P1349 Oil Control Valve

[T-Gale]

Hello Toyota Nation family, I have a few questions. Do you need to empty/change your oil in order to change the oil control valves? And is there anything specific (like steps or procedures) that someone would need to know before changing them out? Or is it a simple loosen, pull and replace?

[bobflood]

Originally Posted by T-Gale

Hello Toyota Nation family, I have a few questions. Do you need to empty/change your oil in order to change the oil control valves? And is there anything specific (like steps or procedures) that someone would need to know before changing them out? Or is it a simple loosen, pull and replace?

As they are fairly high up on the engine, there should be no need to drain oil first. I have never done this, but the explanations I have seen indicate that it is fairly straightforward. Do a search on this site - I'm almost positive this is where I have seen words about it.

[Mr. Glen Oaks]

There are a few posts on this, I just wanted to add my experience. First and foremost, Do Not Wait on this code. I did out of lack of research and paid dearly. It screws with your timing. It fouled my plugs and blew up 2 ignition coil packs!

The change out is pretty straight forward. The openings are tranny side of the engine and up top close to the head covers so you dont necessarily have to drop the oil but there is a filter for each O.C.V on each bank just below the O.C.V's behind a big bolt. At the minimum you should clean these out. They are pretty cheap so I just replaced mine since I was in there anyways. You will lose some oil out of these holes. I do an oil change any time I open up my engine just in case. You can't be too careful with these engines (Search Avalon Sludge for some horror stories)

The plastic connectors are super fragile so be careful and these engines are very touchy about non OEM so only use the real Denso / Toyota parts. I will plug my new friend:

Gary Smith
Parts Manager
Toyota of Newnan
2 Herring Road
Newnan, GA 30265
(678)854-9601
www.toyotaofnewnan.com

He has been a Great help and gives Toyota Nation members a discount! Great Customer Service and Super helpful. Got my parts quick and cheap, can't beat it.

[T-Gale]

Mr Glen.. thanks a lot for the info. And i will reach to the your guy. Thanks!!

[leakyseals]

I just resolved P1349 on a corolla with nothing more than a Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w-30 oil change. CEL went out after about 500 miles. Oil is really bad at 1500k now, lights still out. Looking in the filler, clearly the sludge and varnish are diminishing. Pretty powerful cleaners in that oil. Towards the end of 5k OCI I plan to run some kreen fo 1k as a follow up.