Hi everyone, I'm new to the group. Thank you in advance if you don't mind reading this!

I drive a 2001 Toyota Camry, 4 cylinder, with about 180,000 miles. I'm hoping to get some advice, because I'm afraid of getting ripped off by an auto repair shop if I don't have any knowledge about what could be wrong. Here are the two problems my car is having.

1. Shuddering - I started noticing this sometime during 2012. Sometimes when I accelerate, I feel the car shudder. This has gotten more frequent in the last couple of weeks. It happens when I'm accelerating, going uphill, or when I'm stopped, still in drive, with my foot on the brake. Each shudder lasts less than a second, and while it's happening, it feels like the car is losing power. Just based on the sensation, it feels like the car could die during these shudders, if they were to get worse.

2. Oil leak - The lube place at Wal-Mart determined that there is an oil leak, but they don't know where, and said I would need to take it to a shop to find out. They knew there was a leak based on the dripping, and also because there was no oil on the dipstick. Someone at Wal-mart said she used to have an oil leak on her old car, and just drove around with an extra bottle of oil in her trunk. She would frequently check the oil, adding more as needed. Should I get the oil leak fixed, or just treat the symptom by adding more oil? I suppose this depends on where the leak is?

Here's some more background info (which incriminates me as a formerly terrible car owner). I went from July 2011 to January 2012 without an oil change.

Any opinions on what could be wrong will be greatly appreciated. Also, I will gladly take advice on what to do next. My plan is to take the car to Gateway or a similar place, and get some diagnostics. Is there another option that's more cost-effective? Does anyone recommend any nationwide chains for getting my car checked out? (or local to Nashville, TN?)

Thank you so much.

Lisa

 

How many miles did you drive between 7/11 and 1/12? Did you or anyone else check the oil level between these dates?

The engine can leak oil. This issue is if its a steady drip that can run the engine out of oil quickly or seepage for the gaskets and seals that is manageable by topping off the oil as the Wal-Mart lady stated.

As to the shutter. Ominous?

Does the whole car shutter or only just the engine?

It is normal for the engine to shake if for some reason the RPM's drop below normal idle RPM. The lower the RPM drops the more the engine will shake.

Is the engine RPM dropping during the shutter or does the RPM stay the same when the shutter happens?

If going up a hill and the shutter happens, is there is power loss, does the RPM drop, rise or stay the same?

As far as repair places do suggest getting recommendations. Start asking around at work, school, etc.

The Car Talk site is supposed to list shops recommended by viewers, perhaps someone recommended one in your area.

Another alternative is to ask at the Toyotanation website having a much larger audience.

Would stay away from Firestone, too many bad experiences of overcharging and poor work.

If any repairs seem too costly get a second opinion.

 

Thank you for the response, Joey. I put hyphens in front of my responses.

How many miles did you drive between 7/11 and 1/12? Did you or anyone else check the oil level between these dates?

---It was welllll over 3,000. I think more like 6,000. No one else checked the oil level.

---On a related note, in the two weeks or so since I got my oil changed, I checked the oil, and it's still full. Somewhat good news, it seems.

The engine can leak oil. This issue is if its a steady drip that can run the engine out of oil quickly or seepage for the gaskets and seals that is manageable by topping off the oil as the Wal-Mart lady stated.

---I guess I'll just keep checking the oil to see how fast the leakage is.

As to the shutter. Ominous?

---My way of saying my gut tells me this isn't an ordinary shudder. Makes me feel like the car could die, if the shudders got any worse.

Does the whole car shutter or only just the engine?

---Hard to explain....maybe just the engine? I think I'm sensing the shudder through the accelerator pedal, and I hear a difference in the motor sound.

It is normal for the engine to shake if for some reason the RPM's drop below normal idle RPM. The lower the RPM drops the more the engine will shake.

Is the engine RPM dropping during the shutter or does the RPM stay the same when the shutter happens?

---I watched the RPM dial during a couple of shudders, and there was no change in RPM at all.

If going up a hill and the shutter happens, is there is power loss, does the RPM drop, rise or stay the same?

--I somehow sense a power loss, as if I have to press harder to keep the same speed. No drop in RPM.

As far as repair places do suggest getting recommendations. Start asking around at work, school, etc.

---OK

The Car Talk site is supposed to list shops recommended by viewers, perhaps someone recommended one in your area.

Another alternative is to ask at the Toyotanation website having a much larger audience.

Would stay away from Firestone, too many bad experiences of overcharging and poor work.

----Thank you for those suggestions!

---Does anyone think my problem sounds transmission related?

If any repairs seem too costly get a second opinion.

 

If it was 6K miles between oil changes and no oil check in between it could be down a couple of quarts from slow leaks and engine burning.

Suggest checking more often AND when driving away from your favorite parking spot check for excess signs of leakage on the ground.

Barring something strange happening the only rapid drip leak is if the oil pump seal fails then the engine can lose 1 quart in less 100 miles.

A failing torque converter can cause a shutter. Given this is an expensive repair suggest having someone look at the engine first.

If it is the trans find a shop will actually do diagnostics before stating the trans needs rebuilding or replacing.