Engine just blew at 176k!
03-07-13, 05:07 PM
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Engine just blew at 176k!
The engine on my 97 is toast, looks like it dropped a valve. Before this it was running great. I thought these motors were reliable. I attached a picture of the spark plug. Why would this happen? 
03-07-13, 05:26 PM
#3
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (20)
did you buy it brand new? if not, who knows how previous owners have treated it. i do believe toyota motors are very reliable as long as you treat it right and do the schedule maintenance
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03-07-13, 06:48 PM
#8
I have 220k on mine, we've owned it since new. Im not saying you are one of them, but people but these cars with 150k miles or more and expect them to be problem free. More often then not there are no service records when people buy the car as well.
03-07-13, 08:56 PM
#11
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
I bought the car at 118k, it was in very good condition. Ever since I have taken good care of it, for example changing the oil every 6k with mobil 1. The only issue was that the valve lifters were alittle loud. That could have led to this failure. A shop wanted to charge me $500 to do a valve adjustment but I my finances are not good at the moment. I am going to have to borrow some money and hopefully find a decent used engine. I need to have a shop do the labor because I am on disability because of a bone spur in my shoulder.
03-07-13, 09:30 PM
#12
Dang man I'm sorry to hear that. Mine has 180k right now and these motors are supper reliable!! But what some people think is that they are so reliable that they don't think things will break and when they do everyone starts to get all upset and blame the car for its unreliability. Like what was already said these are machines and after a while things will break. For example this just happened this Monday I was driving mine like i do everyday when my check engine light came on and the car started to act funny, so I pulled into a gas station and it started to sputter really bad and really jerky and didn't want to shift well i thought it would be spark plugs sense i had not changed them for about 45k miles so I changed them problem was still there. 
So I had to take it to a shop with a high tech diagnostic machine and showed that it was miss firing 2/4/6 and that my VVT solenoid had gone out in bank two. After I replaced that now she runs like a dream again. If you had just gone ahead when you knew that there was a problem with the valves being loud you might of still had your es running fine who knows whats meant to be happens you cant really change that. But I am sorry for the lose of your es but hey maybe you can find a downer motor and she will run again..
So I had to take it to a shop with a high tech diagnostic machine and showed that it was miss firing 2/4/6 and that my VVT solenoid had gone out in bank two. After I replaced that now she runs like a dream again. If you had just gone ahead when you knew that there was a problem with the valves being loud you might of still had your es running fine who knows whats meant to be happens you cant really change that. But I am sorry for the lose of your es but hey maybe you can find a downer motor and she will run again..
03-08-13, 06:15 AM
#14
Lexus Test Driver
Summary:
- DJPsystems bought the car at 118k miles
- it had or developed valve lifter issues (noise) some time along the way
- the rest of the car is in very good condition (as per owner's perspective or a knowledgeable mechanic?)
- previous maintenance history and driving habits can be assumed unknown
- a shop advised doing valve adjustment for $500 but DJPsystems declined due to financial reason
- his engine blew at 176k miles
- then he questioned why Toyota/Lexus engine is not reliable
Sorry DJPsystems, I hate to be a cyber bully....but the problem is not with Toyota/Lexus reliability.
- DJPsystems bought the car at 118k miles
- it had or developed valve lifter issues (noise) some time along the way
- the rest of the car is in very good condition (as per owner's perspective or a knowledgeable mechanic?)
- previous maintenance history and driving habits can be assumed unknown
- a shop advised doing valve adjustment for $500 but DJPsystems declined due to financial reason
- his engine blew at 176k miles
- then he questioned why Toyota/Lexus engine is not reliable
Sorry DJPsystems, I hate to be a cyber bully....but the problem is not with Toyota/Lexus reliability.
03-08-13, 08:09 AM
#15
^^^^^ I agree
You cant blame the car for being unreliable if you knew it had a problem and didn't fix it. The car is more then reliable if it had loud slapping valves and almost made it 50k with it. Thats amazing all on its own. Sorry that it blew im sure it sucks.
You cant blame the car for being unreliable if you knew it had a problem and didn't fix it. The car is more then reliable if it had loud slapping valves and almost made it 50k with it. Thats amazing all on its own. Sorry that it blew im sure it sucks.