# 2002 Camry 207 k miles, oil leaks around head gasket, how to fix or worth fixing it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 18, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019 "2019-11-18T14:20:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/1 "2019-11-18T14:20:44Z")
2002 Camry 207 k miles, oil leaks around head gasket, how to fix or worth fixing it? Is it possible to fix it my self, I’m a beginner and I have replaced valve gasket. I can smell burning oil after each drive and when i open the hood i could see the smoke, is it okay to continue to drive/commute to office 20 miles one way. ![20191116_160919](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/2/9/29f1b7c1d4114ca5b50934401e588bc10ae68746.jpeg) ![20191114_130353](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/f/3f4b996aadae1ce6ae762572bad0ba47a0865ae3.jpeg) ![20191116_160845](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/4/34532afb6ea5d741d87a2ff01c8708036c046aba.jpeg) ![20191114_130335](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/3/a3c29ccafc5758cdd3ca0e6746242fdf3671aae7.jpeg) ![20191116_160919](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/2/9/29f1b7c1d4114ca5b50934401e588bc10ae68746.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/2 "2019-11-18T14:38:02Z")
I can’t tell much from the pictures . Replacing a head gasket is not a simple job . Do a Google search for videos on doing that and that should help you decide if you can do it. A local independent shop can give a ball park price and for a diagnostic fee they can see if the head gasket is leaking and how much internal damage might have happened. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/3 "2019-11-18T14:45:22Z")
Are you positive it’s the head gasket, and not the valve cover gasket? They leak much more often. How much oil do you have to add (miles/quart)? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/4 "2019-11-18T15:26:28Z")
I am inclined to believe the new valve cover gasket is leaking. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/5 "2019-11-18T15:38:35Z")
Also, which engine? The V6 or the 4? ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/6 "2019-11-18T15:46:59Z")
Clean the area with a degreaser and see where its leaking.Replacing a valve cover is an easy job provided you have the right gasket for your application.You have either a 4 or 6 cylinder engine.Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/7 "2019-11-18T16:43:50Z")
Valve cover gasket i recently replaced and it not leaking however i’m not sure if its head gasket or any other it is leaking any other place. ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/8 "2019-11-18T16:44:16Z")
Its V4 engine. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/9 "2019-11-18T16:45:36Z")
> [@Senthil](#): > > Its V4 engine. I would fix it as you have the only V4 Camry in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/10 "2019-11-18T16:45:37Z")
I will try this… but i see he oil around the engine ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/11 "2019-11-18T16:47:42Z")
video are there as guide… i still looking for a video with clear instruction on replacing and fixing it. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/12 "2019-11-18T16:57:55Z")
It’s a BIG job to replace a head gasket for a novice, and I’m still not sure that’s the problem. Do as advised above, clean the engine thoroughly and see where the oil comes from. How much oil are you using? ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/13 "2019-11-18T18:19:22Z")
I guess last time i used 4 quartz out of 6 pack i bought it from costco and the oil level in the engine between low and max dot. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/14 "2019-11-18T18:21:43Z")
How many miles before you have to add another quart? ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/15 "2019-11-18T19:17:48Z")
I change oil 3 to 5 thousand miles… I don’t add in between… ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/16 "2019-11-18T20:03:24Z")
You don’t add because you don’t need to or because you don’t check it between changes? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/17 "2019-11-19T01:24:21Z")
That is a major problem, you should never let the oil fall below the ‘add’ mark. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/18 "2019-11-19T01:42:51Z")
Some oil seeped out of my 1984 Cavalier’s head gasket. I retorqued the bolts and the problem stopped. Things can go wrong when you do this, so be cautious. If the leak is small you could just wipe the oil off from time to time, before it goes down where it can burn. ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/19 "2019-11-19T19:28:36Z")
sometimes I check and when it goes below add mark I top up one quartz or if the oil looks really dark… i will drain and refill. ---
**Author:** ![Senthil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Senthil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Senthil)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019/20 "2020-01-03T03:24:08Z")
I haven’t taken the vehicle… and today I decided to try gasket leak fix which is poured into coolant/radiator. one of my friend suggested to pressure wash the engine and then look up for for leak location, is it good idea? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-camry-207-k-miles-oil-leaks-around-head-gasket-how-to-fix-or-worth-fixing-it/153019.md?page=2)