rule of thumb.? all compression numbers within 10% of each other, and all over 100
--
rz

On Nov 26, 2023, at 10:15 AM, d.meeker66@... wrote:

Hey Paul,? I don't speak motor so probably stupid question.?

Had my compression checked on my '91 Spirit,? 90k, they

were all very close to 120psi. Mechanic seems to think that’s

OK, your opinion? Would adjusting valves improve compression?

Ty Dan

That’s good news. Your actual compression numbers were

likely much higher, but your mechanic didn’t use the correct

measuring procedure to get high readings.? Adjusting valves

wouldn’t improve numbers that are normal to begin with.

Paul

It may be difficult to find a mechanic in rural Georgia

that is experienced with 30 year old Toyota engines.?

If you want to be pro-active, have the valve clearances measured?

manually by removing the two valve covers to gain access

to the mechanical valve lifters. Especially check

the six exhaust valve clearances. ?

I guess you’ll just have to call around different shops and

ask if they have anyone experienced and willing to

measure the clearances on a 30 year old Toyota 3VZ-E

V6 overhead cam engine.

Or if you can’t find anyone, call around and

ask if they have anyone that can do a cylinder compression

test on a 30 year old Toyota 3VZ-E V6 overhead cam engine.

If compression is high and even (around 170-190 psi) on all

six cylinders then you can be pretty certain the motor can be

driven another 15,000 - 30,000 miles without adjusting clearances.

But if some cylinders are trending lower psi, then it’s important

to get the exhaust valve clearances on the affected cylinders?

loosened?up by installing a thinner valve adjusting metal shim.

Here is a long video about checking and adjusting valve clearances

on a 24 valve version of your Toyhome V6 - in fact - it's the same

5VZ-FE engine that’s in your 2002 4Runner.? At the 1:10 mark they

talk about how the cylinder compression was restored on cylinders

that had their valve clearances adjusted.

?

Paul Cherubini

On Nov 26, 2023, at 8:53 AM, drscrowe via <drscrowe@...> wrote:

Sorry to pester y'all about V6 valve adjustments, but here goes. The 1993 Warrior has 100K miles on it, and I doubt anyone has ever looked at the valves. My local old mechanic said they "sounded fine," the rig runs great, and to leave them alone. However, someone on Facebook (!) said that you couldn't hear the valves on these campers go bad, and to check the compression.

I have a new mechanic and sent the camper to him yesterday, to see if he could figure out why the check engine light was on (old mechanic couldn't, said to put tape across it -- as did everyone in my family -- but that bugs me). I added a note to the keys at the drop box asking if he could check the compression.

Assuming the compression is still good, should the valves be "adjusted?" I love the camper and am trying to be proactive -- put a new V6 engine in my 2002 Toyota 4Runner and it was a little over $6K and took nearly 5 months!

Thanks,
Sue Crowe
Talking Rock GA

To everyone eating turkey sandwiches today, your moderators hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. My husband Tom and I are visiting Illinois and had a nice meal with your other moderator Steve and his family.? Counting some ?additional Toyota RV friends (George and Georgia), we had 12 in total.? Steve cooked the turkey, but by the time we all got done, there was no turkey left! ?

Tom and I are not done yet with RVing in the mid-west this season, and are making one more short trip next week before we winterize our Itasca for storage. Then it is flying back to California for the sunshine and to be RVing with our E-Z Ryder.? A few years ago we decided that driving an RV back and forth twice a year was a bit too time-consuming, so that’s why we now have a Toyota RV in each region.? We love them both!

Tika
Owner-moderator, Toyota-campers group