Potential For Celica Vvti Engine Problems

[RPM2373]

Hi,

I bought myself a lovely 2001 Celica VVTi (140bhp model) last month and have had lots of fun and enjoyment from it.

Since purchasing my car I have read several strings/posts, on numerous sites, that relate to the potential for the VVTi engine to fail, usually the big end or piston rings.

I am now concerned about this failure occurring to my car and wondered if anyone had any idea to the true magnitude/frequency of this fault/failure, is it as bad as 1-in-5, or a more acceptable 1-in-500?

My car has a good service history (7 stamps over its 64K miles and 9 years) and has been owned for the last 8 years by a 50+ lady!

Many thanks.

[shocks]

i have also just bought mine and i had it for one day, its been in a garage since getting stripped, i have full dealer history all stamped loads of recipts but it didnt help, CHECK OIL ALOT i have looked at every forum for advice and have taken it to do all i can to make sure the problem does not happen again, company that are doing the work are also making sure they find out all they can to help it from not happeneing again,

it seems the main issue is is oil flow back to the sump and bottom end, high quialty oil regular checking and changing of oil will help, let it warm up before blast off and any doubts dont leave it for another day always check, i know i will from in future, i didnt read up about this car which is something i never do but i have now gone all out with the engine re build, lighting and balancing whole engine race bearings and shells re grind crank skim the head new valves, everything is coming off all parts i can powder coat and re paint engine so its going to be worth the wait.

i am sorry i cant help you further as i am still learning but just re up more about the engine.

and keep checking the oil very regularly

all the best

[RPM2373]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. I will keep a very close/more regular check on the oil levels.

[Old Red Celica]

Every Pre-facelift 140 (vvti) has the potential to have the death rattle. But keeping an eye on the Oil level will keep the odds in your favour.

[RPM2373]

Hi, thanks for the reply. There appears to be a few differing options to the cause, some point the finger at inherent engine design problems, others to oil pump failures!

Is there any clear culprit?

I ask in case it is something that I can avoid via replacement of items such as the oil pump!

RPM2373.

[Old Red Celica]

Simple terms..............

The Oil Control Piston rings gum up, the engine burns oil, Oil level drops, No Oil to pump, Engine gets starved of Oil.