jacktoad
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 12/13/02
Posts: 92
Loc: northern california
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1992 Rodeo 4WD with 3.1 liter engine. 140,000 miles. all of the symptoms have started happening in, roughly, the last 750 miles.
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i checked my oil level recently and it looked extremely high on the stick. i was parked on a slight grade and so i didn't really let it bother me. i changed oil/filter a day later and the drained oil looked more "chocolately" than usual. suspect coolant in the oil. i ran the motor maybe 25 miles after the oil change and then it sat for a few days. i drove it maybe 5 miles today and it did the thing where the temp shot up and stayed there for a minute before coming back down. i checked the oil level and it is way over what it should be for the amount of oil i put in. there was also some sludgey brownish gunk clung to the oil filler plug on the motor.
i can see where fluid has dripped from beneath the motor/radiator out where i park. but i have not been able to locate exactly where it is draining from yet. i do know that the radiator will lose all of its fluid if i dont keep topping it off every few days now.
when( ocassionally ) the temperature gauge moves quickly to the hot end of the range. when this happens, the heater blows cold air out the vents. sometimes the temperature heads back down into the 'normal' position at the middle of the range. when it does, the heater blows warm/hot air as it is supposed to.
no problems starting.
motor runs smoothly.
no white smoke, or any other color smoke.
no unusual smells when engine is running.
my question: is what i describe above definitely the result of a blown head gasket? or is there something else that could be letting the coolant mix into the oil that i should check for?
if it is the head gasket... how difficult a task is it for me to undertake? on a scale of 1 to 10 would be fine. i have the Chilton's manual. it generally understates the tasks invloved in doing any maintenance work though. meaning, it leaves out a lot of detail.
thanks for any info offered. Happy New Year!
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1992 Isuzu Rodeo 3.1L(now 3.4L) V6 4x4
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Ed Mc
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 12/25/99
Posts: 1029
Loc: Poulsbo, WA 98370-8125, Kitsap...
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Well, coolant in the oil doesn't bode well for the engine's bearings, I'd be planning on a 3.4 swap somewhere down the line!
At this point it's probably a good idea to take both heads off and have them pressure-tested and reconditioned. Unless you see something very obviously wrong with the intake manifold gasket/sealing when you pull it, it's probably one of the heads.
The intake bolts are known to have a tendency to loosen up then the manifold will leak, dumping coolant into the oil. Or, deteriorating gasket will do the same thing.
Hopefully, you've flushed any contamination out of the crankcase; coolant will eat up engine bearings.
If not, it might not be a bad idea to flush all remaining antifreeze from the system; then dump a quart of Rislone or similar flush in the engine and run for a few minutes, to achieve a clean washdown. Then drain all that out prior to teardown. Hopefully that'd minimize the damage.
Teardown is pretty basic, just removing all the interference in the way, and getting the accessories off the front of the engine. About the only special tool you'd need would be a large Torx bit (T55 or T50, can't recall which) for the serpentine belt tensioner.
You can pick up a top end gasket set pretty cheap off eBay, gaskets for a 2.8 should work as well. Be sure you're getting one for a cast-iron-headed motor as the FWD alum-head motors take different gaskets.
Also plan on replacing head bolts as these are Torque-to-Yield and shouldn't be reused. Got them on eBay, too.
You can look up part numbers at www.rockauto.com
HTH & G'luck...........ed
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'90 Troop 3.4 LS
'89 Troop RS (Has Valve Issues, needs Counseling)
HI, I'm Ed and I'm a Trooper-holic!
Keep On Troopin'......
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jacktoad
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 12/13/02
Posts: 92
Loc: northern california
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thanks Ed, that helps a lot. i think i'll start by checking out the intake manifold situation, and then move on from there. i did replace those gaskets about 5 - 6 years ago.
i have located a 3.4 motor. but i am not sure if it is suitable for my Rodeo. it is from a 1992 camero, and it says it is a V-6,3.4, SFV motor. not sure what the SFV stands for. can you tell from those specs if it will fit my Rodeo? i have the 4wd, 5speed manual tranny. does the 3.4 motor i purchase have to be from a car with manual tranny as well? i'll be searching the forums in the meantime. thank you once again.
rb
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1992 Isuzu Rodeo 3.1L(now 3.4L) V6 4x4
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Ed Mc
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 12/25/99
Posts: 1029
Loc: Poulsbo, WA 98370-8125, Kitsap...
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Are you sure it's a 3.4? 3.4's weren't introduced until '93 and went thru the '95 model year for F-bodies (Camaros & Firebirds).
Maybe they have the year wrong, you'd have to confirm that. The "SFV" probably is a typo for "SFI" which is the type of EFI system the 3.4 uses.
All of the "SFI" components come off the 3.4 when you do the swap; you'll use your intake manifold, oil pan, timing cover, accessories, etc.
Doesn't matter if the donor vehicle had auto or manual tranny, in either case you'd install a new pilot bushing in the crankshaft and use your 3.1's flywheel.
I can send you the packet of swap info if you'd like and that'll answer most (if not all) of your questions regarding the swap. Just send me a P.M. with your e-address and I'll forward the info.
