This concerns exhaust valve failures (valve head separating from the valve(ball valve)spindle) on a CAT 3516 generator engine on an offshore jack-up drilling rig. The drilling rig went into service approx 8 months ago and therefore the engine has low running hours and has not yet reached the top overhaul interval.

I am interested to know if any other members have experienced this problem and if they were able to identify the reason for the failure.

I have seen, on the internet, other references to similar CAT 3516 failures but very little information as to the source of the problem.  I have plenty of CAT 399 experience but have not personally worked on the 3500 series engines.

The engine is on a rig offshore West Africa and this is the second failure in the last 6 months. I have not been able to get on the rig and see the failure, so I'm relying on information sent to me.

In agreement with dicer the most likely cause is that the valves are pattern made parts although the fact that they are relatively new suggest not.

If the stem is sheared at the valve guide then there is a possibility the issue is with the concentricity of the guide/valve/seat. This is typical when heads are assembled and the seats not ground.

I have experience only as Technical Superintendent but engines under my control used to run  to 25K hours plus for their 20K overhauls.

I am sure you have done so but I would give CAT (FINNINGS) a call and tell them to come and do some R&D on it.

There are other posibility associated to teh fule type and in particularly sodium vanadium deposits and corrosion.

First of all, all large manufactures in the US are out sourcing off shore. It can be a brand new part stocked at the manufactures factory here in the US. As a note valves are a 2 piece item, it would cost way too much to make them out of solid/ billet stock.
The only way the quality will ever improve is for all aspects of manufacturing something to come back to its respective countrys. That is from mining the ore and refining it to the end product. As long as the crap material is constantly introduced, the end product is going to be crap. Pretty simple logic stuff here.

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