Piston, Connecting Rod, and Bearing Cleaning and Inspection for Buick Regal 2003
Caution: Bodily injury may occur if the cleaning solvent is inhaled or exposed
to the skin.
- Clean the piston and connecting
rod in solvent.
Caution: Wear safety glasses in order to avoid eye damage.
- Dry the components with compressed air.
Notice: The piston ring groove must only be cleaned with a ring groove cleaning
tool. Proper engine performance and durability depends on the straightness
and smoothness of the ring groove. Cleaning the piston ring groove with an
improper tool can damage the piston ring groove and effect the performance
and durability of the engine.
- Clean the piston ring grooves with a suitable ring groove
cleaning tool.
Notice: The oil lubrication holes/slots must be cleaned with a suitable tool.
Proper engine performance and durability depends on the cleanliness and smoothness
of the holes/slots. Cleaning the oil lubrication holes/slots with
an improper tool may damage the oil lubrication holes/slots and effect the
performance and durability of the engine.
- Clean the
piston oil lubrication holes and slots.
- Inspect the piston for
the following conditions:
| • | Eroded areas (1) on top of the piston |
| • | Scuffed or damaged skirt (2) |
| • | Damage to the pin bore (3) |
| • | Cracks in the piston ring lands, the piston skirt, or the pin
bosses |
| • | Piston ring grooves for nicks, burrs, or other warpage which may
cause the piston ring to bind. |
- Inspect the piston for scoring, wear or other damage.
- To determine the piston-to
bore clearance, use a micrometer and measure the piston pin.
- To determine the piston
pin-to bore clearance, use an inside micrometer and measure the piston pin
bore.
- To determine the piston pin-to-bore clearance, subtract the piston
pin diameter from the piston pin bore diameter.
- Inspect the connecting rod for an out-of-round bearing bore.
- Inspect the connecting
rod for twisting.
- Inspect the connecting
rod cap bolts for stretch (compare to known good bolt) (1) is a stretched
bolt, (2) is a new or good bolt.
