Replaced valve gasket but still smelling something with heat on...

[numberforty1]

Alright, so the Gen4 (1998) V6 Camry tends to leak oil from the rear valve gasket right around 150K or so. The problem became pretty obvious for me b/c every time I turned the heat on and let the car idle, the entire cab filled with the smell of burning oil.

I had the gasket replaced, and while I was at it I changed the spark plugs, timing belt, and some of the cam and shaft seals that were supposedly leaking a little too.

The situation is better now, but 200 miles later I STILL can smell something when the car idles. Its either a much weaker smell or something different altogether, because it does not smell like oil, its a lighter and cleaner smell, it kind of smells like engine cleaner. Which wouldn't bother me except that I haven't cleaned the engine for over 200 miles!!

Has anyone had this experience before? My thoughts are that the previous burning oil may have created a residue in the airway to the vents, which would cause a little different and weaker smell, or that the guys who did the work just didn't wipe the previous oil off very well. I know things can get stuck in the air plenum and cause a smell, but I really think the new issue is related to the leak somehow.

Any help would be much appreciated.

J

[abew330]

not sure if it makes a difference but i make sure the little button is active for the air from the car not from the outside...

i use to have the same smelll but i change the gasket and it went away all together
i think you right i would think its leftover residue

but kinda weird it smeels like cleaner...

[numberforty1]

Yea, of course having the air on recirculate helps, as does using the A/C, but I kinda want to fix the problem too if possible.

[SRTRIDE]

If you had someone to do the work for you, it is vert likely they sprayed cleaner on the back side of the engine, to reduce the build up. If thats the case, the different odor is the cleaner they used and should disapate shortly.

[numberforty1]

Yea that would be good...does it make sense for the cleaner smell to last several hundred miles though?

[SRTRIDE]

Yes it could. Check the top of the engine for poolling spots, where the cleaner may have made a puddle. It may be dried by now, but if you find an area that looks like its kinda drying and has a crusty look to it, thats what happened. You can either wait for the smell to disappear, or when the engine is COLD, completely COLD, take a water hose with a small brush on the area and knock it off.

The other thing that could have happened, is that cleaner was splashed up into the cowling vents, the vents across the outside of the base of the windsheild. Take a water hose and just keep flushing with alot of water. This may take several flushings to get rid of it. If you smell it when the heat is on, this is what happened. You may even want to place a spoonful of good smelling car wash in a spray bottle, and spray it down in the vents, let it sit 5 mins then flush. Hope this helps.

[numberforty1]

That is helpful, thanks. I've done as much looking around the engine as I can from the top, I have a feeling that to find the source I may have to get under the car. I don't know anything about the cowling vents though, how do you get to those?

[parimento1]

I had the same prob, turned out it was a leaky PS pump leaking oil onto the exhaust. I too changed the valve cover gaskets and hosed down the engine, with no success. I had no idea what it was. Tryu cleaning ur engine thouroughly especially the hot parts around the engine like the exh manifold, etc.

[SRTRIDE]

Originally Posted by numberforty1

That is helpful, thanks. I've done as much looking around the engine as I can from the top, I have a feeling that to find the source I may have to get under the car. I don't know anything about the cowling vents though, how do you get to those?

Read the second paragraph of post #6.

Its the vents right in front of the outside of the windsheild.

[beer-2k]

my wife has a 1997 camry 4 cyc. with 220k on it. she always complain about smelling oil all the time. i always thought it was normal. you could smell like burning oil throught the vents. my wife has a better sense of smell than i do. so i guess it is the head gasket leaking oil after reading this thread. also at the same time the car is leaking oil from the bottom. it seems like it is dripping in front of the flex pipe or some pipe there. every week or two i have to put in at least a bottle of oil because my wife drives bout 70 miles to school there and back 5 days a week. if you open the hood the engine is full of oil sludge and looks black nasty. i do my 3000k oil change on schedule. i am surprise that this car is still running. you guys have any maintenance suggestions? this car REALLY needs a maint tuneup. there has not been any major work done (now i mean by internal work; car has NEVER broke down once). i would like to see this car hit 300k. lates