2002 Toyota Corolla Tapping sound

VSTARYDER

MEMBER
2002 TOYOTA COROLLA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
99,000 MILES

The oil in my Corolla also mysteriously disappears. There are no oil leaks and no blue/black smke from the tailpipe. Changing it regularly is something I've always been careful with. Last time I checked it was nearly out of oil. I filled it to the correct specification and the engine developed a tapping sound (like a valve tap) immediately afterward. It can be heard any time the engine is running but especially at the high end of RPM before the car changes gears. The car has always run perfectly otherwise. Is adjusting the valves (assuming this is the problem) easy to do on a 2002 Corolla?

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,549 POSTS

Toyota's use shims to adjust the valves and you must use a special tool set to compress the spring and remove the shim. You would want to measure valve clearence on each valve on a cold engine and compare to factory specs. I would also have the cam bearing caps checked and cam wear in general (bearing surface and lobes).

As far as the oil you are either burning it or leaking it. Although it may not be visable, if it is not leaking it, is burning it.
Have a compression test performed on the engine.