Blown motor. What do these symptoms mean?

[happydog500]

I figure the motor is shot.
I passed a guy on the highway. I felt something. I had a CD playing, so I didn't hear a noise. Just as I thought, "did something happen to the motor?", the Oil Light came on and the motor lost power. I costed to the side of the road.

When I tried to start the car, the engine turns over real fast. Not the usual, Na-na, Na-na, but a Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na real fast.

If I threw a rod, or something like that, wouldn't I hear a clanking noise? When the motor turns over, It sounds OK.

When I passed the guy, he speed up, so I had to go pretty fast to get around him.
Any ideas from this description?

Thank you,
Chris.

[maxwedge]

From here it sounds like you have the best answer, check compression for starters, no mention of year, as usual here, but maybe the timing chain let go.

[happydog500]

1997. Hopefully it's the timing chain.

[happydog500]

I can't remember the word, but there is a word that describes a certain kind of car. One, when the timing chain goes, it takes the valves and/or something else. Another is the chain can go without wrecking other stuff.

Which one is the 97 3.8?

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

no mention of year, as usual here

Sorry, year was one click away in Profile.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by happydog500

Sorry, year was one click away in Profile.

Chris, if you keep forgetting to post the year of your car, why don’t you just add a signature with that info. It is very easy to do; just click on “User CP” and select “Edit Signature” then insert you car make, model, year & miles and hit save. You can even provide a pic if you like! It would save you a lot of time, rather than answering the same old question every time you start a new thread.

Originally Posted by happydog500

I can't remember the word, but there is a word that describes a certain kind of car. One, when the timing chain goes, it takes the valves and/or something else. Another is the chain can go without wrecking other stuff.

Which one is the 97 3.8?

The “words” you are looking for is; interference and non-interference. The 97 3.8 LeSabre is an interference engine, so therefore, if the timing chain breaks, more than likely you will have several valves bent on both heads!

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

check compression for starters

If the timing chain let go, could I check compression?
For anyone else in the future who reads this, I was told take off the oil cap (on top of the valve cover), look in at the rockers and turn the key over. If they don't move, it's a good indication the timing chain is broken.
I will do it and post back. Is this true?
Thank you,
Chris.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by happydog500

I was told take off the oil cap (on top of the valve cover), look in at the rockers and turn the key over. If they don't move, it's a good indication the timing chain is broken.
I will do it and post back. Is this true?

If the rocker arms move up & down, your timing chain is still in place, however, this will not indicate if the crank and cam are in time with each other; like when the chain jumps teeth on the sprocket. (Good start, but not 100% accurate)

[happydog500]

I had a friend go out with me and look in the hole at the rockers to see if they move. I turned the key, when the motor started to crank, BOOM!! A big puff of smoke came out the oil filler hole.
He won't help anymore, so I will try it again with another friend. I am kind of afrade to look now.
The night it happened I turned the motor over several times and it didn't do this, so maybe it's just a one time thing.
Does this tell you anything?
Chris.

[Jrs3800]

That sounds really bad...

I was pulling the Mountains when i noticed I had an issue with my 3800 Series II... Mine did a down shift and ran to about 4000 Rpms... I noticed that the engine seemed weak as compared to normal( It wasn't the altitude ) It was really weak even for the air I was in... Then I felt the engine buck here and there and noticed the oil pressure change with the bucking... The bucking turned into a slight knock, with very low oil pressure at idle..

Made it to my home town but the #4 Rod and Rod journal were destroyed..

Its possible the motor may be toast, especially when puffing through the crankcase

[happydog500]

What did you do with yours?

[Jrs3800]

well this was the problem I had... Spun the #4 Rod Bearing, its hard to tell from the pic but there was an overall .030 missing from the crank( making it garbage )..



The Rod was No better also making it trash... Not a great pic, but you'll see the damage... The rust is from me letting the rod get wet after removal...


This is the section of the piston that was kissing the head for 120 Soft miles..



In the end I actually had the Engine replaced with a Low Mileage JY unit.... Been 1 year and it still runs good.. But I have noticed it has a slight thud thud thud when the oil is changed signifying to me that it has a bit more rod clearance than I'd like... It only does this when the oil is changed, You will never hear it again untill the next oil change..


The engine that spun the number 4 Rod bearing was tossed to the melt down pile.. I did get the heads and related items... The Block was scrapped...

[happydog500]

Finally got someone to look. Nothing moves when we look at the springs turning over the motor.
What should I do next?
Thank you,
Chris.

[Jrs3800]

Thats pretty bad... Means the chain is off the gear or the chain snapped...

Now you may want to make sure that this did no damage to the valves.. The Pistons on these engines do not have much of a Dish at all.. I am wondering if you may have kissed a piston with a valve or two..

Not a good thing, but may be repairable if no damage was done

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by Jrs3800

Thats pretty bad... Means the chain is off the gear or the chain snapped...Now you may want to make sure that this did no damage to the valves..

It is highly unlikely that several valves are not bent. Do you have any other mechanic to take the car to other than the the two fellows shown below: