Lexus'05 Phase 3 GS300 - Valves coked up? Diagnose & remedy?

Lexus'05 Phase 3 GS300 - Valves coked up? Diagnose & remedy?

Author
Discussion

Prof Prolapse

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

189 months

Friday 18th October 2019
quotequote all
I thought perhaps I'd have a punt on the more specialist board before I open it up the wider forums...

I have a 2005 (phase 3 Soap bar shape) Lexus GS300 which I believe has direct injection. Currently at 115,000 miles.

After a frankly incredible run of reliability, it's started to use a little oil (~150ml/1,000 miles but TBC). It's also started noisey tapping from cold, this goes away once it's warmed up. On rare occasions it was a bit rough at idle, I'm unsure whether this is simply slightly low oil. I'm currently monitoring to see if it's using coolant.

Is there a way to diagnose coked up valves without removing the heads?
Is there a cost effective way to remedy this? The car is worth about £2,000, and I have little time to repair it myself.

I am keeping an eye out for HGF, and timing chains/tensioners. But all of these problems effectively write off the vehicle sadly.

Advice appreciated thanks.

Tabs

941 posts

271 months

Friday 18th October 2019
quotequote all
You'll get far more of a response on www.lexusownersclub.co.uk. Good friendly bunch on there.

swampy442

1,472 posts

210 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
quotequote all
Modern cars don't coke valves any more, they run so clean now, with all the fuel additives and lean burn engines.

Tapping is probably just a lifter with a bit of crap in it, have you tried an oil change?

TommoAE86

2,659 posts

126 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
quotequote all
Does this engine have VVTi? My 2GR-FSE has started doing it but apparently there are fixes about to sort it out.

lexusboy

1,099 posts

142 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
quotequote all
If you take the inlet manifold off you can get a good view of a lot of the valves