Apparatus and method for testing internal combustion engine valves

A method of testing an engine valve having a head connected to a stem, the method comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising,
• a housing comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the housing comprising a bore for receiving a seat fixture, the housing further comprising an axial passage extending through the second end and into the bore, the seat fixture comprising a first end, a second end and an axial passage extending therebetween, the first end of the seat fixture being supported within the bore of the housing at the first end of the housing, the axial passage of the seat fixture being wider at the first end of the seat fixture for receiving a seat insert, an actuator for applying forces to the valve in a first axial direction and a second opposite axial direction,
• rotating the seat fixture within the eccentric bore to adjust or create an offset between an axial center of the housing and an axial center of the seat fixture,
• inserting a valve into the apparatus so the head of the valve is received in the seat insert and the stem of the valve extends along the axial center of the seat fixture and through the axial passages of the seat fixture and the housing and out the second end of the housing so that the stem of the valve and the head of the valve engage the actuator,
• operating the actuator in a repeating oscillating manner at a frequency so that the valve head is lifted off of the seat insert and pressed onto the seat insert,
• rotating the valve while operating the actuator,
• heating the valve with a heater to a first operating temperature range while operating the actuator and rotating the valve,
• after the heating step, cooling the valve with at least one coolant to a second operating temperature range while operating the actuator and rotating the valve.