Valve clearance check: take III

Having reached the break even point, and since in the last service there was no time to measure de valve clearances, today I drove the Corolla to the workshop, let it cool down for three hours and got to work.

The 3ZZ engine ran over 55400km on LPG and 44320km after the last measurement, the present valve clearances are as follows:

- intake valves: from 0.15 to 0.25mm, measured value 0.25mm

- exhaust valves: from 0.25 to 0.35, measured value 0.30mm

The 0.25mm feeler gauge in the intake valves was quite hard to fit between the tappet and the cam lobe, the 0.35mm didn't fit in the tappet clearance in the exhaust valves, and the 0.30mm had some noticeable clearance left (compared to the 0.25 in the intake valves).

All clearances in the intake were similar, as were the clearances in the exhaust ones, there are no wild values in valves with the same function.

Next measurement in 50 thousand kilometres... with the replacement of the rocker cover gasket, it leaks a very small amount of oil near the second cylinder spark plug.

Break even point

After running for 55358km over two years, seven months and seventeen days after the installation of the Vialle LPi LPG liquid injection system, the Corolla got to the point where the cumulative value of the fuel savings surpassed the value paid for the installation (2337€).

It took longer than expected to reach the break even point, this was due to the increase in LPG taxes and last years petrol price drop. 

Even with a average LPG consumption of 7.77 litres for 100km, which represents an increase of 24.1% in fuel consumption over the values registered in the Board Computer, the fuel expenses dropped 43.8%.

Next landmark... when it reaches twice the installation value.

183k service

The running distance keeps adding up and another service was due one year after the last one. 

This time, besides the oil (5W30 as recommended by Toyota), oil filter, air filter and cabin filter, the Corolla had the auxiliary belt and the front brake pads replaced, none of which had been replaced since I own the car. The replaced brake pads lasted for 93 thousand kilometres, more than half of the Corolla's total driven distance, 183369km.

Also the clutch actuator was lubricated because, when lifting the foot front the clutch pedal, it made a squeaking noise... again.

Total expense was 71.04€ and it is ready for 15k more, soon valve clearance will be measured.