Thinks I think ZDDP will help. The low speed cam (lobe) has rollers the high speed pads. This is what the rockers look like. https://www.monkeywrenchracing.com/product/mwr-rocker-assembly-1-2zz-ge-racing-upgrade/
Yes, if you're not running a cat, then just change to an oil with ZDDP already formulated in - that should stop it from eating the cam and rockers. If you are still running a cat then you have to be careful with the ZDDP, but there are other additives that you can run with a cat to stop it killing the cam
VTEC, at least Toyota's version. To be honest If it killed the cat so be it. I live in a place with no E-check & I think Lee does too. I'm the kind of guy who wants his car to be clean, but not at the cost of engine damage.
There was guy that used to post here named Nathan. I got stuck behind his MINI on a drive once. Wow I have never smelled more carp coming out of a car in my life. No cat & running rich as all get out. My car picked up 10 extra HP breathing in all the unburned fuel in the air. It got to be a local joke not to get behind Nathan's car.
it’s good to hear the opinion of some guys I trust. Chuck is correct where I live I don’t have to worry about the cat. I am running Motul 5w40. What other additives would be good? Also their are some that say if the oil I’d 160F after the oil,coolers this is to cold and that’s the problem. What do you guys think?
Awesome man! A Lotus is my dream car. Living vicariously. Enjoy the hell outta it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had a 67 Elan S/E many moons ago, tried to make it a daily driver, kind of like herding cats. Didn't work but I got it out of my system.
Curious old men, want to know. Is it back together yet and fun? I bet you are busy working, sigh that shit does get in the way. How fast is it? Don
Well...... It looks like this as of this morning....... I have learned a LOT!! about these cars. The down side is it looks like I will miss my first track day this weekend. What I find funny is the lack of good info about this motor. It is in a lot of cars. It a Toyota 2ZZ-ge motor. I got a new cam and upgraded rockers. The cams have a small lobe with a roller and a large lobe with a slipper. That slipper plate is on a spring and does nothing till about 5k RPM when oil pressure is sent to it and pushes it up to engage it. Kind of smart. Best of both worlds...... To adjust the valves you change little buckets that fit on top of the valve stem. Kind of like an Alfa. Heres the problem. Depending on witch Toyota manual you read you measure differently. This is FUN!!! Here is some of the ways I have read to do it. Measure between the roller and small lobe only. Pry up on the rocker to compress the spring on the slipper till the roller touches the cam and measure between the rocker and top of the valve on both the slipper and roller with a 90deg feeler gage. Measure between the roller and cam, don't worry about the slipper but then get the smallest feeler gage you can and make sure both valve stems are touching the rocker evenly. Depending on where you measure you use different clearances. Its mind numbing! The guy that modded the car asked how the car was, (the guy I bought it from had it only 5 months he was 6 feet 5 in with a size 15 shoe) I told him about the cam, he was very surprised, he told me the cam only had about 2k on it, well thats good news. There are probably several reasons the cam can wipe. Low or no ZDDP in the oil, oil to cool on the street, among some other theories. So here is where I am. No Toyota dealer in Memphis carries the buckets so I can adjust the valves so I ordered them yesterday, hope I measured correctly. I have a oil thermostat that will block the oil from the coolers to maintain 200f oil temp I will be installing. A oil gage I will be adding so I know the oil is hot enough before I party. Lastly I got some Lucus oil additive with ZDDP that I will add to the Motul 5w 40 oil I am running. I hope these measures will help keep the cam in good shape. I am taking the seats out to clean it up really good, I am starting to think the car had a hard life for 5 months. It has clear bra or as Lotus calls it star shield on it that has yellowed so I will be removing all that and detailing it. I haven't decided what I will put back on it. But to answer your question..... It is a no compromise car for the track that you can drive every day on the road(If you're a sadomasochistic). It is like driving a R53 on steroids. When you crank it up it sounds like a race car, one of the mods is a very aggressive exhaust. When you floor it the super charger screams so loud your brain ceases to function. Above 5k it is a beast. Its the loudest car I have ever been in, I guess thats due to no insolation between you and the aluminum monocoque. No power steering so you are very connected to the road. It is a great car. We named it Speed because it's small and white and reminds us of Speed Racer's Mach 5. I have had the car for a month and 2 days. For a week and half it was the funnest car I have ever had........... Sorry for the long post but you guys asked. You can blame @old81 P.S. Now that I think of it it reminds me of that old top gear where the guys are in search of the perfect road. They each pick what they think will be the perfect car to drive when they find the road. James May shows up in an Austin Martin race car. He is miserable the whole time they are searching for this mythical road. In the end they find it. The show ends with Clarkson saying the happiest man in the world at that moment is May in the Austin Martin. Yea it will be a long ride to the Dragon....
Thanks for the update Lee. Never been a fan of snake oil, but the ZDDP snake oil seems like a good move. As far as the the last owner putting a new cam in 2,000 miles ago, well I call bull shirt on that. As far as adjustment of the valves go, heck there are 16 so one or two are bound to come out right. I have no doubt you'll get this buttoned up & running sweet. There will always be another track day. Not sure I could handle as much noise as your car makes. Maybe add some sound deadening to make it more livable. Good luck Lee, oh & we expect progress reports from time to time.