HTH............ed
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'90 Troop 3.4 LS
'89 Troop RS (Has Valve Issues, needs Counseling)
HI, I'm Ed and I'm a Trooper-holic!
Keep On Troopin'......
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jacktoad
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 12/13/02
Posts: 92
Loc: northern california
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well, this is the underside of the left side rocker cover. kinda sickening even to look at. i am less optimistic now and will probably end up swapping in the 3.4 motor sooner rather than later. turns out that the 3.4 i mentioned is from a '94 camaro. 
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1992 Isuzu Rodeo 3.1L(now 3.4L) V6 4x4
Edited by jacktoad (01/05/07 09:25 PM)
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Ed Mc
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 12/25/99
Posts: 1029
Loc: Poulsbo, WA 98370-8125, Kitsap...
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ICK-EY !!!! 
Methinks she's a Goner!!! 
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'90 Troop 3.4 LS
'89 Troop RS (Has Valve Issues, needs Counseling)
HI, I'm Ed and I'm a Trooper-holic!
Keep On Troopin'......
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Fujisawa_Bob
Rock Warrior
Reged: 01/07/05
Posts: 524
Loc: Florida
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Quote:
well, this is the underside of the left side rocker cover. kinda sickening even to look at. i am less optimistic now and will probably end up swapping in the 3.4 motor sooner rather than later. turns out that the 3.4 i mentioned is from a '94 camaro.
Eww...that's bad. Any idea how long you've had the sludge?
I don't recall needing a Torx bit, Ed, for the tensioner, I think I just used a socket wrench to take tension off the belt to remove the belt, and left the tensioner in place. It's been a little while though. There is a lot of stuff that has to come off (I took out my radiator and gave it a good hosing off too), label everthing in baggies for reassembly. I went through several cans of Permatex gasket remover getting the old head gaskets off, they were like molecularly bonded to the heads. Felpro head set also includes intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, check ebay for deals like Ed Says (I think I got a set for $20). If you think the engine can be saved, that is.
I re-used my head bolts, busted one intake bolt, and at least two exhaust studs (note to self..buy more PB Blaster). You'll need to set the preload on the rockers too, I overtightened mine the first time and was making zero compression, so everything had to come off again. Oh, the FelPro set also came with valve cover gaskets, EGR gasket, thermostat housing gasket, it was a good deal for sure.
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89 Trooper
2.8 v6, 5 speed, Aisins
Perpetual Project and Faithful Friend
220,000+ miles
Nolite id cogere, capre malleum majorem
Edited by armyBob (01/07/07 11:42 PM)
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jacktoad
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 12/13/02
Posts: 92
Loc: northern california
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i really don't know how long the sludgy gunk has been building up in there. i do know that the oil i drained about 75 miles ago(when i 1st noticed the oil level was too high) is nowhere near as brown-chocolatey colored as the oil i most recently drained. don't really know if that means anything though.
i removed the intake manifold yesterday. holy sheet! where did this crap come from? there was about 2 tablespoons of gritty black sludge along the left side edges under the manifold. it reminded me of the stuff that i find when i clean my gutters. the presense of this gunk is not typical of 'just' a bad gasket is it?
i am thinking that there is no reason for me to tear the 3.1 motor down any further. i think i'll need to check out the integrity of the 3.4 motor that i got and go ahead with the swap if it checks out.
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1992 Isuzu Rodeo 3.1L(now 3.4L) V6 4x4
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Fujisawa_Bob
Rock Warrior
Reged: 01/07/05
Posts: 524
Loc: Florida
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Quote:
i really don't know how long the sludgy gunk has been building up in there. i do know that the oil i drained about 75 miles ago(when i 1st noticed the oil level was too high) is nowhere near as brown-chocolatey colored as the oil i most recently drained. don't really know if that means anything though.
i removed the intake manifold yesterday. holy sheet! where did this crap come from? there was about 2 tablespoons of gritty black sludge along the left side edges under the manifold. it reminded me of the stuff that i find when i clean my gutters. the presense of this gunk is not typical of 'just' a bad gasket is it?
i am thinking that there is no reason for me to tear the 3.1 motor down any further. i think i'll need to check out the integrity of the 3.4 motor that i got and go ahead with the swap if it checks out.
B-12 Chemtool will rip right through that sludge. I'd also run some kerosene or 0W oil to flush...again, IF you decide to salvage the engine.
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89 Trooper
2.8 v6, 5 speed, Aisins
Perpetual Project and Faithful Friend
220,000+ miles
Nolite id cogere, capre malleum majorem
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Ed Mc
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 12/25/99
Posts: 1029
Loc: Poulsbo, WA 98370-8125, Kitsap...
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I think the coolant in the oil has already ripped thru the babbitt coating on the bearings!!!
And where you'd need the Torx bit is for the big bolt that fastens the serpentine belt tensioner to the head (or to remove part of the tensioner to get at the attaching bolts underneath, I can't recall).
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'90 Troop 3.4 LS
'89 Troop RS (Has Valve Issues, needs Counseling)
HI, I'm Ed and I'm a Trooper-holic!
Keep On Troopin'......
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