demuire Posted July 6, 2004 Report Posted July 6, 2004 Hmm, looks like I may have to replace the head gasket in the Camry sometime soon (well, I hope it is a problem with the head gasket and not something more serious...), I wonder how hard it is to change? Quote
demuire Posted July 7, 2004 Author Report Posted July 7, 2004 I think the Stripping bit I should have no problems, it'll mostly be the Putting Back Together bit. Aligning bit stuff and making sure timing belt is well tensioned etc. Yay Fun. Spent too much money today. Have no more money. Maybe I won't fix it till next year sometime... Just have to remember to top up radiator coolant every hour or so of driving... *dodge city* Quote
demuire Posted July 7, 2004 Author Report Posted July 7, 2004 What is this "grey oil" you speak of? And yes, if I decide to do this would probably need a hand. Am going over to a mates place this weekend maybe, he has a coolant system pump (he works in a radiator shop, he built the radiator in Hal) so we're going to presurise the system and see where it's leaking out of... Quote
pro_ke Posted July 7, 2004 Report Posted July 7, 2004 if i recall correctly the camry headgasket is a total bitch of a job as there is very little clearance around the motor and a lot of other parts need to come out... at least thats what i seem to remember Quote
demuire Posted July 7, 2004 Author Report Posted July 7, 2004 Oh, no the oil is fine. I'm just loosing coolant, which is rather annoying. Quote
Teddy Posted July 8, 2004 Report Posted July 8, 2004 take everything off the head :) good fun :) Quote
demuire Posted September 7, 2004 Author Report Posted September 7, 2004 Hmm. Camry did something not-so-good today. Was driving into the city and sitting at lights noticed temperature rising. Also noticed fluid flowing down the road. Stopped car, popped bonnet, torch light stopped working, couldn't see where water was coming out. Anyway, refilled water as best I could and limped car home (less than 5 mins). Got home, got another torch, had another look. No more water (again), looked under car and trickling water had been replaced by trickling oil (!!!). Not sure where oil is coming from, looks like head gasket maybe. Oil is everywhere. Water long since gone. Checked dipstick, oil looks ok, no bubbles and level still looks ok. Also noticed power steering fluid has dropped a fair bit. Checked all pipes, lower radiator hose was *slightly* lose, don't think it would have leaked quite as bad as it did before. Refilled water, started car, no leak? None visible anyway. Stopped car, cleaned up everything, went to start car again, no more start :P Hmm. Stupid camry. Quote
Teddy Posted September 7, 2004 Report Posted September 7, 2004 Ok, So when you say "Oil is everywhere" - can you define this a bit more/ better "Also noticed power steering fluid has dropped a fair bit" was it leaking when you purchased it? or is this the first time you realized it was leaking? when you say the car doesn't start up again; does it try and turn over? does it just not do anything? etc My Thinking hints from your post so far... - Depending on how much water you put in the car, and how much was in it when you pulled over the first time = how bad the leak is - you also said when you got home "No more water (again)" - this is making me think, its a rather nice leak - Another thing you said was "trickling water had been replaced by trickling oil" - I'm assuming this is because you could not see anymore water (because there was no water left) so that means an oil leak somewhere (Teddy = derr :P) ! OR its an internal leak :P - You said the oil looks ok, but how much oil was left in it? - Now, this could be wrong, but by going by all your information so far, This is what i think has happened.... You say Refilled water, started car, no leak? None visible anyway. Stopped car, cleaned up everything, went to start car again, no more start - I'm Pretty sure this is a case of an internal head gasket leak. " Refilled water, started car, no leak" - when you fill the radiator up, I'm assuming the thermostat would block the water from getting into motor.. = radiator is full, but motor isn't. You start the car up, and it runs, water eventually flows into motor, and the internal head gasket leak is making water seep into 1 (or more?) of the cylinders. You then said you cleaned up (leaving car for a lil bit) which meant the coolant has had time to leak into the cylinder(s). You come back and try and start it up, and it wont turn over... because of the head gasket leak (you have been talking about changing the head gasket since the start of July ; I'm assuming the internal head gasket leak is pretty bad?) - lots of coolant is getting into the cylinders when the car is stopped / not running, and now you try and turn it on... she wont go! Thats my 2 cents, and its prob a 1 in 10000 chance i got any of it correct, but i tried :P Quote
demuire Posted September 8, 2004 Author Report Posted September 8, 2004 "Oil everywhere": Oil all over the block and gearbox and crossmember and well... you get the idea. Powersteering fluid was low when I bought it, filled it up and it's been perfect since, until last night. I don't know how I lost so much water in such a short time, when after refilling the radiator at home I ran the car for a good 5 minutes and lost nothing. "Trickling water replaced by trickling oil": When I got home i looked under the car to see if it was still trickling water (so that I could see where the leak was), but instead there was oil dripping. Looked to be coming from the head gasket. Oil looked okay (no bubbles, no sign of water, no sign of an internal leak), level also okay (a smidgen under F). Mustave not lost much oil. Car still doesn't start. Can smell fuel, so car is getting fuel. But I don't think it's getting any spark. Have checked and rechecked everything, can't figure out why there is no spark. Currently waiting for RACQ man. Quote
Teddy Posted September 8, 2004 Report Posted September 8, 2004 ahh ok Good luck with it :P Keep us posted :P Quote
demuire Posted September 8, 2004 Author Report Posted September 8, 2004 Car now starts. Dizzy was full of coolant. Hmm. Took the car round the block, there's still steam pouring out of the engine bay (indicating water leak? Unless it's leftovers from yesterday...), can't see where the water is leaking from... Quote
Teddy Posted September 8, 2004 Report Posted September 8, 2004 yeah, id say its coolant getting the hot engine somewhere :P have you tried opening the bonnet while motor is running, and get some 1 to give it a few rpm's ? Quote
demuire Posted September 8, 2004 Author Report Posted September 8, 2004 Yes, tried that. Still smell boiling coolant, but don't know where it's coming from. I suspect maybe the headgasket leak just got worse. Drove the car a fair bit tonight, seems to be okay. Temperature stayed constant, so apart from the smell of boiling coolant, nothing usual. Will check coolant level tomorrow and see how much it's dropped. Quote
Teddy Posted September 8, 2004 Report Posted September 8, 2004 i think you need to get a new head gasket fook lol :P i don't get it - its leaking coolant, but you say the oil still looks fine.. i always thought if the coolant mixed with the oil it gave badd results.. ahh - id just be really interested to pull the head off and take a photo of its condition :) ! I'm always here if you need a newbies hand :P Quote
demuire Posted September 8, 2004 Author Report Posted September 8, 2004 It's leaking coolant outside the block, not inside the block, so the oil isn't getting water in it. Or at least, it doesn't look like it is. And yes I know I should change the head gasket, I just don't have the time or motivation to do it at the moment and I can't really afford to pay someone else to do it either. I'm almost certain the head would be a little warped too, so will need a bit of a skim. Quote
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