Valve lash noise? adjustment

[brandoncrrll]

Heard some clacketing from up above and wanted to adjust the valve lash, ive done this a few times before but not on a toyota.....how do you adjust those lifters on this doch configuartion?? BTW its a 1991 camry 2.0 litre dohc 16 valve with 100,000 miles . I noticed that the lifter (or whatever its called that maked contact with the cam lobe) spins about freely, not sure if this is normal.....are they hydraulic or solid?? Also, taking a look valve cover and head its looks extremley messy with burnt looking oil cluttered all about, is this normal if not what could be the cause? Thanks in advance......

* I took some pics but not sure how to post them

[brandoncrrll]

There

[zythr]

Regarding the valve lash/clearance adjustment, you'll be wise to go either to a Toyota Dealer or certified technician. To keep the valves adjusted in the Camry engines, Toyota used shims. You'd have to measure the clearance for the valve then the thickness of the shim and add or subtract as needed to get the right size shim. Plus, you need special tools, to be able to remove and replace the shims. This is time consuming, plus your math would need to be as close as possible to get the right replacement shim (Which I read only Toyota dealers have). Regarding the burnt oil, that does not look normal. The underside of the valve cover should be relatively clean. Good luck.

[toyomoho]

The top end looks fine (grime wise) for an engine with this many miles, don't worry about it.

The engine has solid lifters and rarely needs a valve adjustment. As Zythr states the procedure is time consuming, requires a selection of shims of various thickness (Toyota part), specials tools (auto tool stores or Ebay should have them), a little skill and would be expensive if performed at the dealer.

The shims are the round disks under the cam lobes. The shims are installed on top of a bucket that restrains sideways shim movement but otherwise the shim is free to rotate.

The special hand tools are used to compress the valve spring and ease the shim out from between the bucket and cam lobe.

Toyota has a chart and info in the service manual about the shim selection procedure Zythr stated.

The bucket and valve stem keepers are what holds the valve spring and valve together to the head. The shim is placed (seated in a hole) on the top of the bucket.

A thicker shim reduces the valve train clearance, thinner the opposite. The shims are of varying thickness due to manufacturing tolerances when the engine was built.

These engines valve train have always been a little noisy even when properly adjusted. If concerned check the clearance yourself using standard valve clearance procedures for solid lifters. You might find they don't need adjustment.

[71surfbus]

This is more of a question...I seem to be seeing this a number of times yet never a resolution to the issue. Is the cause in fact loose valve adjustment or should I be looking for something "deeper"? or if I can have any info on how to re-enter my search to find more on this issue.

Thanks for taking any time to...........?
Daryl the newbie

[zythr]

What are you looking for information on?

[71surfbus]

just trying to see if I should be looking for another cause of the sound. It`s just like when I`m going up a steep grade and the gas is from....a cheaper source. But if anyone has had expirence with this maybe there`s something DEEPER?? just above the oil pan.....yieks!

hey thanks for checkin` on me...........

[fredk]

like spark knock?

[71surfbus]

Yes it is like a spark knock or if I got hold of some bad gas..only it seems to only be comming from the left rear cyclinder.cyclinders. This seems, from other posts here and like form sites, to be something of a "common" issue at the mileage range my truck motor is. (150,000-175,000) I was hoping to find out if any of the other posts found out if it was the valve adjustment, piston, rod or main bearing or broken spring. With this list of possible causes I was hoping someone had narrowed it down.
Just changed spark-plugs, I also do not have access to a computer on weekends, mine is being repared was not snubbing you, just can`t answer or responed.


Thanks for Taking The Time....
Daryl