I'm going to use Supertech Retainers and Springs in my 2001 S2000. But someone on either H-I, S2KCA, Honda-Tech, or S2ki said that titanium retainers must be changed every 13,000 miles because they deform over time. Is this true ?
please help.

 

hmmmm I thought one of the benefits of titanium is that the opposite is true....anyone with more knowledge care to chime in?

 

Ti retainers gall. They do need to be changed much more often. Not a great application for a street car, but fine for a track or show car that only sees a few thousand miles per year.

 

ENDYN said theirs looked fine up to 50k miles.

 

Ask Supertech, and they will tell you that the life of the retainers is not unlimited. They won't tell you a specific mileage figure, though. It depends on several factors.

However, unless you want to raise the limit for safe RPMs before valve float, there is no reason to choose Ti retainers over OEM steel. They give you no other advantage, they cost more, and they are less durable.

I have them on my car, but it's track-only. I would not have them on a street car.

 

They have a much shorter life than steel retainers. How much shorter depends on how the engine is used, who made the retainers and if the springs have a sharp edge that will accelerate the galling that will occur.

Fine for a car that spends limited time on the street before getting taken apart and inspected. Not fine for a street car that is supposed to last 100K+ without a major engine teardown.

 

it really depends on seat pressure of the valve springs and the cam profile, not just material of the retainer

 

so would that be the same for TI valves and dual valve springs?? i wanted the dual springs to help prevent a possible valve float.

 

Interesting info here

 

Sacrifice the 1/32 HP and use 2.2L retainers