1993 Toyota Camry How many heads in my engine?

Tiny
HOTELSINGER
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
My problem began with overheating, then white smoke coming directly out of the engine. It looked as though the smoke was coming from the front (or left) head. I know I must have a blown head gasket or probably a cracked cylinder head.

My question: There are two head gaskets to deal with, yes? No one ever says "heads" or "head gaskets". They always just say "head" or "head gasket". Are they talking about both or either heads, or one specific one? So am I supposed to replace both at the same time or do I just replace the left head gasket? (Or front head gasket, since it's a tilted Toyota engine).

Lastly, how do I know if the engine block is cracked?

Thank you
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 AT 3:38 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
If you have a V6 there are two heads, unless of course you are sitting at the wheel, then there are three! Do yourself a favor, send both out to be check and reconditioned. The new gasket set comes with all the gaskets to do both and the intake too!
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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
HOTELSINGER
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Thank you for your answer! Is it possible that only one head gasket is blown though? I ask because the smoke appears to be coming from the front of the engine, and if I only have to replace the front gasket, I won't have to remove the intake plenum and ignition cable system. (I'm doing all the work myself)

(looks around to see if anyone is going to hear this likely stupid question)
Do you think that "Heal-a-seal" stuff works?
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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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If it was my car, I would do a radiator pressure test on a cold enginge, this will reveal where the leak is, any smoke come out of the tailpipe? You may not even have a blown head gasket if not!
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Friday, May 23rd, 2008 AT 2:06 PM
Tiny
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Thank you! I will do the radiator pressure test. The day after it overheated, there was white smoke coming out of the tailpipe for a while. Now the white smoke only comes from what appears to be the left-side cylinder heads, or at least from that vicinity.
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Saturday, May 24th, 2008 AT 12:19 PM

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