Adjust valves in a Toyota Sequoia V8?

[robbobster]

My co-worker's car is at the dealership for an oil change. The service writer just called, said that they recommend a valve adjustment, to the tune of $500.

Basically, they are trying to frighten him by saying "well, if the valves get too far out of adjustment, you'll need a new engine."

I was under the impression that this V8 had hydraulic lash adjusters that automatically adjusted themselves.

What's the deal here, is the service writer legit?

 

[surfstar]

Sounds like they do need checking:

tundra thread

 

[robbobster]

Cool, thanks so much for the link & info.
I'll forward it to my co-worker, and let him decide.

 

[Drew99GT]

What is the timing belt interval for the Tundras? Isn't it 100K? If so, I'd tell your friend to wait till then. The valves will likely still be perfectly in spec, and if there is no rough idle or obvious ticking at idle, then it's probably gonna be $500 wasted.

Plus, like that thread indicated, I wouldn't let a Toyota dealer touch my vehicle, EVER! Independent shop specializing in Toyotas would be the way to go. Just my opinions.

 

[robbobster]

The link indicates checking them at 60K.

My co-worker, like most folks, doesn't even know where his owner's manual is, so he has no idea what the recommended maintenence intervals are.

 

[surfstar]

I agree with the let it go to 100k "if there is no rough idle or obvious ticking at idle".

$500 is a lot for them to open it up and verify they're within spec without changing anything.

 

[LarryL]

We've got one of those Toyota V8 in a stationary application running a ball mill at a hobby gold mine. The engine gets run hard all the time. It takes a beating no truck engine would ever get. We've been curious and checked the valve clearance several times over the years and it just never changes. It just stays right in the middle of the spec. The engine gets loaded up until it won't take any more and run like that for 8 to 10 hours at a time. If anything would eat a valve, this should do it, but nothing. It just runs. I can't imagine a street engine with it's sissy duty cycle needing to be checked before 100k miles, when you change the belt.

The only problem we've ever had is with the computer controlled starter circuit. If the voltage ever drops below 6 volts, the starter is blocked from turning, even though our deep cycle batteries have enough amperage to knock a horse over. If there's a better designed and built engine in the world, I can't think of it.

 

[Matt_S]

[rant]
Why in this day and age, when hydraulic valve lifters have existed and been proven for so long, do companies still put solid lifters into their engines, subjecting customers to $500 adjustment bills like this, which most people would simply pay, albeit begrudgingly so? I feel the same about timing belts.
[/rant]

 

[muddawgs]

check when its due for the timing belt/waterpump if they feel its a issue.. the lash isnt a problem unless its been severly oil neglected or not adjusted properly from the get go.. this has been a proven rock solid design for many many years. those engines are not known for that failure. the dealer would probably screw it up or not do it at all.

service writers are crooks and feed off people that show fear or re-act. a good independant or import shop would be my first choice if they dont want to mess with it.

now ask him to buy you lunch for saving him $500..

 

[heynow]

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt_S:
[rant]
Why in this day and age, when hydraulic valve lifters have existed and been proven for so long, do companies still put solid lifters into their engines, subjecting customers to $500 adjustment bills like this, which most people would simply pay, albeit begrudgingly so? I feel the same about timing belts.
[/rant]

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Take a look at LarryL's post before yours and you will have your answer