Would appreciate any expert opinion on this

[consumer001]

Hello. I have a 2004 Camry LE. Due to an oil leak, my Toyota Dealer replaced everything new from the upper oil pan to the lower oil pan. I know for sure the leak wasn't coming from anywhere else. It was determined that the leak was coming from where the upper and lower oil pans connect. Three times I had to bring it back after they replaced everything because it still leaked. Now I found out from another mechanic that "self-tapping screws" were used to connect the two pans with the gasket sealant in between. This mechanic says that because the upper oil pan is aluminum, this was borderline criminal. My question is the following: Is it appropriate, when replacing all new parts and an upper oil pan with pre-treaded holes for corresponding bolts to use self-tapping screws instead to connect the two oil pans? How ridiculous is this? I am now so disgusted with the Dealer, I cannot trust or even face them. Because of this, I am now spending $1200 to the new mechanic to "do the job properly". Anyone know something about this and have a different or concurring opinion? Thanks.

[AlmightyCamry777]

The only place "self tapping screws" are acceptable is for body work and even then, the factory doesnt use them on many places.
This sounds like a half-assed repair as you already know. Sounds to me like the mechanic might have tightened the pan bolts too tight the first attempt, and squeezed out all the silicone sealant. Thus causing another leak. Then the same guy merely repeated the procedure all over again and perhaps decided that (over)tightening the pan bolts would make it seal (that never works for an oil pan, it makes the leak worse.)

Also the silicone "gasket" should always be replaced with a real gasket plus sealer (permatex brown being my favorite), "silicone gaskets" are nothing more then cost cutting measures by the factory to seal only long enough get you out of warranty (and them out of liability for fixing it.) The mechanic took the easy route of using ONLY silicone sealer, i am guessing - a proper gasket is the solution to the problem.

Since you are having the work done i am guessing a real mechanic would retap all the holes for the next large size bolt. This is the proper repair. But i cant imagine what so-called "mechanic" would mangle all the bolt holes like that, or if it came that way from the factory, why they would do it in such a way.

[kaholster]

hello ppl i have a 2003 mfg camry with 55000 kms on meter .it takes very long self to start.once i pgive it a self i can hear cranks moving but theres no fire in the engine.i v checked the spark plugs , coils .n i rhink fuel pump is also working fine since pick up is unaffected more over no problem while cruising...i got a duplicate key made from toyota n thought that might be giving trouble but thats not it....car takes atleast 2-3 long self to start.could it be a sensors problem or what ..pls help

[consumer001]

Thank you so much for your insight "Almighty Camry 777". Greatly appreciated. This is what I figured.