2000 Grand Prix 3800 Problems

[pgpgsr]

This is my Daughter's car and she can't afford a new or rebuilt engine.

Originally purchased 1 year ago. It had a noisey lifter which would quiet down after an oil change.

About 4 oil changes ago we started utilizing Pennzoil Platinum and it was working well to remove gunk. When the oil was changed there was what can only be described as "snot" in the filter when it was cut apart. This is also on the oil fill cap.

During this past weekend the oil was changed agian and now the lifter won't quiet down and there is a strange scraping noise coming from the engine. It also has a total lack of power. We thought it may be the water pump, but we removed the belt and the noise was still there. It dosen't sound like rod knock, but it may in the very near future.

I am thinking that the oil pump has failed.

How difficult is it to drop the pan to check things out?

Thanks in advance
Paul

[CrazyHorst]

Originally Posted by pgpgsr

It dosen't sound like rod knock, but it may in the very near future.

Couple of things. The 3800 doesn't use a spur gear oil pump like the chevrolet "V" motors. It uses a "gerotor" oil pump inside the front cover, driven directly by the nose of the crankshaft.

That said, the oil pan removal in the car is very difficult, requires releasing the mounts and raising the engine amongst several other parts to be removed.

It sounds like you are to the point based on the scraping noises where you've either scuffed a piston or more likely, melted down a bearing and the lower end is compromised. Even if you could restore full oil flow right now, I personally believe it is too late to save this engine without a full teardown....which....while less expensive than a reman or used engine...takes quite awhile and requires a facility in which to work (assuming DIY).

My personal recommendation is for a used or reman engine. I hope others will post here as well to add their opinions on a bad-news and speculative subject.

I can only speculate on the "snot" that either it was something poured into the engine out of spite (sabotage) or pure ignorance about what was supposed to go in (like some sort of oil but not engine oil). Likely if it plugged the oil filter it also plugged the bypass valve which is designed to "save" the engine awhile longer when the filter slowly loads up to a large restriction...but can't deal with a gross-overload of ???

[BNaylor]

It would help to post what SII 3800 engine L36 NA or L67 supercharged and the current mileage?

What brand oil filter was used? It may not be an oil pump failure.

If this is a L36 NA 3800 engine then you may have a UIM and LIM gasket issue. It doesn't take much coolant contamination into the crankcase to cause lifter or weird engine noises and may eventually lead to camshaft, crankshaft or connecting rod bearing failure or worse yet a hydrolock condition.

[tblake]

any video or audio clip of the engine while its running?

[pgpgsr]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

It would help to post what SII 3800 engine L36 NA or L67 supercharged and the current mileage?

What brand oil filter was used? It may not be an oil pump failure.

If this is a L36 NA 3800 engine then you may have a UIM and LIM gasket issue. It doesn't take much coolant contamination into the crankcase to cause lifter or weird engine noises and may eventually lead to camshaft, crankshaft or connecting rod bearing failure or worse yet a hydrolock condition.

It is not supercharged and it has 100,000 miles on it. It has been loosing coolant, but no external leaks could be found.

[BNaylor]

Based on your symptoms and description LIM and UIM intake gaskets. I would not wait too long before permanent engine damage and a bigger repair bill. Let us know if you need any further assistance on a UIM/LIM job.