Grand Caravan 3.3 Rocker Oil Starvation/Cam Bearing Replacement
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Grand Caravan 3.3 Rocker Oil Starvation/Cam Bearing Replacement
Our ride? The beloved '99 Grand Caravan 3.3 family truckster. 132k on the clock but runs like new.....except.......
Couple weeks ago a sqweak started from the rear of the engine. Sounded a lot like an alternator bearing going out. Took it to a trusted indi shop and was told to get a new motor because the last two lifters on the rear bank were oil-starved and wearing into the shaft. The shop felt if the rockers were starved (presumably by sludge) then complete engine fail was the next problem. At my suggestion they pulled the front valve cover and found those parts to be in great shape (looked like two different motors). They replaced the bad rockers and shaft for $570 and the engine sounded smooth and quiet.
For 4 days. Then the squeek returned.
Back to the shop. They again said replace the motor (for $2500 - used) because the cam bearing was bad and it was blocking the oil passage to the lifter. I had asked them to do an oil pressure check and was told it was "OK" - but not given a number. They putit back together (with the squeak) and took another $42 from me. They wanted toput the engine on the bench to do a dignostic but I had the feeling by this time it was a precursor move to make engine replacement an only option.
My question:
Does the cam bearing story hold water? I've had many v-8s apart over the years and the that idea just doesn't sound right given there is no other issues (noise or odd vibration) that may indicate cam bearing failure. This is just a gut feeling.
My first impulse is to go after the cam for inspection - which leads me to my main question. To pull/inspect the cam is engine removal required? Can I pull the intake plenium from the top and the cam via the wheelwell?Also, is it still more likely that I'm dealing with a blockage in the passage to therocker and trycleaning that first? It's very unlikely they (the shop) removed any parts to come to the came bearing determination so my guess is they asked around and came up with a plausable explanation - and I have to admit it sounds logical. I just don't believe it.
Thanks folks. Any thoughts will be apprieciated.
Couple weeks ago a sqweak started from the rear of the engine. Sounded a lot like an alternator bearing going out. Took it to a trusted indi shop and was told to get a new motor because the last two lifters on the rear bank were oil-starved and wearing into the shaft. The shop felt if the rockers were starved (presumably by sludge) then complete engine fail was the next problem. At my suggestion they pulled the front valve cover and found those parts to be in great shape (looked like two different motors). They replaced the bad rockers and shaft for $570 and the engine sounded smooth and quiet.
For 4 days. Then the squeek returned.
Back to the shop. They again said replace the motor (for $2500 - used) because the cam bearing was bad and it was blocking the oil passage to the lifter. I had asked them to do an oil pressure check and was told it was "OK" - but not given a number. They putit back together (with the squeak) and took another $42 from me. They wanted toput the engine on the bench to do a dignostic but I had the feeling by this time it was a precursor move to make engine replacement an only option.
My question:
Does the cam bearing story hold water? I've had many v-8s apart over the years and the that idea just doesn't sound right given there is no other issues (noise or odd vibration) that may indicate cam bearing failure. This is just a gut feeling.
My first impulse is to go after the cam for inspection - which leads me to my main question. To pull/inspect the cam is engine removal required? Can I pull the intake plenium from the top and the cam via the wheelwell?Also, is it still more likely that I'm dealing with a blockage in the passage to therocker and trycleaning that first? It's very unlikely they (the shop) removed any parts to come to the came bearing determination so my guess is they asked around and came up with a plausable explanation - and I have to admit it sounds logical. I just don't believe it.
Thanks folks. Any thoughts will be apprieciated.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7
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RE: Grand Caravan 3.3 Rocker Oil Starvation/Cam Bearing Replacement
Along those same lines - does anybody know where I could find an oil circuit diagram? I'd like to find out exactly where the oil passage flows.