96 four cylinder Camry Oil Leaks

[pagan]

Hello All,
How you all doing? Here is the story i want to share with you all.
Background: I had catalytic converter changed about 6 months ago at Midas. The very day after that car started to smell like some thing is burning. I took the car back and they said they forgot to remove the piece of plastic which was on the original part. So, they said they took care of it. After that, i thought it would fine and with in 2 days it started again and i took car back to midas and they said the same thing that the plastic melted and it will smell like for some time and it will be gone. Now, 6 months later i see smoke coming off the hood. This time i took my car to a local gas station mechanic. He said, when they (Midas) changed catalytic converter, they did not replace the oil seal. The only way mechanic at Gas station was able to find out was he had to use high pressured air compressor so he can see where the leak is. I think due to the air pressure, some thing happened to my radiator. After getting home the same day, coolant from started leaking like hell from radiator.

I am not sure at this point what should i do. I am not even sure if midas was supposed to replace the oil seal? and they forgot about it. And then i have this new problem with radiator. I thought, i would post here so i can see if experts here can give me valuable suggestions. Please help.

Oh and if some one from Baltimore,Md can tell me best place to get these repairs done, that would be great. I don't know how much i have to spend to fix this.

[midnightmach]

Ouch that sucks. I would say ask some friends or co workers where they get their cars repaired then get a new radiator and whatever oil seal is leaking repaired there. Replacing a catalytic converter has nothing to do with oil seals so its not midas fault.

By the way this is the corolla section not the camry one, and call your engine an 'inline 4' or 'four cylinder' because it isn't a V4.

[pagan]

hahaha thanks midnightmach. Damn, now you can tell how much i know about cars. shame on me. Well! thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

How do i mod alert this thread to move to Camry section?

[trife96]

Originally Posted by pagan

Hello All,
How you all doing? Here is the story i want to share with you all.
Background: I had catalytic converter changed about 6 months ago at Midas. The very day after that car started to smell like some thing is burning. I took the car back and they said they forgot to remove the piece of plastic which was on the original part. So, they said they took care of it. After that, i thought it would fine and with in 2 days it started again and i took car back to midas and they said the same thing that the plastic melted and it will smell like for some time and it will be gone. Now, 6 months later i see smoke coming off the hood. This time i took my car to a local gas station mechanic. He said, when they (Midas) changed catalytic converter, they did not replace the oil seal. The only way mechanic at Gas station was able to find out was he had to use high pressured air compressor so he can see where the leak is. I think due to the air pressure, some thing happened to my radiator. After getting home the same day, coolant from started leaking like hell from radiator.

Wow, your dealing with a bunch of idiots! I'm sorry to tell you. And what your being told sounds way off!


First of all, your exhaust pipe has nothing to do with any oil seals...point blank!

I can believe the part about the plastic being left on the "new" part....not the original part...by mistake Don't worry about it, I'm sure it already melted and will burn off eventually. Now, the catalytic converter is between your exhaust manifold and your muffler. The only thing between the flanges where all three pieces bolt together are gaskets. No oil is present in these areas. So no oil seals are needed there. If there is oil present you have a major problem.

Now it sounds like he just pressure tested your coolant system to find the leak. But that is not usually done with an air compresser. That's too much pressure. Usually it's a little hand pump and with a cap that fits where your radiator cap goes with an inline guage. And as you pump away, eventually you will build enough pressure to expose where the coolant is leaking from. So if it's leaking from the radiator, determine where, is it a hose or is the radiator cracked? Let me know and I will try to help more.

And yes this is the Corolla forum, but what I'm telling you is not just true for the Corolla, but for most cars on the road today.

[pagan]

Originally Posted by trife96

Wow, your dealing with a bunch of idiots! I'm sorry to tell you. And what your being told sounds way off!


First of all, your exhaust pipe has nothing to do with any oil seals...point blank!

I can believe the part about the plastic being left on the "new" part....not the original part...by mistake Don't worry about it, I'm sure it already melted and will burn off eventually. Now, the catalytic converter is between your exhaust manifold and your muffler. The only thing between the flanges where all three pieces bolt together are gaskets. No oil is present in these areas. So no oil seals are needed there. If there is oil present you have a major problem.

