I have been running full synth inmy 96since 1500 miles. Last week the intake gasket let go (right after the water pump and both right after doing a radiator flush).

The parts and labor was $800 on the intake and I picked it up Monday afternoon. Today is Friday and have been driving it, but this evening I heard a "clunk" and it started rattling up top (almost like the oil pump lost prime). I limped it home and anytime I got over 1200 rpm, I had a distinct thumping noise. The oil looks clean and there is no oil laying on the ground...I'm afraid I spun a bearing, but I don't know.

Looking into an engine swap, but what else could I check before going to that extreme?

Wayne S

 

Run the engine. Pull all the Spark Plug Wires one at a time and listen for the Knock. If you Spun a Bearing ... the Knock will diminish and be appreciably quieter on the Big End of the Hole you disconnect.

I have known a few guys who got real lucky after spinning a bearing and just undid the Big End and installed some New Half Shells and kept-on going without needing to have the Crank turned for an Oversize Bearing.

If you don't want to run it ... you can drop the Pan and "Sound" for the offending Bearing by tapping on the ends of the Rods with a small Ball Peen Hammer. The Rod that sounds "Dull" and dosen't "Ring true" like the other ones is your culprit!

 

I wonder if they didn't tighten down a rocker arm correctly.. probably tow it back to them and see whats up... the rocker assembly usually has to come out if the lower intake gasket is being replaced..

 

Sounds like when you had your coolant system flushed, they pressure flushed it and blew out some weak spots from over-pressurizing the system. I'm not a fan of pressure flushing ANYTHING, especially transmissions. I'd tend to agree on the mis-installing the rocker assy' also, or they screwed up SOMETHING changing the intake gasket or the water pump. Isn't the water pump behind the front cover, along with the oil pump?
Sounds like you need a more professional garage to work on your car. That's 2 strikes. What will be the 3rd? My guess is your heater core or your radiator.
I'm wondering if there is any legal recourse for this?

 

I'd be looking for a bad repair and make the shop make good on it..
Though preventive maintenance like flushing i think is a good idea.. but if not done on a regular basis or on a high mileage engine without knowledge of prior history is usually a bad idea.. I've flushed 100's of vehicles and have had only one have failure afterwards.. but i'm not going to take blame if a person decides to start preventive flushing at 120k.. this is where as a tech you have to C.Y.A. i will ask if it has been done before and let the person know the danger of doing it late..

But anyway i would defianately have it looked at by either the shop ( probably best ) or a 2nd opinion.. who knows you might get lucky and a new engine out of it..