How to replace the cylinder head gasket on a 96 Toyota Camry 4 cylinder 

+Jack Bohannan Thanks! I love the good comments. I hope it was helpful for you.

Thank you! The newer videos are even better.

Haa no shit. This looks it would take a novice like myself, more than a week to complete. I would rather drive it off a cliff and claim it on insurance

I like the drive it off a cliff idea. Too bad my car is only worth $1,000.

+Paul Shpakov +Paul Shpakov hello, thanks for the video. My 2001 camry 4-cylinder died on highway and oil was leaking from passenger side. I replaced timing belt, water pump, pulleys and oil pump seal. Tried to turn the engine manually but it was stuck. I think the valves hit pistons. Any idea if that's fixable in my garage?and is it worth it? Lol I'm so not expert but I think I could learn something AND not throw my baby for couple hundreds. And if you know of any video that shows how to do that please tell me,Thank you

what car do u have? if its a 4 cylinder camry i might buy it.

It's a 4 cylinder camry. But i fixed it. And now running great ;)

Thanks This helped A lot

I hate distracting music on these tutorial videos

If the music was very quiet in the background then yes, but otherwise I also like having no distractions when the steps matter.

the 1996 rav4 has a different engine, it's the 2.0 liter 3s-fe, similar but not the same as the 2.2 liter 5s-fe in this camry

@@NickAlexander_is_Awesome agree but the tips here can be applied to the Rav4 engine don't you think?

@@ignacioanaya3403 no doubt

I'm gonna do mine too (95 Camery) I got this... (I hope so)

If you have a blown HG and non working AC, it's not even worth $1k. more like $200.

@@richieschmidt6225 Depends on where u live.

Don't forget the limes! You definitely made the right choice by replacing the engine. Repairing an engine with that much damage is not worth it.

@@LabCoatPaul Haha! And an umbrella too!

Biyo ri if you drive a 1996 Toyota Camry it’s not worth the cost it to bring it to a mechanic

Disregard James Vegan. I have a 93 Camry that is worth it because Its just a good reliable car. I CAN do the work myself but would rather just have a quality mechanic do it at a fair price. Some care are worth more than sticker price.

@@jamesmeegan4755 I have a 93 Camry too. Do you have a vibration at idle? If so lmk what you did to fix it lol

+condari sergio It's a regular 16psi cap from the auto parts store.

Yes, I re-used the hoses. I used black RTV silicone sealer from the auto parts store.

+Fransystems All the lower engine mounts are still in place, so you don't need to support the engine. Lifting both sides will give you more room to work.

I got mine at Autozone. Buying it online is much better than going to the store. Autozone changes their special deals every week. I bought mine for 20% off. Take a close look at your emissions label on your car before you order. The California cylinder head is different from the regular one.

Look at the video at 7:08. Toyota says to torque the head bolts to 36 ft-lb, then turn the bolts an additional 90 degrees.

Your engine is the 3s-fe. If you search for 3S-FE timing belt replacement, you'll find a few poorly made videos, but you should be able to get the information that you need. You can also read the engine service manual here: cardiagn.com/engine-mechanical-3s-fe-engine/ scroll down to page EG-34

@@LabCoatPaul thank you for this much appreciated

Well..... I just had a $50 auto parts store torque wrench. It broke after a while. I would recommend a Snap-On torque wrench, even though it's expensive. Never buy a used torque wrench though, because you don't know if it was stored properly. If a torque wrench isn't zeroed out after every use, it will lose it's calibration.

@@LabCoatPaul Thanks!

The head gasket was metal, coated with some sealing material. You can see it at 4:50 in the video.

Replacing the head gasket is about a 10 hour job. You might be able to get the metal piece out if you take out the spark plug and use a magnet.

Yes. Watch the video at 8:14

@@LabCoatPaul sorry, missed it last night, I am getting old👍Great video. Was that your first time? Also, where did you get the manual?

No. You can install the distributor whenever you want.

Thank you!! Your video is a great help blessings!!

I ordered mine from Autozone.

That sounds more like it needs spark plugs or maybe a vacuum leak. Bad valve timing usually has more severe symptoms like it won't run or backfires through the intake. Checking the timing valve timing is pretty easy though. You only need to take the top part of the timing cover to see the timing mark on the camshaft pulley. The other mark is on the crank pulley, which is already outside of the timing cover.

im suspecting its incorrect valve timing.i have a 5sfe aswell. but its very rich and vacuum hoses r connected up no leaks. when i press the pedal it bogs. wont even rev nothing?

and it sort of backfires when trying to rev the engine up

checking the valve timing is very easy. You only need to remove the upper timing cover. Line up the mark on the harmonic balancer and the mark on the camshaft. Watch the video at 13:35 If the timing is wrong, check the belt. It's probably old. Replace the timing belt.

Yes, the bolt is left out when the installation is done. My engine works great with the new head. The valve lifters are very loud, but that's normal for the 5s-fe engine. It sounds kind of like a sewing machine.

I got a remanufactured cylinder head from Autozone.

+Geo Von Lengerke Thanks! Well, it took me forever because I waited for parts and made a video. I would say it's about a 10 hour job.

