Oil leak -- engine gaskets -- other stuff
91cabernetcaravan
04-24-2008, 07:45 PM
Hello, everyone:
Fist of all, congratulate my 91 Caravan. Officially turned over 230,000 miles this month and still running fairly good for its age.
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
That's it for now.
Neil
Fist of all, congratulate my 91 Caravan. Officially turned over 230,000 miles this month and still running fairly good for its age.
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
That's it for now.
Neil
tempfixit
04-24-2008, 09:54 PM
Hello, everyone:
Fist of all, congratulate my 91 Caravan. Officially turned over 230,000 miles this month and still running fairly good for its age.
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
That's it for now.
Neil
You can look up the parts costs at autozone.com, napaonline.com, checkers (partsamerica.com)
Are you speaking of Valve cover gaskets or valve seals????
If you speaking of valve cover gaskets have the rear plugs changed at the same time. I believe the plenum needs to be removed to do cover gaskets which make it oppertune time to change plugs.
I asm strictly quessing but I fiqure $200.00 approximaetly for parts and labor.
Fist of all, congratulate my 91 Caravan. Officially turned over 230,000 miles this month and still running fairly good for its age.
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
That's it for now.
Neil
You can look up the parts costs at autozone.com, napaonline.com, checkers (partsamerica.com)
Are you speaking of Valve cover gaskets or valve seals????
If you speaking of valve cover gaskets have the rear plugs changed at the same time. I believe the plenum needs to be removed to do cover gaskets which make it oppertune time to change plugs.
I asm strictly quessing but I fiqure $200.00 approximaetly for parts and labor.
gerforero
04-25-2008, 09:11 AM
I'd mine done 4 days ago, you need to replace 3 seals, plenum, intake etc, and since you are there, change the plugs, it's easier
My mechanic charged me 400 :runaround: all parts included, but I'm in CT:banghead:
My mechanic charged me 400 :runaround: all parts included, but I'm in CT:banghead:
Grand91
05-02-2008, 11:30 AM
Hi, don't know if I'm too late for your questions...
I have a '91 Grand Caravan and I just put Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks on the rear. It probably took less that 1 1/2 hours total, in my driveway.
Jack up rear & use jack stands
Position jack under the rear axle
Remove rear tires (you don't have to do this)
Use 18mm socket, remove upper & lower bolt.
Install new shock (might need to jack the axle a bit)
Tighten bolts to 85 ft/lbs
Have a beer :loser:
Steve
I have a '91 Grand Caravan and I just put Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks on the rear. It probably took less that 1 1/2 hours total, in my driveway.
Jack up rear & use jack stands
Position jack under the rear axle
Remove rear tires (you don't have to do this)
Use 18mm socket, remove upper & lower bolt.
Install new shock (might need to jack the axle a bit)
Tighten bolts to 85 ft/lbs
Have a beer :loser:
Steve
madmanmapper
05-02-2008, 05:11 PM
Hello, everyone:
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
Your mechanic told you this? Why didn't you ask him how much it would cost?
Anyway, like this guy said, shocks are easy... assuming your bolts aren't rusted stuck. Those shocks run about $20 a piece. I actually just replaced some rear shocks today :D
You said valve gaskets... I hope you don't mean valve seals (aka valve guide seals). Let's say you mean valve cover gaskets, they're not expensive, can't remember the price but still. If you're doing them, replace all 6 spark plugs as well, and maybe wires too. Take off the whole intake plenum (get gaskets for that too ~$20), then take off the valve covers. Scrape off the dried up old gaskets, and clean up the valve covers. You'll also be changing the camshaft end covers. You'll need some of that blue gasket silicone. Put it back together and that's it!
Let's say you mean valve seals... these need to be replaced if your engine is burning oil. You can tell if it is, because it would be blowing blue smoke. However, if your engine is blue smoking (burning oil), which the 3.0L is infamous for, there is basically no hope for you. With 230,000 miles (CONGRATS!) it's probably been blue smoking for a long time. If that's true, fixing the leak will stop the blue smoke but your engine will probably sieze because it "has gotten used to burning oil" <- my dad said that. I assume it has something to do with the piston rings. So if you've been burning oil for a long time, you basically need an entire engine rebuild. However, if, like my 3.0L, it has been burning oil for only a couple days (I stopped driving it then) you can replace the valve seals and it'll be fine.
And you can do this work yourself, it's pretty easy. Doing the shocks and the valve cover gaskets should only take 3 hours or so.
One more note: If your 3.0L is leaking (not burning) oil, like mine is, it's probably leaking from basically all the seals... mine was leaking from the: camshaft seals, valve cover gaskets, front main seal, and rear main seal. After doing a head gasket job, all the upper stuff has been replaced, now mine is leaking only from the front and rear main seals. But replacing these and the cam seals are much harder, you might as well take apart your engine and do a partial rebuild (head gaskets, valve job, all seals replaced).
Still, the old crate has issues. I'm hoping that someone here can ball park me regarding the cost of repaid on these items my mechanic says needs to be done, and soon:
Leaking valve gaskets (engine is a 3.0 L V-6)
Replacement shocks (left rear shock is leaking)
Your mechanic told you this? Why didn't you ask him how much it would cost?
