I have a 2003 Toyota Camry with ~240,000km on the odometer. Front cover is weeping oil, which is typical on these (you know that place where head, block and cover meet). Technically it's not leaking, as there's nothing on the garage floor yet, but the engine is covered in oil all the way to the oil pan.
I assume it will require pulling the engine out. Perhaps it can be done with the engine in, but there's a risk of messing it up and then you have to do it all over again. Considering how expansive this repair is, I don't want to risk paying for it twice.
It's also a very meticulous job, you have to remove the old sealant, clean the surface without damaging aluminum, degrease without missing a spot and then apply new sealant. It's not uncommon for the bead thickness to be different in certain spots, so you'd have to check the manual for the correct procedure. I just wouldn't trust your average Joe mechanic to do this job.
So that said I have a couple questions:
Any idea how much it would cost? If it's in the range of $1000-2000, it might be worth it. If it's in the upwards of $5000, then it's just not economical for a 20 years old car.
Any recommendation for a specialist Toyota or at least Japanese car mechanic in Melbourne? I used to go to Cromwood Auto, but they've closed since then.