WheezerMF

+1 on the thanks for updating us on your fix.

I have a '99 es300 with 66k on it. Yes, the proverbial little-old-lady car. Yesterday it started billowing smoke like a military smoke screen. Our neighborhood shop suggested a "block test" to see whether it was rings or head gasket. All I could think was $$$...!

After finding this thread, I spent part of the afternoon replacing the PCV valve and the gas filter. It smoked like crazy when I first started it up and drove around the block, but got better after a mile or two. I came home and checked fluids, etc, and took it out for a quick jaunt on the highway, and when I got back, zero smoke! (We'll see how it behaves when i start it from cold tomorrow morning.)

Specifics:
The car started bellowing smoke when I took a LH turn at 30mph. (The PCV valve is on the RH side of the motor.) When I removed it, it crumbled. Probably the original part. The grommet was no better. I used a long piece of plastic tube to suck out the crumbles as I went. I used a bicycle spoke (nice strong steel!) with a 1/2" fold on the end to pull the grommet out. Who needs special tools??!

Fuel filter was a pain to get at, but not a problem. ...Also looked OEM.

I also added fuel injector cleaner to the gas, and replaced a quart of oil with Lucas Oil's Oil Stabilizer. ...What the heck, eh?

Oh, and the Chilton's book is FAR, FAR better than Haynes.

Side note: When I had a Passat, I haunted the forums pretty regularly. Two years into Lexus ownership, I rarely -need- the forums. Gotta love it!!

ES300NZ

thanks for that, .. now I feel good about paying to much to replace my PCV valve. I'd never have figured out those symptoms, . so strange.

Darboy

I am having problems with my car i use it everyday to go to work everytime i hit the freeway and step on the gas , i always hear this rattling noise,, sounds like air scaping from somewhere under the hood and it gets low acceleration...what could it be??

98eslex

Have a 1998 ES300 180000 on the odometer and I just starting having the same symptoms as you describe. Jump straight to your conclusion of the pcv and boom!, no more smoke. Thanks for the input, save me time and money.