Warped head?

[silvercam92]

I have a 92 camry with a 3mzfe engine. A couple months ago it overheated slightly and a couple weeks later it started acting up with blowing a little white smoke out of the exhaust, and rough idling. It goes down the road fine with no hesitation but when idling it shakes a little and ive also noticed a little smoke coming from the bottom of head next to the firewall. My dad tried to take the spark plugs out and could only get one of the front ones out, the 2 others seem to be stuck in there and the one he could get out was gummed up, it just had a spark plug change a few months ago. I know you cant diagnose it without taking it apart and seeing what you have but any ideas?

Also, if it is the head, would a head from a 1mzfe fit?

[AlmightyCamry777]

the symptoms of blown head gasket are usually: coolant in the oil, oil in the coolant, or both. Spark plug tips look washed clean and not the normal tan or light gray. Coolant coming out the tailpipe (clear water when cold is normal, green or red water is not). Engine overheating.

You may want to have the engine diagnosed before tearing into it, because if one or both the heads are warped as you suspect, it might not be cheap to fix.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by AlmightyCamry777

the symptoms of blown head gasket are usually: coolant in the oil, oil in the coolant, or both. Spark plug tips look washed clean and not the normal tan or light gray. Coolant coming out the tailpipe (clear water when cold is normal, green or red water is not). Engine overheating.

You may want to have the engine diagnosed before tearing into it, because if one or both the heads are warped as you suspect, it might not be cheap to fix.

That covers it. . . tail pipe smoke the lingers excessively is because of the added moisture from the blown head gasket.

The fact that you visually see steam or something coming from the back of the engine sounds like one of the likely conditions of blown head gasket.

A compression test of all six cylinders would be of value.
FWIW, it likely has a 3VZ-FE vs the 3mz-fe in your post. That didn't come until later. So, no. The heads will not swap.

[silvercam92]

Ok so compression test first, and you are right, it is a 3vz, not 3mz. So the 1mz heads still wont bolt up to the 3z right? Just wondering in case of replacement. Thanks for your help!

[rusty9]

nope, completely different block.