No oil at the rocker arms??

[Soccer dad]

New guy just joined up! Awesome site! thought I would join and ask a question about my 1996 voyager 3.3L. I noticed a noise coming from the rear valve cover, I removed the cover and noticed there was NO OIL on the rockers or shaft everything was dry! I removed the rocker arms/shaft which was totally wiped out by lack of oil including the rockers themselves, replaced all six rockers and shaft with OEM parts.Re-assembled all parts except intake plenum,I disabled the fuel pump, turned the motor over with the starter sveral several times, after this there was still no oil to the rockers???? I then put it back together intake and all,ran some engine oil flush thru the engine,drove about a half mile or so but I could still hear a faint noise under the cover so I decided I didnt want to chance it, tore it all apart again, pulled the rear vale cover off and still no OIL!
Talking to some friends who informed me that the 3.3L was known for the oil galley plugs to fall out or let oil bleed thru they are located behing the timing chain cover, we all know what kind of work that involves! and the plugs are all there, none have fallen out!
So it was just my luck, I still could not figure out why there is no oil getting to the top of the rear cylinder head?? I checked the rear oil plugs and they are nice and dry, I am at the end of my witts with this thing, I could really use some help here if anyone has had,heard,know of,been there done that,kind of thing or just knows what I could try next? Thanks

[capoeta]

may be a stab at the dark here, but don't the rocker arms on these engines get their oil through hollow pushrods and that oil in turn comes from the lifter?

I don't have my manual in front of me so I may be incorrect.

[Soccer dad]

Originally Posted by capoeta

may be a stab at the dark here, but don't the rocker arms on these engines get their oil through hollow pushrods and that oil in turn comes from the lifter?

I don't have my manual in front of me so I may be incorrect.

Thanks for your reply ANY help is appreciated! The rockers get their oil from the hole in the push rods, but the rockers themselves are not drilled to lube the top half and the rocker arm shafts,pushrods only lube the contact point of the push rod to rocker arm, this is what I can see. the rocker arm shafts get oil from a small journal drilled into the middle rocker shaft tower.I have pics but dont know how to post???

[wafrederick]

You are looking into replacing the engine,broken camshaft.I have seen this happen and the only thing to do is replace the engine.The 3.3 is a "throw away" engine anyway.The 3.3 engine is a good engine,does go out once in a while

[Soccer dad]

Originally Posted by wafrederick

You are looking into replacing the engine,broken camshaft.I have seen this happen and the only thing to do is replace the engine.The 3.3 is a "throw away" engine anyway.The 3.3 engine is a good engine,does go out once in a while

Broken camshaft????? please tell me more?!

[TurboDuck]

I don't think it's a broken cam shaft, or it wouldn't run. I've heard that the cam bearings will sometimes spin out of place. That will block the oil holes to the top / head. I had that happen once.

After I repaired the broken rocker shaft post.

I replaced the engine, but didn't take the time to find out for sure.

Good luck.

[Soccer dad]

Originally Posted by TurboDuck

I don't think it's a broken cam shaft, or it wouldn't run. I've heard that the cam bearings will sometimes spin out of place. That will block the oil holes to the top / head. I had that happen once.

After I repaired the broken rocker shaft post.

I replaced the engine, but didn't take the time to find out for sure.

Good luck.

Well there were no broken rocer shaft towers found this out as it was the first thing to be checked, what I did was I replaced the shaft and rockers for the rear head,they were finished from lack of oil! assembled the motor with new parts,ran it for a while, so just to be sure i was getting oil to my new parts I took it apart again and still NO oil! So we (and forum members) figured it was a spun cam bearing right?? Wrong!!!
I pulled the engine tore it apart, and all the cam bearing holes for the oil feeds line up perfect and none were plugged up! It turns out to be excessive camshaft bearing clearance! worn so bad you can take a finger nail arcoos the bearing and feel the wear.$1700.00 to rebuid this one.......Soooo off to get a used engine.

[RahX]

wow one of those things you wouldnt expect glad to see you got it figured out.

[TurboDuck]

Where are you located? I've got a 20k 3.3 sitting in my barn. I've been looking for a place to install it, but.........

I'm in Central Ohio.

-Gary-

[Soccer dad]

Originally Posted by TurboDuck

Where are you located? I've got a 20k 3.3 sitting in my barn. I've been looking for a place to install it, but.........

I'm in Central Ohio.

-Gary-

20K !!!!! I would take it in a minute but Im in Ontario Canada, but thanks for the offer ! curious to know what does one get for a good 3.3L with low miles for $$???

My heads are good cores (no cracked towers) and the long block is a good core for a machine shop rebuild.Anyone interested PM me.

[TurboDuck]

Well, I can them down here, with 70-80k miles on them for $200-$300. The junkyards are full of them. Really that engine should go 200k miles with proper maintenance.

Good luck.