dude74

What is everyones experience with having the vavles adjusted?

My 90 LS has about 146k on it. It goes through a quart of oil every 2k. is this normal with the age of the engine?

Is the engine burning oil because the valves need to be adjusted?

What do most of you pay for a valve job?
I need to have the Timing belt replaces soon, and I figured that it would make the most sense to have the valves adjusted and the timing belts changed at the same time.

Opinions?

hyperopt

Oil comsumption is due to oil getting into the combustion chamber, which is mostly the result of worn cylinder walls, piston rings, and/or valve stem seals. Poorly adjusted valves expose the combustion chamber cavity to intake and/or exhaust cavities at all times resulting in reduced performance and higher emission. Properly adjust valves will improve engine performance, and, unfornately, will not reduce oil consumption in any significant amount.
LS400 engines are low oil consumption engines compared to other Toyota engines, so 1qt/2000miles is slightly on the high side.

Let's take an informal survey as to how much your LS consumes motor oil!

My 126k+ LS never required topping off with motor oil.

retrodrive

Never had problem witht hat; however, my valves are not adjusted.

Christian

My dads LS 400 takes 2litre every 10000km. Odo is 390000km valves were never adjusted. The car needs a bit more oil since it was new but it really depends on how you drive. Oil consumption goes up while driving highspeed at the autobahn.

Chris

Lvangundy

My 90 has 130,000 miles, and I have to drop about 1 quart of oil in every 6 weeks or so. Maybe less, maybe more. But I know it burns oil somehwat frequently.

On the last smog test, the numbers were WELLLLLLLLLL below the limitations of California. I'm thinking since I drive it so hard, maybe the valves need to be adjusted and my smog test numbers are going to be higher now....

fusi0n 1er

when I called for a valve job everyhwere was asking me around $2000 and that for all 32 valves parts and labor.

retrodrive

I was quoted $400 but thats my own mechanic.

Lvangundy

retro - you guy.

Your pal doensn't want more customers? Even just a couple? He could charge more..earn some MORE $$$

retrodrive

I can ask him. The guy does it in his own garage and I am pretty sure he does not want to make any business out of it. I'll ask though.

dude74

What is up with the major differences in cost for servicing our 400's?

I can handle most of the basic maintenance of these cars myself. Its only the big jobs like timing belt and valves that I would prefer to "farm out". But going from a $2000 quote to a $400 quote for a valve job seems a little to disparate.



As for burning oil. It doesn't have me that concerned, the car still runs smoothly. there is a little bit of "oil" smoke in the exhaust first thing in the mornign though.

I have heard that it is a good idea to start using thicker oil as an engine ages. Is there any truth to this statement?

Lvangundy

I've heard this from many mechanics. They recommend using thicker oil as the engine collects more miles.

On the other hand, I've heard that if the engine is well maintained, this isn't necessary until really high miles like 150/200+K

I have 130K and use a thicker oil combined with a thin oil. Can't remember which right now though.

fusi0n 1er

my mechanic also said to use thicker oil as the engine got more miles on it... I use 20w-50 synthetic. Also he told mje to use Mobil Synthetic Oil....

v8pwr

when I called local Lexus service department about valve job, they said it'll cost about $850. They also said that it is very rare for our engine to require valve adjustment especially at my mileage (95000miles), and the ticking noise I was hearing must be something else.
However, using stethoscope, I determined that some valves on the driver side was ticking. When I checked the clearance, two valves were out of adjustment.

My car was always serviced regularly, but it did require valve job at 95000miles.

Lvangundy

Ok, so now that we have all this info,

What happens when the valves are out of adjustment? I'm guessing burning more oil is one of the problems, but what else?

I've heard of loss of performance, and poor gas mileage. Anything else?

hyperopt

The cost of machining and mandatory parts (not including shims) for a proper valve job on a 32 valves V8 would easily exceed $400 not counting the cost of shims. If you have to replace half of the shims at >$15/shim, you're looking at >$240 just for shims only. The numbers do not add up, and for a mechanic to charge $400, he will have to cut corners and stop eating for a few days.