i have been watching your videos for quite a few years. i took your advice and bought a 2011 toyota camry le with the 2arfe engine. for the first year and a half the car drove and handled perfectly. the previous owner did not maintain the car. when i got it both air filters were plugged solid and the oil was black. i changed all 3 and the car was good. now fast forward for the past 3 months i am burning oil internally. adding 2 quarts weekly. no oil stains on the ground. no visible leaks. i want to change the pcv valve but every mechanic i have been to wants almost $400.00 for the labour to install. they say its a 3 hour job. even though this is the 2arfe engine, could it also have bad pistons and rings like the 2azfe model. please advise. im spending a small fortune on oil each month.
The car is a 2011 toyota camry LE with a 2.5 litre engine.
Engine model 2ARFE
Please provide ALL the vehicle info per the instructions. ie. mileage
Thanks.
could it also have bad pistons and rings
A cylinder compression test is needed to answer this question.
every mechanic i have been to wants almost $400.00
that's a lot less than a new catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, etc.
I hope you didn't pay much for that car.
the previous owner did not maintain the car
Why did you end up buying it then? Did you have a mechanic look over that car? If yes, did he give you the green light to buy it?
even though this is the 2arfe engine, could it also have bad pistons and rings like the 2azfe model
It depends on who took care it.
If the motor is that severe, look up remanufactured motors for your car. You could try junk yard motors but that's a gamble.
Unfortunately, replacement of the pistons and piston rings is the only real solution to this well known problem. You might as well save that $400 for more oil. If I were you, I'd put in a quart of Lucas "Motor Honey" and sell it.
That has to be the saddest post that I have read here. But we all make mistakes and sometimes have to learn the hard way. I truly feel sorry for you, but you state that you have been watching Scotty's videos for quite a few years. He may have recommended the Toyota Camry with a 2 AR FE engine, but one that had been well maintained. I feel sure that he would have advised you to run quickly from one whose "air filters were plugged solid and the oil was black".
Think about how many miles that car had been driven, being neglected in regards to engine maintenance, for the air filters and motor oil to be in that condition. And how much internal damage had already occurred when you purchased it and the sludge that had probably already accumulated in the oil lines. Yikes! I think it is way past having a new pcv valve fix this problem. Well, hopefully the silver lining is that you will never do this again. And maybe you will be able to use this experience to advise someone else with the knowledge you have gained. Hope you find a nice replacement, sincerely.
Like others have said, a compression test would yield data to make a decision.
If you want to change the PCV valve, I recommend googling your engine and/or make, model, and year. Some engines are notorious for clogged up PCV valves, not sure if yours is the case.
Some are easy to change, some a little more challenging. A ton of how to vids may help.