Hey Paul what happens if you don't prime the oil pump?

The 5Sfe is a non-interference engine. That means the valves can not hit the pistons, even if the timing belt is installed wrong. You won't damage your engine, but it definitely won't run right if you're off by a tooth. You'll get no power, and the engine might backfire through the intake.

If your timing is off by more than 1 tooth on the belt, the engine won't run at all. Watch the video at 12:48 and check to make sure your timing belt is installed properly. You should also check your spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, and test the compression on your engine.

Great job by the way

@@juanmespinoza65 Thanks! I just got a remanufactured head from AutoZone.

I drove the car for a year after replacing the cylinder head, then I sold it. Now I have a 1997 Toyota RAV4. The Camry didn't have air conditioning (it was the really cheap model), and it didn't have AWD. Now I have both in my new car.

@@LabCoatPaul To comment on this a little more. I happened to have a 1994 camry, 4 cyl, and i used this very video from Paul to replace my headgasket about a year ago (it was oct2018, with 310k mileage). I didn't have impact wrench so removing the balancer was a challenge, but the biggest challenge was removing that intake manifold from engine's back, I swore like a seaman while doing that !! How it seems so easy in the vid - i'm left to guess :) Also, I only had to re-plane the old cyl head, it was in a good shape, with minimal warpage. In any case, everything was done right, and my car is running strong now, with 325 k on it one year later. Planning to go till 400k until i'm worried about TB again. Paul, i took inspiration from your vid back then and did it myself. Otherwise - paying ~ 2k for this job in a car which is worth like 500$ would have been a shame! THANKS a lot.

@@myaso4123 It's a pain to work on some things without an air compressor. I have a Porter Cable pancake compressor and a Bostitch 500ft/lbs impact wrench. I have done harmonic balancers on my Mustang and Camry, all the struts on the Camry, the lower control arms and then lots of suspension work on my Camaro. I tried everything to get the balancer off on my Mustang, I did the breaker bar and 2x4s and a Craftsman battery powered impact, but nothing broke it loose. That little Porter Cable ripped it right off.

I'm a mechanic, so basically I can replace the head gasket on any car. I just worked on cars a lot and figured stuff out. Also, I went to Wyotech for automotive technology.

@@LabCoatPaul is this a common problem on these engines?

@@conner5611 At this point, yes. These cars are more than 20 years old, so most of them are going to have a lot of miles and all the gaskets and seals are bad.

@@LabCoatPaul but its not as common as the 6.0l powerstroke is it? our car has around 156k and doesn't burn any oil or loose any coolant

@@conner5611 Your luck is better than mine. My 1996 Camry and 1997 RAV4 both needed head gaskets, so 100% of my old Toyotas needed head gaskets.

+Imar Giovanni Uriostegui You can get them from Autozone

OMG have to remove everything just to change a gasket!

Go to parts.toyota.com/ and you can find a diagram of every part in your engine. Or make a trip to the junkyard.

The remanufactured cylinder head was about $500 from Autozone. Then add oil, coolant, head gasket set, timing belt, water pump, and a lot of time. I would budget about $1,000 for this project if you do all the work yourself for free. Is it worth it? Technically, no. An old Camry is worth about $1,500 and a new cylinder head (at the shop) is at least $2,500. If your car is in good condition otherwise and you plan to use it for a few more years, it may still be a good idea to fix it.

Excellent. The engine has a little bit more power and I don't have to worry about it breaking down.

It sounds like you have a valve cover gasket leak. it's a common problem and it's cheap and easy to fix.

@@LabCoatPaul how do I test to see if this is an actual problem? Its a tight space right back in there and if possible I might be able to snap a picture close enough in that general area in the daylight. I greatly appreciate your quick response as well. How much do you know about this car as well? I could really use your knowledge and have been trying to find someone who owns one and understands the general workings and possible problems they might have.

@@LabCoatPaul p.s. I had the plugs and wires changed when my mechanic did the timing belt after it went out last year and ever since they were changed the new wires have fell off/unplugged from the distributor cap. First 2 times I noticed immediately and stopped and found that to be the problem. 3rd time was last week I was doing a regular inspection under the hood filling fluids and have also started to clean the engine compartment delicately.. i saw the middle wire was unplugged from the distributor cap and do not know how long it has been like that. I didn't have any issues like I had when the other 2 came unplugged (loss of extreme power) what does the middle plug do? It runs away from the engine unlike my other 4 that run each cylinder i guess.. I'm surprised this didn't solve my slight loss of power issue after I plugged it back in.😒

@@zacharyjoel9449 The distributor sends the spark to each spark plug at the right time. The center wire goes to the ignition coil, which is bolted to the firewall. The coil makes the spark. If the center distributor wire is unplugged, the engine will not run. To make sure your spark plug wires don't unplug, pull each wire out of the distributor cap, one at a time. Pull the rubber cover back away from the connector. Then plug it in to the distributor cap. You should feel it snap into place. If the connector is loose, you can spread the connector a little bit, then plug it in. After it's plugged in, push the rubber cover over the post on the distributor.

