1MZ-FE Lifters

[parimento1]

Does the Toyota 1MZ-FE use hydraulic or mechanical lifters. My 97 Avalon is making a loud ticking noise when cold. Also, what would be the symptoms of a bad harmonic balancer?
thx

 

[H2GURU]

Mechanical lifters that may need to be adjusted. Best left to your dealer unless you are familiar with procedure. It is RARE that this needs to be done though. Some here claim a different oil filter fixes this situation. Good Luck. Yankees SUCK.

 

[parimento1]

haha indeed they do!Any ideas about the balancer?

 

[nthach]

The MZ engines are shim over bucket design. Checking valve adjustment on the non VVT-i ones is easy, but swapping shims out can be a PITA - more so on the Camry/Avalon/Sienna/ES/RX/Highlander thanks to a transverse layout and a "park bench" in the case of the vans/SUVs.

I've done them on my Lexus with the 1UZ-FE. It was a doable job - made easier by pulling the exhaust cams and with a Snap-On valve adjustment tool set.

 

[bcossa2001]

My mechanic told me that my 97 Avalon has hydraulic lifters. 180K miles and valves never adjusted....

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: parimento1
haha indeed they do!Any ideas about the balancer?


I've only ever had them go bad on Jaguars - the rubber separating the halves of the balancer breaks down, and the balancer lets out a loud squeal as the pieces spin at different speeds. It sounds like a belt slipping, but costs a lot more to fix.

Even if it is not squealing (yet), you can check it by putting a paint stripe on the balancer. If the stripe separates on the balancer after the engine is run, the balancer is toast.

Never had a Toyota, so I don't know what they sound like when they let go. Maybe someone else has experience.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: parimento1
Does the Toyota 1MZ-FE use hydraulic or mechanical lifters. My 97 Avalon is making a loud ticking noise when cold. Also, what would be the symptoms of a bad harmonic balancer?
thx


My 01 RX 300 valves are noisier when its cold as well.maybe its just the nature of the beast.And with vvt-i,Im certainly not going to mess with it.