What would you do?

[mx3_ryder]

Not looking to put alot more money into this jeep, but engine has 198000 miles and needs valve fixed.
Engine ran excellent prior to dropping valve seat, no bottom end noises and there is no sludge build up under the covers.
I am going to have both heads redone and don't want to touch the bottom end.
Do you guys think I should be fine just doing the heads to get some more miles outta this o'l girl.

 

[cplchris]

if you're doing the heads on your own and have the ability; why not pull the engine and inspect the rest of it to look for any other issues that you can address now rather than wait to fix something when it lets go? to answer your question yea i think you would be ok, but i always go overboard with my repairs and what not.

 

[LibertyTC]

There is no point in just doing the top end at 198K miles.
It is always best to find another low k motor or rebuild the entire engine for reliability/longevity.
Then you dont have to worry ...ur good to go for many miles/years ahead.

 

[mx3_ryder]

Only plan on keeping it for a couple years and only need to get about 20,000 or 30,000 miles. Yes I do my own work but don't feel like pulling engine to rebuild entire thing. Main reason is I feel the vehicle is not worth the time and extra money for an entire rebuild or an expensive used low mileage motor.

 

[LibertyTC]

fair enough..how much is it going to cost to rebuild the heads ?

 

[CactusJacked]

With those many miles, with just doing the heads you might end up getting piston ring blow-by (compression pushing into the crankcase). Right now, the engine is worn as a unit. Nice tight sealing heads will put more combustion pressure on the weak link; the sealing of the rings.

 

[mx3_ryder]

fair enough..how much is it going to cost to rebuild the heads ?

Shop told me $300-$500 including all the parts needed to recondition both heads
and then $80.00 for a top end gasket set.

 

[tommudd]

Well if it was me and I didn't want to rebuild the whole thing , slam the rebuilt heads on and go. There maybe a chance of other issues but what the heck go for it I guess
Me, I would rebuild the whole engine and go another 200,000 or more:Big Laugh:

 

[CactusJacked]

That's the chance you take when doing only part of an engine. Just make sure Mr. Murphy (of Murphy's law) isn't looking over your shoulder as you do the head job, as he may be tempted to throw a monkey wrench into the gears once it's back together!

 

[tommudd]

There is also a chance that you completely rebuild one and Murphy is silently getting ready to screw ya over. Anything can happen when dealing with a rotating mass of parts.

 

[mx3_ryder]

You must be registered for see images attach

Only picture I have at the moment, but from the color under the valve cover, (light golden hue) would you say it has 198,000 miles or maybe its been changed at some point and has lower miles than the odometer reads? Just a thought... I have no history on the vehicle. My 06 accord ex with w/regular maintenance and 88,000 miles has more color under the covers than the liberty does.


This is what I expected to find with the know oil sludge problems

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[CactusJacked]

Oh what a let-down that it's not all sludged up like you expected, eh!
What you have there is what I'd expect if the engine had a steady diet of full synthetic oil. Do you know it's maintenance history at all?

 

[mx3_ryder]

Oh what a let-down that it's not all sludged up like you expected, eh!
What you have there is what I'd expect if the engine had a steady diet of full synthetic oil. Do you know it's maintenance history at all?

Right, so bummed it's not sludged up!! :disgust:
Other then the oil being blacker than black when I got it and all the repairs it needed from shocks,brakes,front drive shaft,heater core and radiator,tires to hood and latch shocks, I'd say it was well maintained. lol... No history at all!!
You may be right, but still seems clean and I guess the original owners may have just let all the problems go toward the end before they traded.

 

[tommudd]

Mine at 195,000 had no sludge at all like that when I replaced the right side valve cover .
I would guess proper maintenance was lacking its whole life.

 

[mx3_ryder]

Mine at 195,000 had no sludge at all like that when I replaced the right side valve cover .
I would guess proper maintenance was lacking its whole life.

X2 on the maintenance.