96 Camry V6 Head bolts

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C. Morris - 27 Jul 2004 07:45 GMT

I'm looking over the procedure in a Haynes manual to replace a head gasket
on a '96 Camry V6. Oil is leaking from the rear bank (not the valve
cover, it's definitely the head gasket). I'm trying to get all the
parts/tools I'll need before hand. The manual talks of "12-point" bolts
on the head itself. Do these take a special type of socket? I currently
have a full set of metric 6-point hex sockets. Anyone happen to have done
one of these recently enough to remember what size those head bolts were,
if they do require some special socket?

Thanks,
C. Morris

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qslim - 27 Jul 2004 12:05 GMT

I think that those guys are 12mm 12point bolts, for which you will need
that socket. It's a common type of socket. Sears or pep buys or whoever
should carry one. Other very important tools you'll need are a good torque
wrench for re-installing the head bolts, and a big mother breaker bar or a
long pipe you can fit over a wrench for breaking the old ones free. Good
luck, and post if you need help.

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C. Morris - 28 Jul 2004 22:09 GMT

So with further searching on google, broading my search from just "camry"
to head bolts in general, it seems this type of head bolt is pretty common
(12-point, that is). I'll just have to get a few socket sizes to have on
hand (10mm or 12mm).

But in my further reading, I'm seeing several posts from "MDT_Tech" that
essentially say "we have never replaced a head gasket on a 1MZFE in our
shop...ever." So I'm wondering if I should just leave the head alone.
I'm positive it's leaking oil from the passenger corner of the rear bank,
but it's only a drip or two per day (drips on the spinning driveshaft so
the whole area gets oily). I see no evidence of oil-water cross
contamination, and it doesn't seem to be burning much oil or water, so I
assume the leak at this point is simply from an oil channel to the
outside. The engine may very likely go several more years before the
gasket actually "blows," if ever! But I just wanted to get in there
before any real damage (that would require head re-surfacing, filling,
etc.) occurs. On the other hand, I may cause more damage by getting in
there and disturbing things! Any comments?

-Chris

> I'm looking over the procedure in a Haynes manual to replace a head gasket
> on a '96 Camry V6. Oil is leaking from the rear bank (not the valve
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks,
> C. Morris

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qslim - 29 Jul 2004 12:32 GMT

Well, doing headgaskets on the 1MZ is a pain in the a.s. But then so are
most front wheel drive sixers. However, doing it now may mean not having
to deal with a lot of headaches once the leak gets bad. As for cross
contamination between coolant and oil, the only real way to tell is by
using a headgasket leak tester. It's a chemical from a parts store that
tests the coolant for traces of oil. As for doing more damage by repairing
it, realise this is a big job. But, if you go slow, get a good manual
(pref. Chiltons vs. Haynes), and have the right tools, and are
mechanically inclined, you should be alright. But do something before the
engine gets ruined.

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toolmun - 26 Oct 2007 21:47 GMT

>I'm looking over the procedure in a Haynes manual to replace a head gasket
>on a '96 Camry V6. Oil is leaking from the rear bank (not the valve
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>Thanks,
>C. Morris

hey morris in new to this site but I also needed one of those.I finally found
www.eldoradotoolsales.com
they have it. you need to know" exactly " what you need though.

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