I got mine from Autozone.com. You can just order it online and have it shipped to your house or the nearest store. There are two versions: California emissions, and normal. Look at the emissions label under the hood to find out which one you have.

145,000. The rest of the engine is still good. If you take care of them, these Toyotas will last forever.

+Paul Shpakov I thought the reconditioned head would damage the piston rings

Replacing the head will have no effect on the piston rings. The compression will be higher, compared to having a blown head gasket, but that won't make anything else wear faster.

+Paul Shpakov what if the head was shaved for higher compression? with valve jobs? wouldnt that putload on the piston rings from compression?

Took a wrong turn in albuquerque

yea 500 bucks in a max 1500 dollar car

Same amount as the shop. But you can do it yourself and save a lot of money! :)

How much do u think a repair like this will run in a shop? Im far from a mechanic even with vidoes i dont even have the tools thats why i was asking if u woulf just do it its a 93 camry so it's older but the model and make is the same

The quick answer is: the repair costs 3 times more than your car is worth. Shops will charge at least $1,500 for head gasket replacement. My car also had a bad cylinder head, so that was $450 for the cylinder head, plus about $250 for head gasket set, head bolts, oil, antifreeze, sealant, etc. So my repair was about $700 not including labor. If you don't take your cylinder head in to the machine shop to get it measured, you might be completely wasting your time and money by changing the head gasket. Also, if you're not a mechanic, you will probably kill your car if you attempt to replace the head gasket. I currently don't have the time to work on your car, sorry. Basically it's about a 10 hour job, so labor will run anywhere from $500 to $1000 or more at a shop, depending on their hourly rate. So my advice to you is: if you love your car and want it fixed, be prepared to spend a lot of money. Consider replacing the car, or if it runs ok, drive it a bit longer, then replace the car.

You cant put a price on sentimemtal value u cant argue that it was and probaly still is the best car u ever drove and 1500 is worth it if u have it

I agree. The Camrys are very good cars. I went through my whole engine and fixed all the leaks, put all 4 new struts and springs in, and it was just as good as a new car. I recently sold mine and got a 1997 RAV4 instead. It's like the Camry, except even cooler because it's smaller and 4 wheel drive. Doesn't ride nearly as smooth as the Camry though.

Sometimes you need to pry it a little bit.

That is a pink make - up mirror. :)

Thank you. Unfortunately, I only have a blue one. 😀

Mine was severely warped. The machine shop said it would likely break a camshaft. My car had over 150,000 miles and the car is over 20 years old. The valve seals are old, the valve seats are worn, and the lifters are probably out of spec. A remanufactured head is the best option.

That sounds like a bad time for sure. You may be better off replacing the engine (or the car). A 1996 Camry with 150K miles is worth about $1,600. A head gasket set for your car is about $340 from Autozone + $40 head bolts + $150 timing belt, water pump kit + $40 oil and antifreeze. Your project will cost at least $600, but could be as much as $1600 if the cylinder heads are bad. That's not including any labor or tools you may have to get. Keep in mind, even after you do head gaskets, the rest of your car is still worn out. Unless you've done a lot of repairs, your struts and springs are probably dead, the transmission is close to blowing up, and the interior is probably gross and mostly broken. Financially, it makes no sense to do major repairs on old cars. I always fix up my cars because I'm dumb and I love them. If you do go the replacement car route, 1996 and newer cars have OBD 2, so you can plug in a scan tool and the car's computer will help you fix check engine light stuff. On the older cars, like yours, you have to jumper a couple terminals and it will flash the light at you to tell you a code. The old on board diagnostics suck.

yes, as soon as I did that, I felt really dumb. I should have used assembly lube. It's a thinner grease that dissolves in oil when you start the engine.

The remanufactured head I bought is ready to go in to the engine. The machine shop should have done a valve job, installed new seals, and made sure it's flat and within specs. Yes, I should have checked it myself too, but it turned out OK.

+Justin Snyder The hose goes to the TVV (temperature vacuum valve), located where the upper radiator hose connects to the engine. This valve opens when the engine is hot. It prevents fuel vapors from the charcoal canister from entering the engine when it's cold. And I did research it by looking at the emissions control routing sticker on the hood of my car. Pause the video at 11:28 to see it. My car is the California emissions version, so it's possible that I have more parts in the EVAP system than you do. Newer cars will use an electronic solenoid instead of a vacuum valve attached to the coolant passage. Either way, there should be some sort of valve between the evap canister and the intake.

Paul Shpakov Still doesn't make sense. Why would fuel vapors and the evaporation system have anything to do with the RADIATOR??? Doesn't make sense. I have a Toyota Camry LE 1996. It isn't connected that way and my car runs fine. So something isn't making sense in your video.

Anyone else reading this don't be confused by Justin's confusion. It has nothing to do with coolant except the temperature. It opens the line beween the canister and the intake only when the engine is hot.

Justin Snyder, first off all you are rude. Second of all you should not be watching these video's after reading your comments. You should be watching a cooking channel and figure out the optimum oven temperature for baking a cake. These video's are obviously too technical for you and your rude personality.