So seeing as how my valve cover seals were leaking and the last time the valve cover bolts were touched was in early 1993 when my truck was being built in Japan, I decided to have slight oil leak from the gaskets addressed the other day.

I asked the Tech to check the valve clearance, and adjust the valves if needed. So my truck, with about 188,000 miles on it, did not need a valve adjustment. And here are the valve clearances that he checked that are all within spec after 188,000 miles:

Cylinder......Intake......Exhaust
#1 .009 .011
#2 .008 .011
#3 .009 .010
#4 .010 .011
#5 .008 .010
#6 .009 .010

Note stock specs are:
Intake - .007 to .011
Exhaust - .009 to .013

Not too shabby.

 

I guess what I'd be interested in knowing, is for those who have done valve adjustments in the past, or checked valve clearances, what were your stats before/if you did one? I guess I just found this odd, I was expecting at least a few valves to need adjusting but they don't need any adjustment period.

 

not sure what exactly mine were at, but they were way wider than spec. The manual recommends adjusting them every 12k if i remember correctly. I know some people have had the adjusters wear, and cause the adjustments to not hold very well

 

Adjusters? On a 3VZE???

 

hahaha wow, totally not paying attention. I was thinking 22re lol, but now that i look back i see 6 cylinders, whoops

 

These are the specs of an installed cam, between the bottom (rounded) section of a lobe and the top of the shim?

 

The normal wear for the 3VZ-E valves (overhead cam) is to get smaller clearance between the cam lobe low side and the valve lifter. This is because the valve is most likely to wear at its seating surface and thus come up further into the head as it wears. I recenly had my valves done (seats cut and valve faces reground). I can say that the intake valves had no sign of wear. The exhaust valves did. On my #6 exhaust valve, the clearance at some point during operation went to 0.000 or contact. I know this because the cam lobe was lightly polished where it should have been clear of the lifter. The valves had 210K on them.
Aside, I didnt have a leak in my valve covers.. but I think the passenger side rear cam bearing cap area was leaking a small amount after 180K miles.

 

nice spec... well mine is currently at, my passenger side is all within spec. but somehow my driver side is way off, #3 .008 - .007 #4 .008 - .007 #6 .008 - .007, weird yeah but I think its just the camshaft is bad, just got the head 5 months ago.