# Is an engine replacement worth it on 2005 Camry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 15, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008 "2022-03-15T15:45:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [March 16, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/21 "2022-03-16T00:05:27Z")
> [@nickc498](#): > > The engine was damaged in a flash flood That usually means you will have electrical problems in the future that may never end . Just give up and replace this thing. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/22 "2022-03-16T00:06:34Z")
They definitely wouldn’t give me my money back without inspecting it, and for that I’d have to ship it 1,200 miles. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/23 "2022-03-16T00:09:46Z")
Repairing such a small oil leak is most likely not worth the cost. It can cost upwards of 1k I believe. The mechanic did say he would have the engine replaced again if the engine is burning oil. He said he would have to run some tests first to make sure this is the case though. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/24 "2022-03-16T00:11:22Z")
How do I tell exactly where the leak is coming from? It seems to be on the left side where the engine is. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/25 "2022-03-16T00:14:14Z")
How much do you think it would cost just to have a mechanic check where the leak is coming from? ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/26 "2022-03-16T00:19:23Z")
first look under the hood for leaks on top of the engine, near the valve cover. if no leaks are seen then you need to put the emergency brake on. jack the front of the car up. use jack stands too. clean up all the oil that leaked onto everything underneath the engine. then let the engine run for a while to see if you see it leaking. or you can take it for a drive for a while and then jack it back up again the same as before and look for the leak. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/27 "2022-03-16T00:24:51Z")
Thank you. My mechanic recommended using something like Lucas, the oil stabilizer. He said to go to an auto shop and find something that is suitable for a camry. Is this Restore product similar to Lucas? ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/28 "2022-03-16T00:31:41Z")
[Engine Restorer (restoreusa.com)](https://www.restoreusa.com/index.php) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/29 "2022-03-16T00:45:45Z")
I’ve used Restore over the years to eliminate/reduce oil burning in worn engines. I’ve done this for customers who can’t afford a replacement engine/vehicle. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/30 "2022-03-16T00:54:43Z")
I rarely take a vehicle to a mechanic any more. But I’d think 1 hour labor? Others can chime in. You may have more info on the labor rates in your area than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 1:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/31 "2022-03-16T01:34:37Z")
Ok, left side. The drivers side or passenger side? ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/32 "2022-03-16T04:02:01Z")
Is it common practice to do preventative maintenance and replace the engine main seal or not replace it when the engine or transmission is removed? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 4:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/33 "2022-03-16T04:53:15Z")
We obtain engines through LKQ auto parts, these are their warranty requirements; ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/b/bb835d7016b99f56d0a43b9f32520e3846227d8c.jpeg) I have seen timing belts and thermostats removed by the engine supplier to ensure they get replaced. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/34 "2022-03-16T05:00:54Z")
I would never change an engine or transmission without changing the rear main seal on the engine or the front seal on the transmission because seals are so cheap and pulling an Engine or transmission is expensive or a lot of work if you are doing it yourself. Some mechanics will ask you if you want it done and chaqrge you not much to do it, but I don’t think anyone will automatically do it without asking you about it because they don’ want to lose the job to another mechanic who will do the job $50 cheaper because he us not changing the seals. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/35 "2022-03-16T15:10:00Z")
> [@nickc498](#): > > The engine was damaged in a flash flood and thats why i had to replace it. This is important information that you should have given us from the start. This car is likely to start developing all sorts of glitches that will be a pain to repair. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/36 "2022-03-16T15:18:49Z")
The Flood info was in one of his other threads but that one has over 50 posts . Plus a thread asking how to check oil level . I say again that this vehicle may never be dependable and it is time to just bail and replace it. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/37 "2022-03-16T16:22:57Z")
Driving through flood water can damage the engine but not necessarily the interior. If this car were swept away by a flash flood it would have never been repaired. ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/38 "2022-03-16T17:56:36Z")
Passenger side ---
**Author:** ![nickc498](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/838e76/32.png) [@nickc498](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nickc498)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/39 "2022-03-16T18:07:57Z")
I thought that changing a seal can be risky and cost upwards of $1k. Isnt it also something that shouldve been checked by the mechanic before installing the 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:** [March 16, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008/40 "2022-03-16T18:16:22Z")
Nick , just in case you do not know your replies are seen by everyone here . No need to reply to each individual post. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-an-engine-replacement-worth-it-on-2005-camry/183008.md?page=3)