95 Avalon valve adjustment

[WarrenB]

The dealer wants to charge $400+ for a valve adjustment for this car. Says it is complex procedure. I saw in the owners manual that valve adjustment is recommended at 60,000 miles. It has 90,000 miles on it now and runs great. Is this necessary? Does the cost make sense?

[csaxon]

NO! Unless you hear a lot of valve lash or constant clicking and you have engine performance issues. The time to take the valve covers off and check each valve and measure and replace shims if needed is time consuming. You're paying mainly for labor. The shims themselves are less than $10 depending on how many you need replaced for adjustment.

[WarrenB]

Originally Posted by csaxon

NO! Unless you hear a lot of valve lash or constant clicking and you have engine performance issues. The time to take the valve covers off and check each valve and measure and replace shims if needed is time consuming. You're paying mainly for labor. The shims themselves are less than $10 depending on how many you need replaced for adjustment.

Thank you for the reply! I was puzzled that even though the manual listed it none of the various package maintenance at X mileage deals on the mailers I receive from at least 3 Toyota dealers ever included valve adjustment.

Since the car is running quietly and fine, I will just let it go.

W.