3E-E Questions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

micahdj · 07-13-2005, 09:40 PM

So I just bought my old roomates 93 tercel with the 1.5 FI 3E-E engine. It has 130k miles on it. I mechanic told her once that the engine was in need of a rebuild or replacement. I think they were trying to scam her. She claimed it burned oil but the level has not changed over the past 4 months. The spark plugs have ash depsoits on them so oil is most likely getting in somewhere. I did a compression check and the readings were from left to right
190,190,215,205
These seem really good to me so I am trying to figure out what is causing the plug fouling.
Too cold of a plug?
Some sort of intake tract oil leak?

Any help is appreciated. This is a new engine to me and I am still learning about it.

Also any thing that is a common failure item or should be replaced at 130k miles would be nice to know about. I don't think she took good care of this car and I am sure it needs some work but the engine does run strong.

TIA

Galvatron · 07-13-2005, 11:00 PM

That compression seems a bit high, so it probably has some carbon buildup going on in there. If the oil level is consistent, consider yourself lucky. Most 3E's start to have valve stem seal problems around 100k or so. As for maintinence stuff, obviously you'd want to give it some fresh oil, plugs wires cap and rotor are nice, check the tranny fluid, air filter, fuel filter (that ones a bitch to replace), and take a look to see how the coolant looks.

My plugs are usually a bit nasty, but nothing terrible. What kind were in there? Go with some nice NGK's, none of that fancy platinum or 4 tipped crap that have no use in our engines.

Good luck with 'er.

toywagonguy · 07-13-2005, 11:36 PM

Oil into the intake tract can be from an overly ambitious PCV valve or possibly the plugs just were in there for a while. Try changing them with some factory NGK-R's (possibly the best plug ever made?) and re-check them in another 10K miles. If it's not burning oil i wouldn't worry about it though.
Jay

Puddle Jumper · 07-19-2005, 04:02 PM

Oil leakage from the valve stem seals and worn valve guides are annoying problems with my '86 3A-C.

I also have carbon buildup and frequent dieseling, but because I know my Puddle Jumper is going to fail the California Smog Check: I'm gonna leave the engine alone until time comes for the Smog Tech to fix the emission problem.

Yeah, funky spark plugs are just a common thing for these little screamers.

Puddle Jumper · 07-19-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toywagonguy

Oil into the intake tract can be from an overly ambitious PCV valve or possibly the plugs just were in there for a while. Try changing them with some factory NGK-R's (possibly the best plug ever made?) and re-check them in another 10K miles. If it's not burning oil i wouldn't worry about it though.
Jay

Hmmmmmm.

So you live in Corning California huh?

I live in Orland.

micahdj · 07-25-2005, 06:24 PM

Thanx for your help everyone. Sounds like she the engine is pretty normal compared to what you guys are saying.

jeffs94 · 07-30-2005, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micahdj

So I just bought my old roomates 93 tercel with the 1.5 FI 3E-E engine. It has 130k miles on it. I mechanic told her once that the engine was in need of a rebuild or replacement. I think they were trying to scam her. She claimed it burned oil but the level has not changed over the past 4 months. The spark plugs have ash depsoits on them so oil is most likely getting in somewhere. I did a compression check and the readings were from left to right
190,190,215,205
These seem really good to me so I am trying to figure out what is causing the plug fouling.
Too cold of a plug?
Some sort of intake tract oil leak?

Any help is appreciated. This is a new engine to me and I am still learning about it.

Also any thing that is a common failure item or should be replaced at 130k miles would be nice to know about. I don't think she took good care of this car and I am sure it needs some work but the engine does run strong.

TIA

hmmm....could you possibly describe the "ash" or post a pic? It sounds like there is some carbon build up in one of the cylinders. plug fouling could be signs of a rich running engine or a valve stem seal is starting to leak. Compare the plug from the cylinder thats a little higher with one thats lower. An oil leak will develop carbon on top of the piston and you'll end up with higher compression in that cylinder. What heat range (plugs) do you have now?

gtstang88 · 09-16-2007, 10:12 AM

Are there any good aftermarket valve stem seals, like fel-pro, or should I stick with the overpriced toyota parts?

Galvatron · 09-16-2007, 10:45 AM

I'm pretty sure most people say the OEM Toyota seals are best.

gtstang88 · 09-16-2007, 11:23 AM

Has anyone had good luck with an aftermarket seal, the oem' s are 3 times as much as aftermarket, and I'm tring to save some money?

Heavy_D · 09-17-2007, 07:06 PM

how much are the NGKs spark plugs? i ned new ones, so i can get them and be ready for a good prive on them.

ToyotaTechGeek · 09-18-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtstang88

Has anyone had good luck with an aftermarket seal, the oem' s are 3 times as much as aftermarket, and I'm tring to save some money?

the Fel=Pro are ok. i know the Toyota seals are expensive! i haven't had any problems with using Fel-Pro on the valve seals and the valve cover seals. everything else in the engine is Toyota.

1991tercelasdf · 09-19-2007, 11:40 AM

the ngk plugs are about $2.00 each, so save up about $8.