Bought a 94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL
#1
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Bought a 94 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL
I test drove it twice, looked at all his recipts of maintence and it all seemed good. Had it inspected today, they came up with it needing an Alt, and rear brakes before winter time..no big deal. The car ran great, not a sound at all. Drove it to my insurance, then to the registry office. All done, car is mine. My dad takes it for a quick jaunt, he likes it, still running great. My mom gets home, she comes with me, right away I notice a heavy knock. I turn around, come home, my dad listens with his screwdriver, it sounds very very bad. I chaned the oil to Mobil 1, it shut it up a bit. Me and him take it up to the oilfiled company were he works so one of the heavy duty mechanics can listen, the say bottom end for sure, the take my old oil, pour it on a steel bench, and shine a flashlight into it, it reflects back because there is tiny metal pieces in it. I'm pretty frustrated as I have drove the car 50 kms, and killed the motor. Its sitting at 129,000 miles right now. 4T60-E transmission is in awesome condion, it handles like new, drives like new, looks almost new. I like it. My dad said right away, were are going to have to get a new motor put in it, as Its worth nothing in the conditon its in now, and he said he doesn't want to rip someone off badly.
Also it was a private sale, sold as is. The previous owner probally didn't even know about it, says the mechanics.
So, here goes the search for a rebuilt 3400. The installation at a shop...
For pics of the car look here
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=223264#223264
Also it was a private sale, sold as is. The previous owner probally didn't even know about it, says the mechanics.
So, here goes the search for a rebuilt 3400. The installation at a shop...
For pics of the car look here
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=223264#223264
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It seems morally wrong to compleatly rip somone off by hiding a knock like that, basically the condion its in, on a hwy trip, it could literally blow up. I'd rather have it fixed, then I have a car with a new motor, ready for my miles.
#5
Originally Posted by jwikoff99
Sorry to hear that. Out of curiosity, is there any type of additive that can temporarily hide a minor knock? Probably not.
I'm not a big fan of those 60* V6s for that exact reason. You just can't get high mileage out of them. My sister-in-law has a 96 Grand Prix (3100) that guzzles 2 quarts of oil every 1,500 miles. And it'* got the lifter tap with only 108K. Insane. Trying to find a new/used engine is tough because everyone is experiencing the same issues so it makes the engines in very high demand.
#8
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Sorry to hear that man, and I gave such high reviews for that engine I hadnt heard of the low end of that motor going that early. It uses the same low end as the 3.1, and ive seen W body cars with well over 150k on the original motor.
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Originally Posted by jr's3800
Matt...
Is this a 3.4 Culass supreme or a 3100 powered cutlass supreme?
1994 was the first year for the 3100 V6( chevy engine ) it was a basic redesign of the 3.1 V6...
The 94 3100 had a few problems, one of which was lifter tap and piston slap... Also they had issues with the intake gaskets, all 3100'* 1994 and later, and all 3400'* 1996 and later all have the intake gasket issue... Some of the time the leak will occour internally, and in the longrun do serious damage to the bottom end...
If you get another engine try to find a 98-99 Vin M engine.... I think a 99-00-01 Vin J engine may work as well... The engines 1996 and later actually had teflon coated pistons to help avoid the Piston scuff problem...
But the intake gasket issues still exist... I strongly reccomend replacing the intake gaskets on a 3100-3400 well before 100,000 miles...
As for the oil consumption someone mentioned.... Either the engine is an oil burner, or the oip pump shaft seal had hardened and or cracked causing an oil leak, this is very common of all 2.8, 3.1, 3100'* and 3400'*... When GM went to the DIS system on these engines they retained the distributor drive shaft, this shaft drives the oil pump as well... So the shaft remained... If anyone had a 3100/3400 with an oil leak that can't be found, check under the throttle body you'll see a piece that looks like a plug, chances are that the O ring has bit the dust...
Matt, good luck on that V6 and let us know what happens...
Is this a 3.4 Culass supreme or a 3100 powered cutlass supreme?
1994 was the first year for the 3100 V6( chevy engine ) it was a basic redesign of the 3.1 V6...
The 94 3100 had a few problems, one of which was lifter tap and piston slap... Also they had issues with the intake gaskets, all 3100'* 1994 and later, and all 3400'* 1996 and later all have the intake gasket issue... Some of the time the leak will occour internally, and in the longrun do serious damage to the bottom end...
If you get another engine try to find a 98-99 Vin M engine.... I think a 99-00-01 Vin J engine may work as well... The engines 1996 and later actually had teflon coated pistons to help avoid the Piston scuff problem...
But the intake gasket issues still exist... I strongly reccomend replacing the intake gaskets on a 3100-3400 well before 100,000 miles...
As for the oil consumption someone mentioned.... Either the engine is an oil burner, or the oip pump shaft seal had hardened and or cracked causing an oil leak, this is very common of all 2.8, 3.1, 3100'* and 3400'*... When GM went to the DIS system on these engines they retained the distributor drive shaft, this shaft drives the oil pump as well... So the shaft remained... If anyone had a 3100/3400 with an oil leak that can't be found, check under the throttle body you'll see a piece that looks like a plug, chances are that the O ring has bit the dust...
Matt, good luck on that V6 and let us know what happens...
#10
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Well guys, im selling it off to an autowrecker most likley. I phoned around so did my dad, they do not make the 3.4L any more. To remove it is around a 30 hour job. Basically what every shop has told me is the 3400 is junk. Just great I can't belive my bull **** luck.