Looking at one for my step-daughter, how bad a job is it? Does the engine need to come out to change the front main seal, or can you do it in the car? The timing belt was recently replaced, so I'm concerned why it wasn't done then.
Looking at one for my step-daughter, how bad a job is it? Does the engine need to come out to change the front main seal, or can you do it in the car? The timing belt was recently replaced, so I'm concerned why it wasn't done then.
Engine does not need to come out, can be done from wheel well. If the timing belt was just changed you may get lucky and the crank pulley will come off easy, I has an 89 and the crank pulley was a bear to remove. Make sure the water pump was changed "while you're in there."
Great cars, last Camry I would consider to have character.
Also, these cars were made before modern oils, I used to run lawnmower 30 weight, cut down on oil leaks and still got decent gas mileage. However it's possible the seal got boogered when attacking the timing belt.
I had to use a 3/4 breaker and the starter motor to break free the crank bolt, broke a few tools before resorting to that.
I would love to find the awd manual trans Camry in that generation.
On our 5SFE Camry, it was the O ring behind the oil pump that was puking oil, not the main seal. I suspect the main is leaking now, though, and it is about time to do another timing belt at ~230K. Yeah, from the wheel well. Anyway, I would do the oil pump O ring too while you're in there. They are only like ten bucks from the dealer and a known failure point on the 5SFE anyway.
In reply to daytonaer:
A 88 Camry was designed decades after straight grade oils had faded into obsolescence.
I think the engine is a 3sfe, no oil pump oring problems.
As for "modern oils" I suppose it's all relative. The manual called for 30 weight oil for non extreme temps, and my '89 seemed to leak significantly less than when running 5-30.
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