removing valve cover
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
removing valve cover
I am trying to remove the valve cover of my 99 rx300 to see if I can find any sludge. Does any one know if the small bolts showed in the red also need to be removed? And if so what size socket? Thanks.
#2
Moderator
I am not answering your question here, but if you want to remove the valve cover for sludge, you should do the other side .... next to the firewall. It might be more difficult, but the tilt should give you more collection in there.
Before you open the cover, I would suggest getting a new gasket and torquing the screws/nut to the specified value. You dont want it to leak.
Salim
Before you open the cover, I would suggest getting a new gasket and torquing the screws/nut to the specified value. You dont want it to leak.
Salim
#3
Lead Lap
iTrader: (2)
It's called an External Torx. I went to Sears and bought a 7pc External Socket Set for $30, even though I only needed one. The size used for this is a E6 External Socket. It fits perfectly and came off with ease. And Only the top two (red circles) need to be removed for this job, because the wire harness is in the way. The bottom two (shown) and there is a third off to the right, held the engine cover in place, these you don't have to do anything with. Good Luck.
#4
Lexus Champion
It's called an External Torx. I went to Sears and bought a 7pc External Socket Set for $30, even though I only needed one. The size used for this is a E6 External Socket. It fits perfectly and came off with ease. And Only the top two (red circles) need to be removed for this job, because the wire harness is in the way. The bottom two (shown) and there is a third off to the right, held the engine cover in place, these you don't have to do anything with. Good Luck.
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Thanks guys for the reply. I havent had a chance to open the rear valve cover but here is how the front looks like. I swiched to pennzoil platinum synthetic 5w-30 last oil change and have noticed 1.5 quart oil loss since in last 2k miles of mostly highway driving. I was using regular oil before and there was no oil loss. How bad does it look? Also I pulled out a spark plus and the tip looked fairly white with some dark oil deposits on the side. Any suggestions are welcome. Car has 136k on it. Thanks.
#6
Moderator
To me, the only thing I see is varnish. It looks all AOK.
Salim
Salim
#7
That's a pretty clean engine. Your returns are clean, the edges don't have any gelling... I would say it's fine. Keep using the synth. oil at this point.
As for losing oil, since the synth. flows better, perhaps you're getting burn off? Do you notice any blue smoke when you accelerate?
As for losing oil, since the synth. flows better, perhaps you're getting burn off? Do you notice any blue smoke when you accelerate?
Trending Topics
#8
Driver
Thread Starter
I have not noticed any smoke so far. I have read some other posts about oil loss during highway driving. I know lexmex had oil loss issues and he switced to castrol 0w-30 which fixed the problem. Coolant looks clean so probably not an internal leak. I am guessing its the age of the engine and possibly loss in compression. I will try a different engine oil and see if that fixed it.
#9
Lexus Champion
I have not noticed any smoke so far. I have read some other posts about oil loss during highway driving. I know lexmex had oil loss issues and he switced to castrol 0w-30 which fixed the problem. Coolant looks clean so probably not an internal leak. I am guessing its the age of the engine and possibly loss in compression. I will try a different engine oil and see if that fixed it.
#10
Pole Position
You might try the Castrol 0-30 German made oil... The Catalytic converter will actually burn the oil up for a while till it gets contaminated... Then its replacement time. I wonder if Auto RX or some kind of cleaner in the engine would loosen the rings. I agree with Code58, Castrol is very good oil....
#12
Driver
Thread Starter
I have owned the car for only about 4 months. Previous owner had service done at Lexus dealership and I still need to get records from them. I don't think Lexus dealership uses synthetic oil. When got the car I changed the oil to Pennzoil conventional 5W-30 and there were no issues at all. After driving 3k miles I changed the oil to Pennzoil platinum synthetic 5W-30 and started seeing oil loss. I do a lot of short trips (less than 2 miles) since my work is very close my home so I wanna keep on changing oil frequently. At this point I am thinking I could either switch back to Pennzoil conventional 5W-30 and change oil every 2k miles or change to German Castrol (expensive option and not easily available) and change every 3-4k miles.
#14
Lexus Champion
I have owned the car for only about 4 months. Previous owner had service done at Lexus dealership and I still need to get records from them. I don't think Lexus dealership uses synthetic oil. When got the car I changed the oil to Pennzoil conventional 5W-30 and there were no issues at all. After driving 3k miles I changed the oil to Pennzoil platinum synthetic 5W-30 and started seeing oil loss. I do a lot of short trips (less than 2 miles) since my work is very close my home so I wanna keep on changing oil frequently. At this point I am thinking I could either switch back to Pennzoil conventional 5W-30 and change oil every 2k miles or change to German Castrol (expensive option and not easily available) and change every 3-4k miles.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LexBrett
SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
17
04-20-15 06:20 AM
LexBrett
SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
5
04-02-15 01:27 PM