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3800 bearing problems?

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Old 06-22-2010, 04:11 PM
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Default 3800 bearing problems?

Hello, I was wondering if there is a problem with 3800 SC engines main bearings. Had two engines go out and asked a couple mechanics and they said they seen an abnormal amount of these types going out for some reason.
Old 06-22-2010, 04:20 PM
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I don't recall any main bearings going out. I've seen a few spun connecting rod bearings.
Old 06-22-2010, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Danthurs
I don't recall any main bearings going out. I've seen a few spun connecting rod bearings.
x2. Haven't really heard of anything like that. Keeping the engine cool does help...
Old 06-23-2010, 07:53 AM
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For the most part these engines are very durable and don't have a common bearing issue. They are very picky about having the endcaps of the piston rods messed with or bearings messed with. At that point if you don't get them checked etc and align bored, then you are asking for a bearing failure in about 500 miles or less.

What type of mileage etc were on the motors that failed?
Old 06-23-2010, 02:04 PM
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Hello, The first engine had about 111,000 miles. All the mechanic said was that one of the bearings failed. Main or rod. The replacement had supposedly around 29,000. Was driven about 500 miles and it did the same thing. Mostly just regular driving on the first one got into it a few times. It'* hard when you got a lot of these fart cans thinking they're fast. We barely drove the second engine just trying to break it in. Didn't want to be with out a car for months like what happened with the first. So we drove pretty regular. Now the guy won't honor his warranty and now we been without the car for over 7 months trying to get it fixed.
Old 12-08-2010, 07:31 PM
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UNHONOURED WARRANTY??MMMMMMMM,I'D BE PUTTIN HIM THROUGH SMALL CLAIMS,THERES A LOT OF THEM MOTHER FxxxxxxxERS OUT THERE!!!!!
Old 12-08-2010, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by ELIMINATOR
UNHONOURED WARRANTY??MMMMMMMM,I'D BE PUTTIN HIM THROUGH SMALL CLAIMS,THERES A LOT OF THEM MOTHER FxxxxxxxERS OUT THERE!!!!!
please refrain from using CAPS in internet speak this means your yelling. Thanks
Old 12-08-2010, 09:56 PM
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Oh sorry guys only new still learnin the ways,thanks for the heads up
Old 12-08-2010, 10:21 PM
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never seen this before....Mustve jusr been a bad pick or something out of whack..my last 3800 had 458 thousand miles on it all orig before the body/frame fell apart lol...even then it still ran like a champ
Old 12-09-2010, 02:03 AM
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I also feel it is warranted to advise against reviving threads that have passed their useful lifespan unless there is new light on the same topic.

The typical reason for bottom end failures in the 3800 is due to one of the most common issues, intake manifold gasket issues. When the lower intake manifold gasket fails, it dumps coolant in to the lifter valley. If not caught immediately, it causes pitting and other unkind havoc on the bearings. While the issue may have been detected and repaired, the engine damage remained never the less undetected, and rears its head sooner then had the gaskets not failed.


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