Junk it or fix it?

[mcgowaw]

Since the dealer did a block leak down test and told me my head gasket is leaking, i've been trying to figure out what's the next logical step.

1. i could do nothing. drive it till it quits since it's non interference, and then do either #2, #3 or #4.

2. put a japanese low mileage engine in it for about $2,000 and hope i get some miles/years out of it.

3. put a rebuilt engine in it, about $4,000, keeping in mind my gen3 v6 xle probably is only worth about $2,000 when its working good, or

4. have my engine rebuilt. estimates run from $1,800 to $3,500 depending upon whether they take it out of the car or rebuild it in place and how much of a guarantee they give.

what do you guys/gals think, keeping in mind i love my camry but don't want to throw good money after bad needlessly.
thanks
tony

[Toysrme]

Your prices are double what they should be. Re-do your math, or talk to someone not trying to get you to toss their salad.

#1 is a very, very bad idea. Interfferance has nothing to do with the head gasket.
You'll wind up rebuilding the entire bottom end, or swapping it for another one without the option of simply milling the heads flat & replacing the gaskets.

[mcgowaw]

unfortunately these prices prevail in socal - i checked several places.
i did get a quote on doing the top end, but it was about the same as getting another used engine. would redoing the heads only force the rings to start leaking then because of the added pressures since they would now be the weakest link?

[RningOnFumes]

I don't know how hard it is to go from a v6 to an I4, but I have and an I4 you can have for decent price.

That's I4 plus tranny.

I'm in San Bernardino.

[marc780]

#1 is not a real option since you dont know when it is going to quit, only that it will, and soon. If you drive it til it blows it might damage the block surface or some of the pistons.

You didnt say the year, engine or most importantly the miles. And i know southern california miles are hard miles so the mileage is important. if its under say 150k, you can probably get by with just a valve job and new head gasket. If you do it yourself it would cost you about $500 for parts, including a remanuf cylinder head 9the cheapest and fastest). If you pay somebody else, its about $1000.

If the car is otherwise in great shape, but just with a worn out motor, you can go the used japanese engine route and probably better than a rebuilt IMO. If you do this, please take my advice and save yourself some pain, and let them install it. I went this used japanese engine route with my old 1984 Nissan 200SX that i overheated and blew up (stuck thermostat argg!!). And wound up having them do it anyway because some of the holes were wrong on the engine! (Intake manifold and cooling pipe wrong for my old parts).

[Venom_5]

dont drive it until it craps out ... it can cause too many problems

i would replace it if youre going to keep the car for 5+ years ... junk it if youre not

[Mike Gerber]

I have to agree with Marc on this one. If the engine doesn't have too many miles on it just consider changing out the head gasket and redo the heads if necessary.

Mike