4kc refusing to idle smoothly - valves different colours.
Thu, 12 February 2004 05:50
I have been striving for yonks to get my KE55 Corolla idling smoothly. Power delivery is smooth and plentiful (for a 4K!). After doing everything else within my power (which does not include timing as I don't have a light), I decided to pull the head off to see if it could tell me anything, as I was suspecting valve seat recession (?). Anyway, the exhaust valves are covered in a browny-orange material, whereas the inlet valves are black, like the rest of the combustion chamber. I have a spare head which is known to be A1 and its valves are all the smae black colour as the combustion chamber. The engine only has 170 thousand ks on it and doesn't use oil or blow smoke. Someone suggested timing chain but I wasn't sure as I've never come across a 4k with a worn timing chain before. Any ideas?