Help with major problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

JJ515 · 09-03-2008, 02:00 PM

Hello...I am new to this forum but am glad to find it.

I have a 2001 Camry and on Monday was heading to a friend's house about 15 miles from where I live. About 3/4 of the way there, my oil light came on briefly (maybe 3 seconds) and then went off. I seen that, and when I got to my friends about 4-5 miles away, I checked the oil which was incredibly low. We added about two quarts of oil and started the car and heard a knock. We then drove the car about 10 miles somewhere else and let it sit for about 2 hours. Then on the way back, it stalled and had to be towed. The place I towed it to stated something was wrong deep in the engine, and they don't tear apart engines and suggested a guy to take it to. I went up and visited with him and he is under the impression (without even seeing or listening to the car) that the engine would need to be replaced and he can get replacement engines from an outfit out of Texas, where they come over from Japan and have like 30,000 miles on them.

My question is...if it the engine is shot (probably is), do I have someone replace or re-build the engine. Does installing a lower-milage replacement engine increase value in the vehicle? What are the advantages or disadvantages from rebuilding or replacing. Thank you!

***new echo owner*** · 09-03-2008, 02:10 PM

How many miles is on the car? What engine do you have? How is the maintenance on the car? Did you find out exactly what is wrong with the engine other then it was making noise and stop running? Many questions need to be answered first. Putting another engine in the car probably won't make much difference to the value if it is a high mileage car but if it is a low mileage car, then people will wonder why and how the maintenance was on the car to have this happen.

N.E.O.

JJ515 · 09-03-2008, 02:27 PM

There is around 120k on the car. Not sure of the engine type right now ( I am not mechanically inclined!), I don't do every recomended maintenance but have oil changes appx. 5000 miles). For them to find out what is exactly wrong the engine will need to be torn down. I am going to have that done, but I don't know about this guy who already has a notion that it needs to be replaced. It does start and run now but it sounds absolutely horrid and I wouldn't drive it more than one mile.

***new echo owner*** · 09-03-2008, 02:43 PM

From your description, I would venture to say that you may have spun a bearing in the lower end. Majority of the time, oil changes would be sufficient, however, that would also depend very much on the condition and how you operate the car.

You might want to check around to find a reputable repair shop before having the work done. On the one hand if the engine is indeed the cause and at this mileage, just putting an engine into the car without further tear down might save you a few hundred dollars, but that would depend very much on what the condition of the engine is in to start with.

Maybe at least spend a little money and find out exactly where the noise is coming from and then decide what to do. may also consider taking off the valve cover to see if the inside is clean or cover with sludge.

N.E.O.

JJ515 · 09-03-2008, 04:30 PM

Thank you for the information, I have found another mechanic to look at this and should be able to tell me exactly what is wrong.

JJ515 · 09-17-2008, 02:56 PM

Just an update: The mechanic stated that I probably busted a piston. He looked to see if it was a lifter and it was not. Not sure where to go from here, any help would be appreciated. I guess I'll have to replace the motor???

***new echo owner*** · 09-17-2008, 09:52 PM

If the car is still in good shape, a complete engine replacement you had mentioned in your original post would be the way to go, if it is indeed the piston that is busted. However, I would lean more towards the engine having a spun rod bearing, still it is not a simple job to repair. And depending on what other parts that would be needed, repair your original engine may potentially more costlier than the complete engine replacement with a used engine.

N.E.O.

Jimnist · 09-18-2008, 06:38 AM

What does he mean by a "busted" piston? Did it seize onto the bore? Cracked? Rings seized onto pistion? What?

Kinda need to know what happened to determine if it's worth replacing or fixing. But, if it was only one piston and the cylinder wall is fine as well as the bottom end, i'd just replace.