2000 Grand Vitara - 2.5L V6 shot at 80k?

[stunt]

Greeting everyone! My wife has a 2000 Grand Vitara w/ the 2.5L V6. Yesterday the low oil pressure light came on during a small 5 mile round trip. I noticed the engine was making more noise than ususal.

When we got home, I checked the oil and it was "in the middle". Started the car up again, and the light was still on. So I topped off the oil to the full mark. This time the oil pressure light didn't come on.

So this morning the wife gets about 3 miles down the road and the car has no power and the oil pressure light is on again. She had to ditch the car and get a ride to work.

The oil had just been changed 30 days ago, but it was very black looking when I checked it.

The car was purchased new and only has 80k on it. It has never been abused or anything and the oil has been changed regularly. Is 80k all that these engines are good for?

What are my options at this point? Is there any hope for salvaging this engine, or will it need to be replaced.

I looked around on the net, but don't seem to be able to locate any 2.5L V6's, all I see are a bunch of the 1.3 and 1.6 4's. Guess that means most 2.5L are still going strong?

This sucks....

[stunt]

Spoke to the service department of the closest dealer in my area and he suggested that it could be one of the following things:

1. Oil pump gone bad
2. Oil pump pickup tube loose
3. Oil passages in block clogged up

He went on to say that there is no way to know until the oil pan is pulled. He wasn't sure of the oil pan will drop right down, or if the front diff has to be pulled first.

I might go ahead and tow the car back home to my garage and pull the pan if its not that big a deal. Does anyone here know what is involved in dropping the pan on a 2.5L V6 on a 2000 Grand Vitara 4x4?

I do have a lift, so that will help a lot. Do I need any special tools other than a metric set of wrenches and sockets? Do I need a new oil pan seal?

Thanks!

[stunt]

Well, I went and retrieved the car last night, and despite a fully charged battery, the starter wasn't able to turn the engine over. So I think its fair to say that the engine is completely shot.

Guess its time to look for another 2.5L to drop into it, or just part out what's left of the car. What a crappy engine, regular oil changes, and the thing is still shot @ 80k. With a woman driver no less and its never even been off-road.

Wonder if I should switch to synthetic in the new engine?

[cjdusa]

I purchased my 2002 Grand Vitara new. I change the oil per the Manuafacturers recommendation. At I have 107,000 miles on it. I drive 100 miles a day round trip to work. Since new it has had a rattle at certain RPMs under the hood. Took it to the dealer under warrenty and was told the they could not hear a rattle. It also has had tire bounce since new. Dealer said this was typical of the GV because of the short whell base.Nothing they could do for either problem(tried a different dealer and got the same anwer). At 15,000 miles I started hearing a Scraping noise when I took tight corners. Dealer said it was the Brake Backing plates that need adjustment, He fixed it. At 23,000 miles the keyless entrys quit working, first one then the other after 2 months. At 70,000 miles the engine started burning oil(blue smoke on accereration, more so after I have been on the interstate for a half hour our more and at startup). It now burns about a quart a week(500 miles).

I will never buy another Suzuki.

[1joser]

doesnt the xl 7s come with a powertrain waranty?

[cjdusa]

Originally Posted by 1joser

doesnt the xl 7s come with a powertrain waranty?

Mine is a 2002 model. it came with a 36,000 mile warranty. starting in 2003 they have a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. I got screwed. Something I have come to learned recently is that on these engines you must change the oil every 3000 miles or they create a lot of sludge. I typically changed the oil every 6000 to 7000 miles since all my miles are crusing at highway speeds. The engine now has some sludge buildup and this may have contributed to the problem. I also always used 20w50 castrol oil because I live in hot South Florida. I have found out that Suzuki highly recommends 5w30 oil. I have been flushing the engine at each oil change to clean it and using 5w30 oil. the oil burning has reduced some, however now the rear main seal is leaking.

Still I will not buy another Suzuki.

[barfly_olaf]

Originally Posted by cjdusa

Mine is a 2002 model. it came with a 36,000 mile warranty. starting in 2003 they have a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. I got screwed. Something I have come to learned recently is that on these engines you must change the oil every 3000 miles or they create a lot of sludge. I typically changed the oil every 6000 to 7000 miles since all my miles are crusing at highway speeds. The engine now has some sludge buildup and this may have contributed to the problem. I also always used 20w50 castrol oil because I live in hot South Florida. I have found out that Suzuki highly recommends 5w30 oil. I have been flushing the engine at each oil change to clean it and using 5w30 oil. the oil burning has reduced some, however now the rear main seal is leaking.

Still I will not buy another Suzuki.

See people, this is what happens when you DO NOT FOLLOW MANUFACTURES RECCOMMENDED PROCEDURES.

Mine, 2000, 120000 kms, driven very hard, extremem off road, castrol syntec oil change every 10000 kms, runs perfect!!