5SFE Camry Head - BHG or Cracked???

**Drifty Midship** · 01-09-2010, 01:32 PM

GF has a sick Camry.
Cottage cheese in the oil cap and missing on Cyl 3.
Seems plug well for cyl 3 gets water in it causing the miss but cant really confirm.
A work mate has told me these heads crack around cyl 3 plug well.
Was hoping to get out of it cheap just replacing the HG but now not so sure...
Can anyone confirm that these heads are prone to cracking?
Any previous experiences with these would be helpful.

Cheers.

**thechuckster** · 01-09-2010, 01:52 PM

crack around plug won't result in water in the oil.

Assume it's a BHG and either quick rebuild (while head is off get it hardness tested) or get replacement motor from wreckers.

**hosking1991** · 01-09-2010, 05:26 PM

yes yes they do crack i have seen it on many occasions ,

they crack around the bung, pretty much in the middle of the head, i have seen small and big cracks in the same spot (one of the ones i seen went from the bung all the way to the spark plug post thingy :S )

and if they crack here oil will be very milky

cheers luke

ps i can do cylinder head work cheap for you

**Drifty Midship** · 01-09-2010, 06:04 PM

Cheers,
So I can assume that the head IS cracked...
I might try and line a new one up before I pull the other one off save me having to let her drive one of my babies

Are they repairable or just swap on another head and wait for it to crack also.
Luke... where are you based?

**Cuzzo** · 01-09-2010, 07:08 PM

I guess the problem is the next one will crack too

repair then sell sell sell?

Or burn burn burn and purchase a ae101 or similar?

**hosking1991** · 01-09-2010, 09:37 PM

With those symptons it would either be bhg or cracked head or bhg/along with cracked head

process of elimination: before removing head leak down test and if it appears that the gasket is not blown than its pretty afe to say its cracked

im am based penrith way (st clair)

luke

ps. also if it was overheated than good chance the head is warped but thats notthing an oxy can't fix (im serious thats how it is down in most shops )

**hosking1991** · 01-09-2010, 09:42 PM

oh crack can be repaired but in my experience is abit of a eff around

it involves pressure testing the head and 1.pinpointing the exact point where it leaks at 2. than welded,3 than repressure tested (steps 2 & 3 are usually repeated cause weld may not hold the leak so they are die-ground back and reweled till no leak is present )

so in short can be done but big job i would suggest find a second hand head thats in good condition