I thik it's f***ed

[BritishBodger]

I've got a feeling this does not bode well. The camry (Gen 2 V6) has a smell of burning oil about it and seems to be steaming quite a bit from the exhaust.

That said, the coolant doesn't really seem to be dropping, nor does the oil, and there's no mayo under the oil filler, so I'm guessing the valve stem seals are letting go big time right?

I'm also gussing that's not an easy DIY job, and not exactly an economic repair on a £500 (£800 ish) car?

[IvanHoe]

Originally Posted by BritishBodger

I've got a feeling this does not bode well. The camry (Gen 2 V6) has a smell of burning oil about it and seems to be steaming quite a bit from the exhaust.

That said, the coolant doesn't really seem to be dropping, nor does the oil, and there's no mayo under the oil filler, so I'm guessing the valve stem seals are letting go big time right?

I'm also gussing that's not an easy DIY job, and not exactly an economic repair on a £500 (£800 ish) car?

If the valve seals are going, then the oil level should be dropping. I had the valve seals done on my '92 Grand Marquis(they are known to have shitty valve seals). It didnt look easy, but definately NOT an impossible DIY

[BritishBodger]

Just reviewed the oil thing. It's going down

Dropped about a third of the way between max and min between services.

[IvanHoe]

Originally Posted by BritishBodger

Just reviewed the oil thing. It's going down

Dropped about a third of the way between max and min between services.

That's not that bad, alot of the modular ford motors Ive seen, went through atleast a quart every 1000 miles, and believe it or not ran just fine. You could run the car practically forever with worn out valve seals as long as you keep the oil at the proper level.
You might not pass your smog tests though, depending on the severity of the oil burning and how strict your local emmisions laws are. I mainly did my former Mercury cause I didnt like seeing or smelling that cloud of burnt oil comming out of my tailpipe every time I "floored" it. As far as my emmisions laws......well out here in NYC, it's all about who you know

[fredk]

a quart every 3k, thats pretty good

[BritishBodger]

I'll just keep driving it then. I get paid £15 a day car allowance when I'm working, so it stands me at nothing if I do have to throw it away at any point.

Our equivalent of the smog laws are an annual emmissions check as part of a general safety check on the vehicle, but as said, some testers are more understanding than others and make mistakes like putting the measuring probe in the wrong car

The sad thing is, I had a ford before the camry, and despite the reputation Fords have, it was on 140k miles and ran like a new car. I sold it and bought a car famed for it's reliabilty, and, well, that's just my luck

[marc780]

some testers are more understanding than others and make mistakes like putting the measuring probe in the wrong car

Used to be able to do that here in Kalifornia. The penalties are draconian now, high fines and they get put out of business. And the smog check guy never knows if you are an agent for EPA, or worse, AQMD (Air quality management district - yes we have TWO bureacracies lording over it)or possibly the CIA, FBI or the local dog catcher. So they just do it by-the-book for everybody. I doubt even a bribe would work for most of them techs.

I have had to dump 3 cars that were marginal and also gone thru much trouble and expense dealing with lying crooks selling unneeded repairs - all just to get perfectly good cars smogged.