Boypony

Hey Guys!
My 2002 RX300 (168K miles) was using 1/2 quart every 100 miles with new PCV . It had the screw in PCV valve. BUT the valve cover was a 2nd Gen, Not a 3rd Gen. The 2nd Gens are also oil suckers!
Found a used 3rd Gen rear valve cover on Ebay for $50.
Finally got around to installing it. Have driven 200 hwy miles at 75+ and haven't lost a drop of oil. HALLELULAH.

Motor had no sludge and 180 psi all cylinders thank God.

Anyway......for those of you with screw in PCV valves- want to know how to tell if you have a 2nd or 3rd Gen valve cover?
There are slight differences on the outside that you can use to ID your cover. The 3rd Gens PCV valve boss is slightly slanted. ALSO there are 4 notches on the 3rd Gens edge and only 2 on the 2nd Gen.
Inside the covers it's obvious...the 3rd Gen has the PCV vent all the way over on the side, and none in the middle.

Hope these pics help someone and make me an official member lol.

salimshah

Welcome to Club Lexus.

Salim

Baetke

Excellent photos, very helpful!
Do you have part numbers for the two covers?

Boypony

The new cover is part # 11201-0A060

roberic

Our 2003 RX300 (200K) had a leak from the rear valve cover - about a quart per oil change. I also identified evidence of a likely failed PCV valve, which I replaced. A couple of weeks later I had the oil changed the day prior to a planned cross-country road trip from Atlanta, GA to Salt Lake City, UT. I checked the oil at our first fuel stop only to find the dipstick absent any oil. There was no smoke from the exhaust nor any visible change to the known oil leak. I topped up the oil and again hit the freeway, searching online for information about excessive oil consumption for the '03 3.0 liter. Two hundred miles later, I again checked the oil to find the car again down 2 quarts. Again, I filled up the oil and resumed our drive, getting used to the idea that we would likely be buying a replacement engine.

As I continued to search online, however, I found hints/clues/reference to other possible causes - including reference to a problem with the rear valve cover. Several threads led me to conclude that a valve cover replacement may just fix my issue as well. The cherry on top, however, was this thread confirming the fix and identifying clearly the generational differences between each valve cover. I ordered the necessary gasket kits, a new screw-in PCV valve, some new spark plugs since I'd be in the neighborhood, and a 4th generation (2010 Highlander from Toyota dealer) valve cover ($200). Took about a day and a half on my own to perform the replacement. (Hint: Save yourself some time and just remove the wipers, wiper motor, and the black shroud right from the start.)

Bottom Line: 18 quarts of oil in 1,800 miles from ATL to SLC, and not one drop required on the way back east.

Thank you, Boypony for the excellent information - especially the pictures.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

I've been following these threads with great interest. What exactly is it about the 1st and 2nd gen valve covers that causes the oil consumption? (and that the 3rd gen fixes?)

roberic

As I understand it, as the engine mileage approaches 150K-200K, the baffles that lead to the PCV valve exit clog up with crud/sludge. The clogging occurs based on the location of the baffles relative to the "spray" of oil from moving parts under the cover.

Note the picture above showing the change in vent location.