3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I think my 97 4 cylinder is leaking oil. I have tried using the special dye and a black light, but I didn't find any leak. The reason I think it's leaking is that every time after I drive and it gets warmed up completely, when I get out and turn off the car I can smell a burning smell. It definitely smells like burning oil. Also, if I have the A/C on at a stop light, the smell starts coming through the vents.
I replaced the valve cover gasket, to no avail.
What is this mystery burning smell?
Am I burning clutch fluid? I don't think so. I'm not slipping the clutch more than normal use so I don't think it's the clutch burning, either.
You can see oil down the back of the engine, everywhere. So it is impossible to trace where it starts because this car has had a lot of problems with the engine, so like I said, there are oil stains and buildup everywhere.
Degrease and powerwash your enigne to clean it up so you can better tell where the oil is coming from. Two places to check are the oil filter adapter and the distributor. On my V6 both were leaking. The first was causing it to drop on the manifold and burn off causing the burning oil smell to come into the car, as well as it woud smoke a bit. Good luck.
I usually spray the engine with an engine degreaser and let it soak in. Then spray with a power washer and get as much as the engine as I can. With the V6 there's a bit of room between it and the firewall that I can reach in and spray the back
How am I supposed to wash the back side of the engine?
I'll usually come in from the driver's side (easier with the intake hose off) to spray from the top, and put the car up on jackstands to hit the back of the engine from the bottom. Let the degreaser soak for a bit, then rinse with a hose (I'm not a big fan of powerwashing an engine -- too many electrical connectors that are watertight, but not high-pressure watertight).
If your worried about a pressure washer couldn't you simply substitute it for a 3 gallon Round Up sprayer or garden hose? BTW I used the sprayer a while back due to college dorm not having an exterior faucet (and it worked just as well as a hose). Yes it might not remove as much of the debris, but it should help.
Yeah, I've never really felt comfortable power washing any part of my car.
What kind of degreaser should I use? A foaming kind most likely?
I've tried some clear spray on crap, looks like clear spray paint.
Didn't work worth a damn.
Last engine I degreased, I used a couple of cans of Gunk Engine Brite Gel, then scrubbed as many areas as I could reach with an old pan scrubber (bristles on one end, and about a foot-long handle) before I rinsed the engine. Another method that works pretty well (takes longer, 'tho), is one can, scrub, rinse, then repeat hitting the areas you missed the first time. If you've got a really filthy engine, then it might be worth scraping with a plastic putty knife before trying the degreaser.
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. Happened to a friend of mine 
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