Component Tests and General Diagnostics

1. Clean the crankshaft journals. Inspect the journals and thrust faces for nicks, burrs, or roughness that would cause premature bearing wear.
2. Install the bearings to be checked.
3. Position the crankshaft into the cylinder block.

NOTE: Do not rotate the crankshaft when measuring the oil clearances.

4. Position Plastigage(R) on the top of the journals in the axial direction.
5. Install the corresponding bearing caps according to the cap number and arrow mark.
6. Tighten the connecting rod bearing cap bolts to 22-27 Nm (16-19 ft. lbs.) then, in order, turn each connecting rod bearing cap bolt an additional 90 ± 5 degrees.
7. Remove the bearing caps.
8. Measure the Plastigage(R) at each journal at the widest point for the smallest clearance and at the narrowest point for the largest clearance.

The connecting rod oil clearance should be 0.023-0.043 mm (0.0009-0.0017 inch). If the clearance exceeds 0.08 mm (0.0031 inch) grind the crankshaft and use undersize connecting rod bearings.