Questions about P1346, MOA, and OCV.
03-06-14, 03:13 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Questions about P1346, MOA, and OCV.
On my '99 LS400, the CEL and VSC light came on and it started running rough (mostly at idle.) The codes came back P1346 and P1349 and the miles sit just over 143k.
My mechanic said the oil was gunky from neglect. I told him I change it every 3,000 miles (and I do.) He asked what brand I use. I told him Pennzoil and he replied, "That counts as neglect."
He said it needs a valve job from a Lexus dealer, but for now he'll put MOA in it and I should change the oil in 500 mile, add MOA and change it again in another 1000, and repeat the process at 1500 and 2500.
Here's my questions:
1. If Pennzoil is so toxic, why was I not warned and what should I switch to?
2. Has anyone had luck with this MOA rehab idea?
3. Should I try cleaning or replacing the OCV's myself? (The mechanic said it's a ten hour job, but I've seen how-to's on here that suggest different.)
4. Another guy said, "P1346 and P1349? You just need a new sensor." (I don't think it's that easy.)
The mechanic also said it was running fine when he test drove it, not even a CEL.
For me the CEL and VSC light didn't return until I was one mile from the shop.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My mechanic said the oil was gunky from neglect. I told him I change it every 3,000 miles (and I do.) He asked what brand I use. I told him Pennzoil and he replied, "That counts as neglect."
He said it needs a valve job from a Lexus dealer, but for now he'll put MOA in it and I should change the oil in 500 mile, add MOA and change it again in another 1000, and repeat the process at 1500 and 2500.
Here's my questions:
1. If Pennzoil is so toxic, why was I not warned and what should I switch to?
2. Has anyone had luck with this MOA rehab idea?
3. Should I try cleaning or replacing the OCV's myself? (The mechanic said it's a ten hour job, but I've seen how-to's on here that suggest different.)
4. Another guy said, "P1346 and P1349? You just need a new sensor." (I don't think it's that easy.)
The mechanic also said it was running fine when he test drove it, not even a CEL.
For me the CEL and VSC light didn't return until I was one mile from the shop.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
03-06-14, 03:45 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
On my '99 LS400, the CEL and VSC light came on and it started running rough (mostly at idle.) The codes came back P1346 and P1349 and the miles sit just over 143k.
My mechanic said the oil was gunky from neglect. I told him I change it every 3,000 miles (and I do.) He asked what brand I use. I told him Pennzoil and he replied, "That counts as neglect."
He said it needs a valve job from a Lexus dealer, but for now he'll put MOA in it and I should change the oil in 500 mile, add MOA and change it again in another 1000, and repeat the process at 1500 and 2500.
Here's my questions:
1. If Pennzoil is so toxic, why was I not warned and what should I switch to?
2. Has anyone had luck with this MOA rehab idea?
3. Should I try cleaning or replacing the OCV's myself? (The mechanic said it's a ten hour job, but I've seen how-to's on here that suggest different.)
4. Another guy said, "P1346 and P1349? You just need a new sensor." (I don't think it's that easy.)
The mechanic also said it was running fine when he test drove it, not even a CEL.
For me the CEL and VSC light didn't return until I was one mile from the shop.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My mechanic said the oil was gunky from neglect. I told him I change it every 3,000 miles (and I do.) He asked what brand I use. I told him Pennzoil and he replied, "That counts as neglect."
He said it needs a valve job from a Lexus dealer, but for now he'll put MOA in it and I should change the oil in 500 mile, add MOA and change it again in another 1000, and repeat the process at 1500 and 2500.
Here's my questions:
1. If Pennzoil is so toxic, why was I not warned and what should I switch to?
2. Has anyone had luck with this MOA rehab idea?
3. Should I try cleaning or replacing the OCV's myself? (The mechanic said it's a ten hour job, but I've seen how-to's on here that suggest different.)
4. Another guy said, "P1346 and P1349? You just need a new sensor." (I don't think it's that easy.)
The mechanic also said it was running fine when he test drove it, not even a CEL.
For me the CEL and VSC light didn't return until I was one mile from the shop.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
So not only is Pennzoil not the worst oil, many world class mechanics and petroleum engineers would say it is, in fact, the best oil.
and you do not need a valve job either, I have been working on LS400 since they were introduced, and I have never seen a 1UZ engine that needed a valve job!
You do probably need to clean/degunk the oil controlled portion of the VVTi system though, there are several threads here on how to go about this.
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 03-06-14 at 03:49 PM.
03-07-14, 10:00 AM
#4
I had the code pop up on me and I just pulled the sensor out and cleaned it with carb cleaner and made sure the internal piece moved freely like it should and put it back in. Reset the code and it went away.
03-07-14, 10:42 AM
#6
Lexus Champion
MOA is an extremely overpriced snake-oil from a company called BG, famous purveyor of dealership high profit-margin snake oils
it won't hurt anything, but is basically just throwing money away, modern oils have a complete and thorough additive package
here is the VOA (virgin oil analysis) of BG's MOA
it won't hurt anything, but is basically just throwing money away, modern oils have a complete and thorough additive package
here is the VOA (virgin oil analysis) of BG's MOA
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03-07-14, 01:08 PM
#8
Lexus Champion
Yes! - do what Billy and dengman say! - that is what I am referring to when I said:
You do probably need to clean/degunk the oil controlled portion of the VVTi system
03-18-14, 02:57 PM
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I switch the driver side OCV with a new one (and cleaned its home.) Super easy, just like you all said.
Decided to change passenger side OCV while I had the hood up, but aborted mission when a piece of the air intake controller broke. I glued it back in place, reattached the tubes, and put the spare OCV away for another day.
Thanks for all the help.
Decided to change passenger side OCV while I had the hood up, but aborted mission when a piece of the air intake controller broke. I glued it back in place, reattached the tubes, and put the spare OCV away for another day.
Thanks for all the help.
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Jerseyguy
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
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