new 2nd gen owner, nees assistance in ks. anyone

[alljackedup]

so i got this at a reasonable price, i had already had my mind set on motor replacement/rebuild. some issues that have come to light now and needing some veteran experience to guide me with this and get it on the road in a timely mannor.
1. smokes blue after it has a load put on it.
2. im thinking rear main is leaking, just saw a few drips while i started it up today.
3. top end chatter with load on it. not horrible, but there.
4. took it to the shop and they said it was a rod, however it was clearly on the top in which i heard.
5 also some coolant on the ground, seen today.


so thats it for starters any advise on where to start?
im moving next month cant really shell out a ton of cash but i guess ill do what i have to to have something to drive.

95 3.0

 

[SV_Dude]

Most of the time a rod doesn't only chatter while under a load. If they do then they usually fail almost immediately. The rod bearings are what normally fails in that case. In your case I would venture to assume that you are hearing some valve chatter. It's somewhat common to hear that on an engine that's under load when the valves aren't adjusted properly.

As for your leaks, find the spot that they're leaking from and fix as necessary.

The other issue is the blue smoke. If it's blue smoke then you're probably burning a little bit of oil. Is it only when the engine is under a load? You could be getting a little bit of blow by from the piston rings or from weak valve seals.

It sounds like your priorities are to have your valves checked out and adjust them as necessary. A FSM or chiltons manual will be helpful with this if you're mechanically inclined. Second, fix your leaks. I'm a stickler for leaks and don't really like to tolerate and leakage.

If you need to isolate your sound or narrow down exactly where it is you can use a long screw driver, extension, or any long piece of metal and use it like a stethoscope. Put one end to the part of the engine where you believe the noise is coming from and the other end to your ear.

 

[alljackedup]

the blue smoke does appear after it warms up so im thinking its rings now also. i started it up and let it run for a bit and it started with the smoking.

thanks for helping out.

 

[SV_Dude]

You may be able to squeeze more life out of your engine by using a thicker weight oil. That may also help slow your leaks.

 

[KidVermicious]

Second, fix your leaks. I'm a stickler for leaks and don't really like to tolerate and leakage.

Leaks are fine, as long as the guy at the gas station has a fire extinguisher.

 

[SV_Dude]

Leaks are fine, as long as the guy at the gas station has a fire extinguisher.

Hopefully he doesn't trip on his way out to put out a fire. Someone may laugh at him as he tries to stop a fire on top of a thousand gallons of gas.

 

[crash813]

1. smokes blue after it has a load put on it. Probably rings or valve seals. Just because it smokes more when warmed is because the oil is thinner. Only way to tell between rings and seals is compression/leak down tests.

2. im thinking rear main is leaking, just saw a few drips while i started it up today. Hard to say. Valve cover leaks are the most common and will run down the back side of the engine. Either way, just keep an eye on the oil level and top off if its low. Rear main seal is just messy and may lead to premature clutch failure but its pretty low on the 'have to fix so i can have a car list'.

3. top end chatter with load on it. not horrible, but there. These valves are pretty noisy as it is. Bad timing, adjustment, etc can also contribute. You could also just be getting pinging under load due to the above as well.

4. took it to the shop and they said it was a rod, however it was clearly on the top in which i heard. Rod noise is nothing like top end noise. If its a rod knock, (IMHO) just save your money and drive it until a piston blows out the side.

5 also some coolant on the ground, seen today. Lots of little places these things leak coolant. Check around the heads as gaskets are a problem. Several several pipes run under the intake and around the back are at the age they are rusting out.



im moving next month cant really shell out a ton of cash but i guess ill do what i have to to have something to drive.

I'd start with a compression and leakdown tests to see how bad this thing really is. If those numbers are solid and there isn't rod knock, then sort term I'd just get the overdue maintenance stuff done (ignition, filters, timing, etc) and try and locate your leaks. Long term, maybe just some freshen up heads, maybe whole rebuild, maybe swap for 3.4. Lots of choices but unless you plan to be doing alot of this yourself, a 20 year old car is not going to be a good deal for you.

 

[alljackedup]

thanks for your help. ill start with the more cost effictive things and work from there. priced some motors so i know what id be looking at at least a little bit later