Jump to content

blanik

Regular Member
  • Posts

    4
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Toyota Model*
    camry

blanik's Achievements

Member

Member (1/14)

0

Reputation

  1. In general, Camry's are very dependable, but get that brake fluid changed. As I recall, Toyota doesn't require brake fluid changes in the maintenance schedule, but most manufacturers do, and for good reason. Toyota's don't have any magic brake systems that prevent the brake fluid from absorbing water from the air. Water in the brake fluid will corrode the brake system from the inside and if the brake calipers get too hot, the water will turn to steam and you will have no brakes. The typical change interval is every 2 years, but if you drive in a very dry climate you might get away with longer intervals. I have heard of a test to measure the amount of water in brake fluid, but I just change mine, so I have not tried it.
  2. I searched for this subject and I was surprised that I got no results. So, I'll just ask: 1. How many years should a timing belt last on a 2001 Camry with the four cylinder 5s-fe engine? It's my mother's car, she doesn't drive much, and she is the original owner. It has about 25k miles on it and it has the original timing belt. As I recall, the owner's manual says it should be changed every 6 years and, obviously, that is very conservative. The way I see it, the belt should have very little wear, but I know rubber disintegrates as time passes. This belt is about 13 years old. 2. Has anybody had one last more years? I know how difficult it is to replace one on a VW, and I think it is best to replace every wear item on that end of the engine (water pump, seals, tensioners, etc.)while it is apart because it is so difficult to get to them. And that makes the job expensive. So, I want to put it off until it is necessary. 3. Also, if there is an age limit on timing belts, shouldn't there be a manufacturing date stamped on the belt? I know the Continental belt I put on my VW did not have one. If I don't know how old the belt is when I buy it, I don't know when I should replace it (especially since I don't yet know how many years it should last). I understand that the engine in not an interference engine, so if the belt breaks, it will just stop, not destroy itself. 4. Is it difficult to inspect the belt for cracks in the rubber? Thanks in advance for your help.
  3. It just does not seem right that the filter will empty itself, as the no-name filter did, even after months of disuse. That means the engine will be running without oil pressure for a few seconds at startup while the filter is refilling. The engine had been stopped for 5 to 10 minutes while I drained the oil before I removed the filter in both cases. Next time, I will try punching a hole in the top of the filter to see if it will drain faster. Has anybody else tried that?
  4. When I changed the oil and filter on my mother's 2001 2.2 liter Camry last fall, it had a no-name filter from the shop she had taken it to last oil change. That was the first time I worked on her car. After I drained the oil, I started unscrewing the filter, expecting oil to pour out of it onto the engine block. I was surprised to find the filter was already drained. I replaced it with the proper Fram PH4967. Today, I changed the oil again, and this time, oil did come pouring out of the filter when I unscrewed it. It seemed to be full of oil. What normally happens when the filter is removed for replacement with this engine? Do some brands of filters self-drain (and some don't) when the engine is off? If some do, wouldn't that cause the oil pressure to be low at startup while the filter fills up? Is there a way to avoid spilling a filter-full of oil when a non-self-draining filter is removed?
×
×
  • Create New...

Forums


News


Membership