Piston, Connecting Rod, and Bearings Cleaning and Inspection: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Inspect the piston for the following conditions:
- Distortion or cracking
- Eroded areas (1) at the top of the piston
- Scuffed or damaged skirt (2)
- Scoring to the piston pin bore (3)
- Inspect the connecting rod for the following conditions:
- Twisting (2)
- Nicks or gouging in the pin or bearing bores (1 and 3)
- Proper fit of the connecting rod and cap (4)
- Clean all the piston ring grooves thoroughly with a ring groove cleaning tool.
- Measure the piston diameter at a point 16 mm (0.63 in) from the bottom of the skirt (a).
Specification:
- Piston diameter - new: 88.975-88.985 mm (3.5029-3.5033 in)
- Piston diameter - service limit: 88.965 mm (3.5026 in)
- 0.25 mm (0.0098 in) oversize piston diameter: 89.225-89.235 mm (3.5128-3.5132 in)
- Measure the piston pin diameter.
Specification:
- Piston pin diameter - new: 21.962-21.965 mm (0.8646-0.8648 in)
- Piston pin diameter - service: 21.954 mm (0.8643 in)
- Measure the piston pin bore.
- Calculate the pin-to-bore clearance.
Specification:
- Piston pin-to-bore clearance - new: -0.005 to +0.001 mm (-0.0002 to +0.00004 in)
- Piston pin-to-bore clearance - service limit: 0.004 mm (0.0002 in)
- Measure the connecting rod pin bore.
- Calculate the piston pin-to-connecting rod clearance.
Specification:
- Piston pin-to-connecting rod clearance - new: 0.005-0.014 mm (0.0002-0.0006 in)
- Piston pin-to-connecting rod clearance - service limit: 0.019 mm (0.0007 in)
IMPORTANT:
Inspect the piston, pin and connecting rod with the components at room temperature. Do not use a wire brush to clean the piston ring grooves. Do not cut the ring grooves deeper with a groove cleaning tool.