Increasing the Lifespan

[Corsulian]

Yeah--I've seen other posts on this, but nothing really all that definitive.
I've got a 94 camry LE 2.2L with 77,000 miles. The engine has been recently cleaned of sludge buildup and the belts have been replaced (including the timing belt).
My issue is that the car was used...possibly roughly...and I can't possibly afford another car...ever...because I'm a government major. I was considering putting in a CAI mainly because of the 'performance' air filter and the unsupported idea that cold air would be better for the car. (I'm not too obsessed with getting performance increases because she's a 2.2L I4 Automatic with a full size spare that I don't intend on leaving in the garage). Would this actually help the car and therefore allow me to rationalize such a purchase--or would it just be undue stress on her engine.
In addition, besides maybe going ahead and doing my own oil changes with quality oil/filter and maybe draining the coolant and putting in some 'red coolant' and then maybe some Sea Foam sludge treatment into the engine (told ya I read the other posts), is there anything short of 'scheduled maintenance' that I can do to keep this engine glowing...not that it actually does.
Thanks.


Why the hell am I still awake? Get a job, me.

[Nick]

grab a haynes manual, it'll give you information on how to do everything, and when to do it

for the cold air intake, the stock drop in filters are probably the best ones for the car, they filter out the most stuff

for the oil changes, well you could go with synthetic oil (or dino oil with hyperlube... that's what brink got reccomended after his sludge incident), and mobil 1 filters (they filter out the smallest particles)

here's the recomended schedule, do all of this and your engine should be happy

250 miles or weekly

- engine oil check
- coolant level check
- windshield washer level check
- brake and clutch fluid level check
- check tires and pressure

3000 miles or 3 months

- power steering level check (i'd do this every week, you're there anyways)
- check tranny oil level (again i do this every week)
- change engine oil and filter

6000 miles or 6 months

- inspect/replace wiper blades
- check clutch play
- check/service battery (not much to do there, maybe clean the terminals)
- check/adjust serpentine belt
- inspect hoses
- check cooling system (?? thermostat opening/closing? coolant colour?)
- rotate tires

15000 miles or 12 months

- check/adjust brakes
- replace air filter
- inspect fuel system
- check differential fluid level
- inspect suspension and steering systems
- check driveaxle boots

30000 miles or 24 months

- replace fuel filter
- change coolant (every 60 months for the red stuff)
- inspect the evaporative emissions control system
- inspect the exhaust system
- change tranny fluid
- change differential fluid
- check and tighten critical chassis and body fasteners
- inspect and replace if necesary the spark plug wires distributor cap and rotor

60000 miles or 48 months

- check valve clearance (that's a bit too hardcore for me)
- change timing belt (DO NOT stretch this past, change it earlier if you think you're gonna get caught doing it late)
- replace fuel tank cap gasket
- replace pcv valve
- replace spark plugs

[grapefury]

cai eh? be careful.. dont want your rod looking like this:

[TRDCAMRY]

How the f*@k did that happen to that connecting rod?

[grapefury]

cold air intake took in some water, and when lots of water gets into the engine it doesn't compress, cause water doesn't compress..hehe, so something has to give. in this case.. the rod gave in

[TRDCAMRY]

next time get a bypass valve half way up the CAI.

[grapefury]

well, it wasn't my rod.. .. and i hear that the cai makes an annoying sound, is that tru?

[Nick]

most of them do make a wheezing sound

[gcs118]

Originally posted by grapefury
cai eh? be careful.. dont want your rod looking like this:

haha woo hoo! I think your attempt to lower compression for boost went a bit to the extreme.

[dan99solara]

Originally posted by grapefury
cold air intake took in some water, and when lots of water gets into the engine it doesn't compress, cause water doesn't compress..hehe, so something has to give. in this case.. the rod gave in

water doesn't combust*

[Daffunda]

Get a snorkel with a K&N mushroom filter sticking out from your roof.