GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Saturn 🢒 2001 🢒 L300/LW300 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Mechanical - 3.0L (L81) 🢒 Piston, Connecting Rod, and Bearing Cleaning and Inspection
  1. Use cleaning solvent to clean the connecting rod.
  2. Use compressed air to dry the connecting rod.

    3. Important:  DO NOT wire brush the piston skirt or the ring groove area.

  3. Use cleaning solvent to clean the pistons if reusing the pistons.
  4. Use cleaning solvent to clean the piston pins if reusing the piston pins. New pistons contain new piston pins.
  5. Use a groove cleaner to clean the piston ring.
  6. Inspect the connecting rod for the following conditions:
    7. • Twists
    • Replace if damage is evident.
    • Nicks
    • Replace if damage is evident.
    • Cracks
    • Replace if damage is evident.
  7. Inspect the pistons for the following conditions, replace the piston if any of the below is evident:
    8. • Cracked skirts
    •  Cracked piston pin bosses
    • Cracked ring groove lands
    • Nicks that may cause binding
    • Burrs that may cause binding
    • Warped ring groove lands
    • Worn ring groove lands
    • Eroded areas on top of the piston
    • Worn piston pin bores
  8. Use a micrometer and use an inside micrometer to measure the piston pin bore-to-piston pin clearance.
  9. The maximum clearance is 0.003 - 0.008 mm (0.0001 - 0.0003 in).
  10. Replace the piston and replace the pin if the pin bore-to-piston pin clearance is beyond the proper specification.

    11. Object Number: 4968 Size: SH
  11. Measure the piston ring end gap clearance in the bore. Perform only after the cylinder has been honed.
  12. The 1st and the 2nd compression ring gap specification is 0.30 - 0.50 mm (0.0118 - 0.0196 in).
  13. Replace the piston rings if the end gap clearance is not within the proper specification.
  14. The oil control ring end gap specification is 0.40 - 1.40 mm (0.0157 - 0.0551 in).
  15. Replace the piston rings if the end gap clearance is not within the proper specification.

    16. Object Number: 22934 Size: SH
  16. Measure the piston ring groove clearance.
  17. The 1st and the 2nd compression ring groove clearance specification is 0.02 - 0.04 mm (0.0008 - 0.0015 in).
  18. Replace the piston if the ring groove clearance is not within the proper specification.
  19. The oil control ring groove clearance specification is 0.01 - 0.03 mm (0.0004 - 0.0012 in).
  20. Replace the piston if the ring groove clearance is not within the proper specification.

    Object Number: 877220 Size: SH

    Important: Use compressed air to dry the connecting rod. DO NOT use shop towel or rag to clean the rod cap and the rod mating surfaces.

  1. Use cleaning solvent to clean the connecting rod.
  2. Use cleaning solvent to clean the pistons if reusing the piston. DO NOT wire brush the piston skirt or the ring groove area.
  3. Use cleaning solvent to clean the piston pins if reusing the piston pins. New pistons contain new piston pins.
  4. Use a groove cleaner or broken ring to clean the piston ring groove.

    5. Object Number: 877248 Size: SH
  5. Inspect the connecting rod for the following conditions:
    6. • Inspect for twists. Replace if damage is evident.
    • Inspect for nicks. Replace if damage is evident.
    • Inspect for cracks. Replace if damage is evident.

    Object Number: 894218 Size: SH
  6. Inspect the pistons for the following conditions:
    7. • Inspect for cracked skirts.
    • Inspect for cracked piston pin bosses.
    • Inspect for cracked ring groove lands.
    • Inspect for nicks that may cause binding.
    • Inspect for burrs that may cause binding.
    • Inspect for warped ring groove lands.
    • Inspect for worn ring groove lands.
    • Inspect for eroded areas on top of the piston.
    • Inspect for worn piston pin bores.
    • Replace the piston if any of the above is evident.
  7. Measure the piston ring groove clearance.
  8. Replace the piston if the ring groove clearance is not within the proper specification.

    9. Specifications
    The 1st and 2nd compression ring groove clearance specification is 0.02-0.04 mm (0.0008-0.0015 in).

  9. Replace the piston if the ring groove clearance is not within the proper specification.

    10. Specifications
    The oil control ring groove clearance specification is 0.01-0.02 mm (0.0004-0.0012 in).


    Object Number: 894218 Size: SH
  10. Use a micrometer and an inside micrometer to measure the piston pin bore-to-piston pin clearance. The maximum clearance is 0.003-0.008 mm (0.0001-0.0003 in).
  11. Replace the piston and replace the pin if the pin bore-to-piston pin clearance is beyond the proper specification.

    12. Object Number: 877228 Size: SH
  12. Measure the piston ring end gap clearance in the bore. Perform only after the cylinder has been honed.
  13. Replace the piston rings if the end gap clearance is not within the proper specification.

    14. Specifications
    The 1st and 2nd compression ring gap specification is 0.30-0.50 mm (0.0118-0.0196 in).

  14. Replace the piston rings if the end gap clearance is not within the proper specification.

    15. Specifications
    The oil control ring end gap specification is 0.40-1.40 mm (0.0157-0.0551 in).