VVT Solenoid

[Vibraphone]

Replaced my 2006 Vibe OE VVT solenoid today.

Nothing wrong. Just simple Every-18yr-Preventative-Maintenance. After 186K mi, VVT was functional. I know it was orig, as 1st owner’s 16pg CarFax included much more than fastidious oil changes! VVT wasn’t on his list.

But after much research, it seems all Toyota VVT solenoids ( likely VVT solenoids for most cars ) are made in China. Including -- but can't conclusively prove -- DENSO VVT solenoids are made in their China factory. So, off to AliExpress I went and $17 and 11 days later I got a great looking OEM VVT. It has DENSO printed on the case + 15330-22030 under the type. A very nicely made Chinese part, I must say. Is it a “counterfeit” or just another OE part made by a third party?

[ I sold my last Benz in 2017, after working on ‘em since the mid-1960’s. I shook my head after pickin' up a water pump for my W124 car at the Benz dealer (w/my 10% discount). Water pump came in the classic blue box and was “Made in Slovenia.” Thermostat “Made in Brazil.” So much for premium OE dealer parts. No doubt same factory that made these “Genuine Mercedes Benz Parts” also sold gadzillions of the same parts to regular folks -- in brown boxes – for A LOT LE$$ ]

Back to the 1ZZ-FE:

Compared to 18yr old orig VVT & new VVT from China: They are identical. Orig solenoid has 15330-22030 cast into the plastic tab. New solenoid has 15330-22030 printed on the case.

Before installing the new VVT solenoid, I spent a few hours soaking & cleaning the 18yr old one. Lacquer thinner soak, acetone, parts cleaner spray + lots of compressed air.

Once cleaned up, visually, both new & old VVT solenoids looked & functioned similarly. But upon careful inspection, here’s what 18yrs does to one of these solenoids—that is absent from the new one:

Noticeably weaker spring on 18yr old one, at the bottom, pushing the plunger up. Basically a return spring, as the oil really does most of the work. No surprise, pushing plunger down with jeweler screwdriver, easy to feel new solenoid has a stiffer spring.

Hooked up to 12V, both old & new VVT solenoids make a snappy “click” sound when activated. But new solenoid has a noticeably louder & more snappy click.

Slight scaring on all(3) plunger ‘rings’ Simple wear, but evidence 18yrs of constant use does create visible wear on the hardened polished surfaces. New VVT plunger has a mirror finish.

Brown oil ‘varnish’ even Acetone can’t remove -- oil baked into the metal. Despite doz of documented oil changes in this car’s 18yr life. Being high up in the head casting, with no coolant tubes nearby, VVT solenoid is under extreme heat constantly. Hot oil is the only thing keepin' it cool as it moves up & down.

Note: No oil leak from orig O-ring! I discarded O-ring that came w/new solenoid & treated it to FKM ( Fluorocarbon) O-ring (high temp applications ) -- slathered w/MolyKote-55 ( helps swell O-rings ).

I also replaced the tiny oil strainer below the VVT solenoid. The old one ( micro screen ) was just as oil varnished as old solenoid but perfectly functional after a cleaning: OE Toyota part #15678-21010. $13. When I do a job, I like to do it once.

All this said, the ECM is likely only one who will notice any improvement from this little $30 planned maintenance exercise.

[lexicon]

Perhaps I missed it on your post.....
1) did you change all of your oil and return to 5-30 oil or keep the 10-40 oil mixture in your other post.
2) Did your rattle go away only after changing the solenoid ?

[Vibraphone]

The VVT rattle sound persisted only first week or so during cold startup--followed by very short drives (NYC, we don't drive a lot).

2nd day, I had someone else start the car--while I lowered my head to the head, to confirm it was the VVT. And it was. Rattle lasted about 30sec to 1min, then stopped.

After about 4-5 days of cold startup with the10W-40 thick oil + longer drives, VVT rattle on startup went away.

I can only guess the viscosity of that Mobil-1 Synthetic "High Mileage" 10W-40 thinned out enough to pump up to the VVT and/or the VVT became 'filled' with enough residual oil to lubricate the VVT plunger?

A week later, I drained out a Qt of that Mobil Molasses, replaced with a Qt of regular 5W30 Mobil-1 Synthetic.

A well-maintained 185K mi 1ZZ-FE engine does NOT! need thick "High Mileage" oil.

If I get bored, I'll do a Compression & Leak Down Test to see real wear at 186K mi.