Disclaimer: Neither TOCAU nor me take any responsibility if you damage any part of your engine/car during this DIY. Ensure you have the proper tools before commencing any type of DIY work. OK folks, many of you who have the ZZE12x Corollas with the 1zz-fe and 2zz-ge engines might find this useful to do. Oil control valves (OCVs) are used in today's varible valve timing (VVT) systems to regulate the oil pressure throughout the engine to maintain correct oil pressure when the engine is running. I'm going to show you how to service/clean the valves and filters. In the 2zz-ge engine may help with quieting the "tractor noise" (the 2zz-ge engines will always have the tractor noise) during idle and may help with the "P1693" code that shoots out when lift isn't working etc. its also a good idea to do this with the engine cold so that the metals of the engine block doesn't expand so you might cross thread the bolts/nuts etc. please note that the OCV strainers/filters are NOT interchangeable and maybe different across the years that the 2zz were produced. always check with your toyota dealer for these parts against your VIN number to match them 100% Things you need: 10mm ratchet socket with extension sharp nose pliers electronic tweesers 14mm socket solvent cleaner of choice (i just used my MAF sensor cleaner as its safer on plastics and the VVT OCV filter has plastic bits on it) old toothbrush old rags Here are the two filters you need to change/clean. I just bought mine from toyota for 20 bucks for both so i ended up just changing them. The left one with the black plastic is the VVT OCV filter and the right full metal is the VVTL OCV filter. VVT OCV filter location (driver's side front of the 2zz and 1zz location is the same) the bigger thing with the plug connected to it is the valve. the bolt underneath is where the filter sits Stuff some tissue under the bolt and use the 14mm socket wrench to loosen it and remove (small fingers help) More often than not the filter will be removed with the bolt. In my case, not so much because you can see it sticking out abit. Never fear, this is when the tweesers come in handy. Take care in taking it out, you don't want it to fall somewhere in the engine bay (takes alot of swearing and cursing to find it again) Picture of dirty > clean > bolt. As you can see the dirty one has a few chunks blocking the oil flow through the strainer. my engines done approx 120,000 kms so its pretty clean for an engine that's done that much mileage. Now clean the filter with solvent and the toothbrush or replace it and the bolt and washer and attach it to the bolt like this ...and put it back in the engine and tighten the bolt. make sure that you attach the strainer onto the bolt as shown above otherwise you WILL run the risk of crushing the filter. with the OCV loosen the bolt with the 10mm socket ratchet and remove from the engine bay. clean and let dry and put it back inside. However there is the oil pipe that's blocking the ocv from coming out. this is what you have to do to get to it:
- remove the accessory belt
- remove the top bolt of alternator
- unplug all wires from the alternator
- loosen bottom bolt of alternator
- pivot the alternator forward
- remove bolt that holds the oil dip stick
- remove the two nuts that hold the oil pipe into the block (located just above the vvt-i ocv
- oil pipe should come out with a bit of leverage from a screw driver
- out comes the vvt-i ocv!
picture of it from a celica forum (i forgot to take a photo with mine) VVT OCV and filter done!