Valve guide for guiding a valve stem

A system, comprising:

• a valve guide configured to guide a valve stem of a poppet valve, wherein the valve guide comprises:
• a first guiding surface configured to guide the valve stem of the poppet valve along a guiding axis;
• a second guiding surface configured to guide the valve stem of the poppet valve along the guiding axis, wherein the first and second guiding surfaces are axially offset from one another along the guiding axis;
• a first seal mount disposed at a first axial position along the valve guide axially between the first and second guiding surfaces, wherein the first seal mount is configured to receive a first annular seal;
• and
• a second seal mount disposed at a second axial position axially offset from the first axial position along the valve guide, wherein the second guiding surface is axially between the first and second seal mounts, and the second seal mount is configured to receive a second annular seal.

A method, comprising:

• guiding a valve stem of a poppet valve along a guiding axis of a valve guide via a first guiding surface of the valve guide;
• guiding the valve stem of the poppet valve along the guiding axis of the valve guide via a second guiding surface of the valve guide, wherein the first and second guiding surfaces are axially offset from one another along the guiding axis;
• sealing a poppet valve with a first annular seal coupled to a first seal mount at a first axial position along the valve guide axially between the first and second guiding surfaces;
• and
• sealing the poppet valve with a second annular seal coupled to a second seal mount at a second axial position axially offset from the first axial position along the valve guide, wherein the second guiding surface is axially between the first and second seal mounts.