Find an Oil Leak on the 1995 Camry

The oil in your 1995 Camry's engine serves two main purposes. The first is to ensure that all the engine's working and moving parts are lubricated to reduce friction and wear. The second is to keep certain parts of the engine cool and prevent overheating. If a leak is draining oil from the system, your Camry's engine could seize. It is important to locate the source of the oil leak and repair it.

Procedures:
1. Open the hood of your Toyota Camry. Locate the oil cap on the engine, and then open the cap. The oil cap is found on the valve cover.
2. Pour the ultraviolet dye into the oil crankcase of the Camry. Start the engine, and allow it to run for about 10 minutes. Take the Camry for a short drive around the block. This will help the dye circulate through the engine.
3. Use a jack to lift up the front end of the Camry. Use jack stands to support the front end of the frame. Use the jack to raise up the rear end. Use jack stands to support the rear frame. Leave the engine of the vehicle running while it is on the jack stands.
4. Put on your ultraviolet glasses; crawl beneath your Camry. Scan the underneath with an ultraviolet flashlight to try and locate the source of the leak. Look for any area that might be leaking a bright-yellow liquid. This will be the source of the leak, as the dye you poured into the oil crankshaft will show up under the UV flashlight. Read More »»

Remove Motor Oil Sludge

The buildup of sludge in your car's engine is caused by the breakdown of the engine oil. The oil breaks down due to factors such as heat and contamination. Over time, the oil will thicken, causing it to settle on the engine's components, such as the crankshaft or on top of the engine on the valve train. This will effect the engine's efficiency, causing it to run hotter with less lubrication. Complete engine failure can occur eventually. However, with proper care and maintenance, you can take steps to prevent this situation.

Procedures:
1. Flush the engine oil system. You can purchase a quality engine flush at your local auto parts store. Replace the vehicle's old oil filter with a new filter and add one bottle of engine oil system flush. Make sure the oil level is at its maximum safe limit, as indicated on the dipstick. Loosen the oil drain plug and allow some oil to drain into a catch basin before adding the engine oil flush. Tighten the drain plug again.
2. Turn on the engine. Allow it to idle for approximately 15 minutes. Do not rev the engine or put it into gear. Shut the engine down after 15 minutes.
3. Remove the engine flush. Remove the drain plug from the oil pan and allow the oil and flush to drain into a catch basin. Remove the oil filter and replace it with a new filter. Replace the oil drain plug after all the oil and flush have drained completely into the catch basin. The drainage should take at least 10 minutes.
4. Fill the engine with fresh engine oil that meets the vehicle manufacturer's recommended specifications. After adding oil, start and run the vehicle, turning it off after five minutes. Wait another five minutes and check the oil level again with the dipstick. You may need to add more oil.
5. Do a complete oil change with another new oil filter after approximately 100 miles of usage. This step is optional but serves to remove any remaining sludge that may have become dislodged after using the vehicle. Read More »»

Get Engine Oil Off Cement

Vehicles often leak oil and other substances, usually onto a garage floor or driveway. These oil stains can be unsightly and messy. Oil stains cannot be scrubbed from concrete. Instead, many options are available to draw the oil or grease out of the floor. Cleaning up oil spills can be inexpensive and take little time.

Procedures:
1. Put on protective goggles and gloves.
2. Crush 1 cup of cat litter into a powder. Try using a mortar and pestle to crush the litter. You can also place the litter in a sealed plastic bag, place the bag in a magazine and use a hammer to crush the litter.
3. Mix 1 ounce of trisodium phosphate and 1 cup of water in a bucket. Add the crushed litter. Mix with a paint stirrer until a paste forms.
4. Spread the paste on the oil stain with a putty knife and wait for it to dry (about 24 hours). Scrape the paste from the concrete floor with the putty knife.
5. Wet the area with water. Scrub with a nylon brush.
6. Pour cat litter or sand over the area that had the oil spill. Spread it over the entire stain. The litter will absorb any excess oil.
7. Sweep the litter into a dustpan after a couple of days. Dispose in a trash can. Read More »»

Add an Oil Filter to a VW

Regularly scheduled oil changes can extend the life of your VW and also help it run better. Changing the oil filter is also part of regular maintenance because it cleans the oil that passes through the engine, therefore reducing the amount of dirt and contamination that enters it. If an oil filter is not regularly changed, the filter will become clogged and unable to clean the oil that lubricates and helps the engine perform. Adding an oil filter to your VW can be done in very little time and can help prevent a very costly engine repair.

Procedures:
1. Open the hood and locate the oil filter positioned near the front of the engine block, behind and below the cooling fan. The oil filter is attached to the oil filter housing which is part of the engine block. The housing is held in place by an oil filter stem that the oil filter screws onto.
2. Place a bucket under the oil filter to catch any draining oil once the filter is removed. Put an oil filter wrench over the old oil filter and turn it counterclockwise to remove it. Put the old filter in the bucket and let it drain.
3. Clean the surface where the new filter will sit with a towel to remove any debris. Apply a thin film of oil over the rubber seal on the oil filter's open end and fill the filter with oil by pouring it into its open side. Place the new oil filter back onto the oil filter stem. Turn the filter clockwise to tighten it as much as you can by hand. Position the oil filter wrench over the oil filter and rotate it clockwise 1/2-turn more to seat the filter into position. Read More »»