Anyway, like this guy said, shocks are easy... assuming your bolts aren't rusted stuck. Those shocks run about $20 a piece. I actually just replaced some rear shocks today :D
You said valve gaskets... I hope you don't mean valve seals (aka valve guide seals). Let's say you mean valve cover gaskets, they're not expensive, can't remember the price but still. If you're doing them, replace all 6 spark plugs as well, and maybe wires too. Take off the whole intake plenum (get gaskets for that too ~$20), then take off the valve covers. Scrape off the dried up old gaskets, and clean up the valve covers. You'll also be changing the camshaft end covers. You'll need some of that blue gasket silicone. Put it back together and that's it!
Let's say you mean valve seals... these need to be replaced if your engine is burning oil. You can tell if it is, because it would be blowing blue smoke. However, if your engine is blue smoking (burning oil), which the 3.0L is infamous for, there is basically no hope for you. With 230,000 miles (CONGRATS!) it's probably been blue smoking for a long time. If that's true, fixing the leak will stop the blue smoke but your engine will probably sieze because it "has gotten used to burning oil" <- my dad said that. I assume it has something to do with the piston rings. So if you've been burning oil for a long time, you basically need an entire engine rebuild. However, if, like my 3.0L, it has been burning oil for only a couple days (I stopped driving it then) you can replace the valve seals and it'll be fine.
And you can do this work yourself, it's pretty easy. Doing the shocks and the valve cover gaskets should only take 3 hours or so.
One more note: If your 3.0L is leaking (not burning) oil, like mine is, it's probably leaking from basically all the seals... mine was leaking from the: camshaft seals, valve cover gaskets, front main seal, and rear main seal. After doing a head gasket job, all the upper stuff has been replaced, now mine is leaking only from the front and rear main seals. But replacing these and the cam seals are much harder, you might as well take apart your engine and do a partial rebuild (head gaskets, valve job, all seals replaced).
91cabernetcaravan
08-19-2008, 02:56 PM
Sorry for the long delay in picking up this forum thread. Busy life with little cash to show for it means often waiting just to get caught up with the little stuff.
Okay, to update and clarify:
Engine valve seals (my mechanic estimates $323)
I have no way of performing this stuff myself so I'd prefer he do it. I did get an estimate for three different services about two months ago when I got the magic check you'll never see (the Dubya rebate -- I'll defer from any political comment here. Suffice to say, I didn't get much but all of that check just went to my mechanic. New tires all around and two new rear shocks.
Safety first, that stuff was priority at the time.
Okay so the next service on the list is valve seals. tempficit and madmanmapper both made a valid points. I mistyped my original entry. I did mean valve seals NOT gaskets.
Further, the old buggy is NOT burning blue smoke out the tailpipe. It seems to be mostly leaking from the engine. I'm hoping that's good news for the long term -- however long this engine lasts.
Meanwhile, I got that annoying white smoke incident in my van just a few weeks ago. Evidently the heater core is shot so I will have some major heater/AC work to be done. NOt high priority even thought it is summer and hot. Windows down and fan blowing hard make most of my short trips bearable. I'll live with it for now.
For yucks I called Glendale Dodge and asked them to give me an estimate for repair, whcih accoprding to them was rep[lacement and upgrading since my 91 used the old freon (R13) fluids and now we all have to change to R-314). Dodge estimates two days (one day to special order "the part") and (you may wish to sit down for this) $1350 of my hard earned wages. Ouch.
AND I also need to replace front shocks as the L front hits hard on moderate to heavy dips. Other than that -- With new tires and rear shocks, I'm getting a smooth ride.
I'll update more as this thing progresses and check back for advice. Thanks again for all of your suggestions and information. THis site is terrific.
Neil in Tujunga
August 19. 2008
Okay, to update and clarify:
Engine valve seals (my mechanic estimates $323)
I have no way of performing this stuff myself so I'd prefer he do it. I did get an estimate for three different services about two months ago when I got the magic check you'll never see (the Dubya rebate -- I'll defer from any political comment here. Suffice to say, I didn't get much but all of that check just went to my mechanic. New tires all around and two new rear shocks.
Safety first, that stuff was priority at the time.
Okay so the next service on the list is valve seals. tempficit and madmanmapper both made a valid points. I mistyped my original entry. I did mean valve seals NOT gaskets.
Further, the old buggy is NOT burning blue smoke out the tailpipe. It seems to be mostly leaking from the engine. I'm hoping that's good news for the long term -- however long this engine lasts.
Meanwhile, I got that annoying white smoke incident in my van just a few weeks ago. Evidently the heater core is shot so I will have some major heater/AC work to be done. NOt high priority even thought it is summer and hot. Windows down and fan blowing hard make most of my short trips bearable. I'll live with it for now.
For yucks I called Glendale Dodge and asked them to give me an estimate for repair, whcih accoprding to them was rep[lacement and upgrading since my 91 used the old freon (R13) fluids and now we all have to change to R-314). Dodge estimates two days (one day to special order "the part") and (you may wish to sit down for this) $1350 of my hard earned wages. Ouch.
AND I also need to replace front shocks as the L front hits hard on moderate to heavy dips. Other than that -- With new tires and rear shocks, I'm getting a smooth ride.
I'll update more as this thing progresses and check back for advice. Thanks again for all of your suggestions and information. THis site is terrific.
Neil in Tujunga
August 19. 2008
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