I'm having the typical cold start problem so I decided to replace the cold start injector with one that I found for cheap on ebay. I was surprised to find out that my original injector looked like it was rotting away in Elton John's a$$ since the 70's. As you can see, it was CAKED in carbon. My spark plugs look black and you can actually see quite a bit up build up in the intake manifold as well. Not only that, but it comes out my tailpipe too! Now the carbon issue is worrying me more that the cold stall I'm getting in the morning. The engine seems to have been rebuilt as well because the compression is 180+ in all cylinders.


Intake


Elton John's buttplug


Spark plug (example)


Carbon stain on the pavement from the tail pipe


I've searched around quite a bit about the carbon build up and all I found was a suggestion to replace the air filter which isn't an issue. I can run some seafoam through it again, but I'm trying to find out what the hell is causing this! I'm afraid to clean out the auxiliary air valve which is next on my list because it's probably caked with this crap as well. Any ideas as to why this is happening?

 

crappy gas. running rich. many years of never being cleaned. burning oil, etc. carbon buildup can come from a number of different things. as for it coming out of the tail pipe, when you start cleaning things out, ie seafoam, cleaning injectors, etc. the crap that is being cleaned out of the engine comes out of the exhaust. any build up in the cyls that is coming free from the cleaner has to come out some where.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the 02 sensor be the culprit if my truck were running rich?

Also, carbon came out the tail pipe before I used seafoam or anything of that nature.

 

pretty much all upper plenums end up looking like that eventually, just clean it up and forget about it for a few more years.

 

Uh.... and the stains on the pavement? That must be normal too, eh?

 

I was only talking about the gunk in the upper plenum, they just get that way over time. Look at any high mileage 22r/re intake and its gonna be full of gunk. As for the exhaust thing my truck does it too and it has never bothered me.

 

I found out why my truck isn't starting when cold. I took apart the Auxiliary Air Valve and noticed it was broken. Anybody know where to get a new one (or refurbished) cheaper than the dealer? I can't find them at Autozone or Checker.


-edit- it. I just ordered one from the stealer for $191.00. I couldn't find anything on the net.

 

hate to sound really green but i have tried to find the auxiliary air valve not to sure where to look. looks like you would be the right person to ask where about is the aav??
thanks
juan

 

Are you looking for a new one? You can get a genuine toyota one from 1sttoyotaparts.com for much cheaper than the dealer.

 

I'm not sure if I understand your question. I purchased it from Power toyota in Tempe AZ. If you're wondering where it's located in the engine bay, it's under the throttle body.

 

You can get them @ advance auto parts for$248 part number is 22651

 

It not carbon build up in your intake, its oil vapor build up and it comes from the hose on top of the valve cover that conects just behind the throttle body.

 

Any fix to this? Possibly add an oil separator in the line?

 

^^ Something like that should work, i was also thinking of one of those cheap clear plastic fuel filters adapted to fit the stock hose, any one of those would work.

 

Where's this hose located? Got a pic?

I'll add something to the line and create a thread later if you can point me in the right direction.

 

Its where the black hose comes out the top of your valve cover. You can also get just a little k&n type air filter that goes on to the valve cover and replaces the hose. Dont forget to cap the intake side of where the hose goes though, either that or add another filter there.

 

You can put a filter on the valve cover but not on the intake, it will allow unmetered air into the intake and cause your truck to run rough.

 

Would it be a good idea to put an oil separator in line with the PCV valve too? I'm not sure how everything is set up on the 22R, but my 3VZ-E sucks oil vapor through the PCV too and it gums up the plenum. And is there anything that I could spray through the spark plug hole to clean carbon w/o taking the heads off? Just as a preliminary "cleaning" step - I'm doing HG's this summer...

 

some will advise against it but for cleaning carbon I've always had good luck with seafoam, ran through the brake booster hose.