GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Application

Specification

Metric

English

General Data

  • Engine Type

90° V-6

  • Displacement

231 cu  in

  • Liter (VIN)

3.8 (K)

  • RPO

L36

  • Bore

96.52 mm

3.8 in

  • Stroke

86.36 mm

3.4 in

  • Compression Ratio

9.4:1

  • Firing Order

1-6-5-4-3-2

Lubrication System

  • Oil Pressure at Operating Temperature (1850 RPM using 10W-30 oil)

414 kPa

60 psi min

  • Oil Filter Type

Throw-away Element and Can Oil Pump

  • Gear Pocket Depth

11.71-11.75 mm

0.461-0.4625

  • Inner Gear Tip Clearance

0.152 mm

0.006

  • Outer Gear Tip Clearance

0.203-0.381 mm

0.008-0.015 in

  • End Clearance

0.025-0.089 mm

0.001-0.015 in

  • Valve to Bore Clearance

0.038-0.076 mm

0.0015-0.003 in

Type of Lubrication

  • Main Bearings

Pressure

  • Connecting Rods

Pressure

  • Piston Pins

Splash

  • Camshaft Bearings

Pressure

  • Timing Chain

Splash

  • Cylinder Walls

Splash

  • Oil Pump Type

Gerotor

  • Oil Pressure Sending Unit

Electrical

  • Oil Intake

Stationary

  • Oil Filter System

Full Flow

Cylinder Bore

  • Diameter

96.5 mm

3.8 in

  • Out Of Round Maximum

0.010 mm

0.0004 in

  • Taper

0.013 mm

0.0005 in

Piston

  • Clearance (39 mm from top of piston)

.010-0.051 mm

0.0004-0.0020 in

Piston Ring Groove Depth

  • Top Compression

4.019-4.146 mm

0.158-0.163 in

  • 2nd Compression

4.214-4.341 mm

0.0166-0.171 in

  • Oil Control

3.814-3.941 mm

0.150-0.155 in

Piston Ring End Gap

  • Top Compression

0.305-0.559 mm

0.012-0.022 in

  • 2nd Compression

0.762-1.016  mm

0.030-0.040 in

  • Oil Control

0.254-0.762 mm

0.010-0.030 in

Piston Ring Side Clearance

  • Top Compression

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • 2nd Compression

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • Oil Control

0.023-0.201 mm

0.0009-0.0079 in

Piston Ring Width

  • Top Compression

1.176-1.197 mm

0.0463-0.0471 in

  • 2nd Compression

1.476-1.497 mm

0.0581-0.0589 in

  • Oil Control

1.854-2.007 mm

0.073-0.079 in

Piston Pin

  • Diameter

21.9950-22.0000 mm

0.8659-0.8661 in

  • Clearance in Piston

0.0020-0.0130 mm

0.00008-0.00051 in

  • Fit In Rod (Clearance)

0.0066-0.0217 mm

0.0003-0.0009 in

Crankshaft-Main Bearings

  • Journal Diameter-All

63.470-63.495 mm

2.4988-2.4998 in

  • Taper-Maximum

0.0008 mm

0.0003 in

  • Out-of-Round-Maximum

0.0008 mm

0.0003 in

  • Bearing to Journal Clearance

0.020-0.055 mm

0.0008-0.0022 in

Connecting Rod

  • Rod Side Clearance

0.076-0.381 mm

0.003-0.015 in

  • Connecting Rod Large End Bore ID

60.295-60.312 mm

2.37378-2.3745 in

Camshaft Lobe Lift

  • Intake

6.43 mm

0.250 in

  • Exhaust

6.48 mm

0.255 in

  • Journal Diameter

45.339-45.364 mm

1.7865-1.7885 in

  • Bearing Inside Diameter

45.377-45.428 mm

1.7865-1.7885 in

  • Bearing to Journal Clearance

0.013-0.089 mm

0.0005-0.0035 in

Balance Shaft

  • End Play

0.0-0.203 mm

0.0-0.008 in

  • Radial Play-Front

0.0-0.028 mm

0.0-0.0011 in

  • Radial Play-Rear

0.0127-0.119 mm

0.0005-0.0047 in

  • Drive Gear Lash

0.050-0.127 mm

0.002-0.005 in

  • Bearing Bore Diameter-Front

51.973-51.999 mm

2.0462-2.0472 in

  • Bearing Bore Diameter-Rear

49.530-49.580 mm

1.950-1.952 in

Valve System

  • Lifter

Hydraulic

  • Rocker Arm Ratio

1.6:1

  • Face Angle

45 degrees

  • Seat Angle

45 degrees

  • Minimum Margin

0.635 mm

0.025 in

  • Seat Runout-Maximum

0.050 mm

0.002 in

  • Seat Width Intake

1.53-2.03 mm

0.060-0.080 in

  • Seat Width Exhaust

2.29-2.79 mm

0.090-0.110 in

  • Stem Height All

49.15-50.17 mm

1.935-1.975 in

  • Stem Clearance All

0.038-0.089 mm

0.0015-0.0032 in

Valve Spring

  • Free Length

50.32 mm

1.981 in

  • Load (Closed)

356 N @ 43.69

80 lb @ 1.75

  • Load (Open)

935 N @ 33.4

210 lb @ 1.315

  • Installed Height

42.93-44.45 mm

1.690-1.720

  • Approximate Number of Coils

4

Flywheel

  • Runout-Maximum

0.38 mm

0.015 in