Engine Block Clean And Inspect
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Clean sealing material from the gasket mating surfaces.
- Clean engine block and lower crankcase in a cleaning tank with solvent appropriate for aluminum.
- Flush engine block with clean water or steam.
- Clean oil passages.
- Clean blind holes.
- Spray cylinder bores and the machined surfaces with engine oil.
- Inspect threaded holes. Clean threaded holes with a rifle brush. If necessary, drill out damaged holes and install thread inserts.
IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to machine the lower crankcase to engine block surfaces.
- Use a straight edge and a feeler gauge to check the deck surface for flatness. Carefully machine minor irregularities. Replace the block if more than 0.254 mm (0.010 in.) must be removed.
- Inspect oil pan rail for nicks. Inspect the front cover attaching area for nicks. Use a flat mill file to remove any nicks.
- Clean sealing material from gasket mating surfaces on lower crankcase engine block side.
- Clean sealing material from gasket mating surfaces on lower crankcase oil pan side.
NOTE: If the transmission case mating surface is not flat, damage to flywheel may result.
- Inspect mating surfaces of transaxle face.
- Use the following procedure in order to measure the engine block flange runout at the mounting bolt hole bosses:
- 13.1 Temporarily install crankshaft. Measure crankshaft flange runout.
- 13.2 Hold gauge plate flat against crankshaft flange.
- 13.3 Place dial indicator stem on transmission mounting bolt hole boss. Set indicator to 0.
- 13.4 Record readings obtained from all of the bolt hole bosses. The measurements should not vary more than 0.203 mm (0.008 in.).
- 13.5 Recheck crankshaft flange runout if readings vary more than 0.203 mm (0.008 in.).
IMPORTANT: Recondition engine block with bedplate installed and tightened to specification.
- Inspect crankshaft main bearing bores. Use a bore gauge to measure bearing bore concentricity and alignment.
- Replace engine block if crankshaft bearing bores are out of specification.
- Inspect cylinder bores. Inspect for the following items:
- Wear
- Taper
- Runout
- Ridging
IMPORTANT: If bore is worn beyond the limits, install oversize pistons. Select the smallest available oversize piston.
- Leave sufficient material to allow honing when fitting pistons.