Now it sounds like he just pressure tested your coolant system to find the leak. But that is not usually done with an air compresser. That's too much pressure. Usually it's a little hand pump and with a cap that fits where your radiator cap goes with an inline guage. And as you pump away, eventually you will build enough pressure to expose where the coolant is leaking from. So if it's leaking from the radiator, determine where, is it a hose or is the radiator cracked? Let me know and I will try to help more.

And yes this is the Corolla forum, but what I'm telling you is not just true for the Corolla, but for most cars on the road today.

Thanks a lot man. I will try to locate where the leak is. Thanks again.

[gurkster1]

the break in process of catalytic convertors sometimes causes a weird sulfur like rotten egg smell, it eventually goes away. as for the radiator pop in an egg or a stop leak. yes an egg will work, its an old trick, see the egg goes in uncooked by the time the car gets hot the egg will get hard and get stuck where ever the leak is coming from.

that however is a band aid fix and your engine will only run so good with band aid fixes. if u dont have the cash for a new radiator then u can do with a band aid fix but if u got the cash put in a new radiator.

[pagan]

http://thumbs300.1aauto.com/RAD/1ARAD00070.jpg

I took a close look at the radiator today. I have seen a crack at the top portion of the radiator. I am not sure what's it called. Its basically the wall side of the radiator about 1 or 1/12 inch below the opening where you pour the coolant. God i am so bad in explaining this. Sorry fellows.

[trife96]

Originally Posted by pagan

http://thumbs300.1aauto.com/RAD/1ARAD00070.jpg

I took a close look at the radiator today. I have seen a crack at the top portion of the radiator. I am not sure what's it called. Its basically the wall side of the radiator about 1 or 1/12 inch below the opening where you pour the coolant. God i am so bad in explaining this. Sorry fellows.

Well, I'm pretty sure it's leaking from there, that side wall is plastic, so unfortunately can't be fixed right without replacing it. But if money is tight and depending on how bad the crack is and how bad it's leaking you might be able to temporarily fix it with Bars Stop Leak. Check you local auto parts store for it. But keep in mind that stuuf also enters chambers in your engine. It's safe but when you do replace your radiator finally, you should do a good flush. A radiator is actually not that much money but keep in mind you will need coolant, maybe some new hoses and clamps.

[gurkster1]

Originally Posted by trife96

Well, I'm pretty sure it's leaking from there, that side wall is plastic, so unfortunately can't be fixed right without replacing it. But if money is tight and depending on how bad the crack is and how bad it's leaking you might be able to temporarily fix it with Bars Stop Leak. Check you local auto parts store for it. But keep in mind that stuuf also enters chambers in your engine. It's safe but when you do replace your radiator finally, you should do a good flush. A radiator is actually not that much money but keep in mind you will need coolant, maybe some new hoses and clamps.

you can also use a product called jb weld. depending on how big the crack is, or any other plastic epoxy but youll have to take out some coolant to do this, it cant be wet, and itll have to dry.

its easy to say a new radiator would be easier

[Greasewrench]

Originally Posted by gurkster1

you can also use a product called jb weld. depending on how big the crack is, or any other plastic epoxy but youll have to take out some coolant to do this, it cant be wet, and itll have to dry.

its easy to say a new radiator would be easier

yeah the JB Waterweld works real good if u do it right. u gottta sand down the area and clean off any dirt from that spot, then mix the putty real good and stuff it on there. Radiators arent that expensive if u buy them from an auto store and do it yourself, but if have a shop do it, its gets kinda expensive. i had a leak on that same plastic spot u r describing and the JB weld held up for over a month until I finally put in a new one back in may

[retiredat44]

radiators are $100.00 on eBay. But if you have no mechancial ability, don't bother.. but it's very easy.

[pagan]

I went to Shell Gas station here and he said it would cost $315 to replace Radiator. Is that sound right though? Like you all stated, even if the Radiator alone is costing me less than $150, Installation is costing $165 +. And then on the other hand, i have this oil leak issue. He said he will see if he can fix that for cheap.

[trife96]

^can you tell where it's leaking oil from?

[pagan]

Originally Posted by trife96

^can you tell where it's leaking oil from?

I think its the oil seal.

Sorry if i was not clear. Mechanic at shell said it was the oil seal issue.

Radiator: Boy i don't know who to believe at this point. I just thought i should try calling Precision and ask how much would they charge for Radiator Replacement. They said they will call me back and boom got a call in less than 2 mins and gave me a figure of $260. That's a total of $55 less from what guy from Shell was asking.

[REN69]

Moved to the Camry forums.