I have a 96 Avalon with 114,000 miles on it. The head gasket/main seal leaks a small amount of oil when driving, the smell of the oil burning when it hits the hot engine block bothers me. I had a mechanic look at that specializes in Toyota & Honda and he said he wouldn't fix it. He said to just keep driving it and add oil. I can see the oil laying on top of the block but when I check the oil level - it only takes a very small amount one time a month. Any mechanics out there who read this have any opinions. Car runs great. I am 3rd owner. I need this car to last me 2 more years. I have read some threads about seal products. Am I better off replacing the gasket or use a sealing product, or should I just leave it alone. Thanks for any opinions.
If you can post some pictures then we can have a better idea of how serve the oil leak is. Usually oil leaking on the block is not going to cause any smell. If it is leaking on the exhaust on the other hand, will be very different situation; the hot exhaust will brutn the oil and cause smell and some time smoke.
Mine (at 176K) leaks through the cam seals and the valve covers. It sure smells, but the amount of oil burned off is so little I have to add no additional oil if I maintain a 4500 mile oil change interval.
I have a mechanic that will do the work for me but am waiting until I need to do the timing belt again. Then I am looking at around $700 for the timing belt, cam seals, water pump, new valve cover gaskets, etc.
Until then, I just be sure my cars is never on the AC/heat fresh air, especially when the defroster is running.
As long as your oil level does not go down too far, its just a nuisance.
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1997 Avalon XLS (black, black leather, tinted windows), sold June 2009 with 183K on it, still looking and running great!
Mine (at 176K) leaks through the cam seals and the valve covers. It sure smells, but the amount of oil burned off is so little I have to add no additional oil if I maintain a 4500 mile oil change interval.
I have a mechanic that will do the work for me but am waiting until I need to do the timing belt again. Then I am looking at around $700 for the timing belt, cam seals, water pump, new valve cover gaskets, etc.
Until then, I just be sure my cars is never on the AC/heat fresh air, especially when the defroster is running.
As long as your oil level does not go down too far, its just a nuisance.
Thanks, I appreciate your reply. Pretty much the same with mine, I do oil changes about the same interval and I really don't have to add any oil to it. I just top it off a little to be on the safe side. How ofter do you change timing belt?? I think every 80,000 miles is recommended.
I have a 96 Avalon with 114,000 miles on it. The head gasket/main seal leaks a small amount of oil when driving, the smell of the oil burning when it hits the hot engine block bothers me. I had a mechanic look at that specializes in Toyota & Honda and he said he wouldn't fix it. He said to just keep driving it and add oil. I can see the oil laying on top of the block but when I check the oil level - it only takes a very small amount one time a month. Any mechanics out there who read this have any opinions. Car runs great. I am 3rd owner. I need this car to last me 2 more years. I have read some threads about seal products. Am I better off replacing the gasket or use a sealing product, or should I just leave it alone. Thanks for any opinions.
I have a '99 Avalon... don't have the smell issue, but my mechanic noticed that the head gasket leaks.
Said he'd be keeping an eye on it... but wouldn't do anything about it now.
I've heard its pretty common too, but I still want another 6-er for my next car. Just keep an eye on it to make sure no more starts to slowly leak. As long as you keep an eye on it and no more leaks, you should be fine for a while.
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RWD 5-speed Zoom-Zooms
My car has less body roll than I do.
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I had this same problem. the rear bank valve cover gasket was leaking, and it was leaking on my exhaust. it was doing it for a while but when smoke started pouring out from under the hood like my engine was overheating and alll i could see was white smoke. it was time. it was ~350 for the whole (gaskets and labor) and never had a problem since. my mechanic (for the past 20 years) said to keep refelling it and dont worry about it, but its a hard job to do. the rear bank is pretty cramped to get to. but its one repair thats pretty worth it.
but yes, its common, i have had to it on both my toyotas, but hey, it could be worse and more expensieve. at least its not a domestic car right?!
I had this same problem. the rear bank valve cover gasket was leaking, and it was leaking on my exhaust. it was doing it for a while but when smoke started pouring out from under the hood like my engine was overheating and alll i could see was white smoke. it was time. it was ~350 for the whole (gaskets and labor) and never had a problem since. my mechanic (for the past 20 years) said to keep refelling it and dont worry about it, but its a hard job to do. the rear bank is pretty cramped to get to. but its one repair thats pretty worth it.
but yes, its common, i have had to it on both my toyotas, but hey, it could be worse and more expensieve. at least its not a domestic car right?!
Don't even tell me about it. In 2003, I was looking after my grandma's '93 Ford Taurus, perhaps the worst vehicle ever made. It had just over 70,000 miles and cracked a head.
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Just keep an eye on it to make sure no more starts to slowly leak. As long as you keep an eye on it and no more leaks, you should be fine for a while.
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