacting the valves, or catastrophic lifter and cam lobe failure, especially with roller lifters.

Similar conditions

'Valve lift' or "loft" is intentional, using controlled valve float to increase lift and duration of the valve open cycle. In some

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s there are rules that limit camshaft lift, preventing this type of exploitation. Properly optimizing the valve duration avoids undue stresses to the camshaft lobes and tappets. 'Valve bounce' is a related condition where the valve does not stay seated because of the combined effects of the valve's

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and

resonance Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when an object or system is subjected to an external force or vibration whose frequency matches a resonant frequency (or resonance frequency) of the system, defined as a frequency that generates a maximu ...

of metallic valve springs that reduce the closing force and allow the valve to re-open partially.

Remedies

Stiffer valve springs can help prevent valve float and valve bounce but at the expense of increased friction losses, higher stresses, and more rapid wear in the valvetrain. Various techniques have been used to offset the effect of stiffer springs, such as dual-spring and progressive-sprung valves, roller-tipped tappets, and pneumatic valve springs. Valve float can also be prevented by using lighter valvetrain components.

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valves, retainers, and pushrods are commonly used for this purpose. Undercut valves can both increase flow and decrease weight. Also, by using more than the traditional two valves per cylinder, smaller and lighter valves can be used. By reducing valvetrain mass, valves can close more rapidly with a given spring stiffness. Pneumatic valve springs have been used in

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

racing. Since the 1960s, Italian motorcycle manufacturer

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has used a desmodromic valvetrain to counter this problem and allow for higher engine speeds by using positive closing as well as opening of the valves, without springs. The system consists of a mechanical lifter mechanism that uses a second

rocker arm A rocker arm is a valvetrain component that typically transfers the motion of a pushrod in an overhead valve engine, overhead valve internal combustion engine to the corresponding intake/exhaust poppet valve, valve. Rocker arms in automobiles are ...

to push the valve closed.

References

Engine valves Motorcycle engines {{Automotive engine , collapsed