It just goes to show.... (56k beware!)
.... that a bulletproof engine design + regular maintence works wonders! I spent the day today changing my timing belt (had 85k on it... time to change) and also changing my oil pan gasket, since it was still the original gasket and had a few leaks. I took some pics with the pan off and a few other pics too. At the time of this surgical operation the motor is at 345,600 miles, all original never been rebuilt. Hell this is the first time the pan has ever been off since the motor was built 15 years ago! Anyways, here's a few pics
Keep in mind I didn't clean this up at all.... this is exactly how it looked when I pulled it off
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3/f844b3fc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/f844b3ec.jpg
I did clean the baffle thingy and the oil sump/pickup in the parts washer... they cleaned up very nicely
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/f844b3d4.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...4/f844b3e7.jpg
T-belt off.... everything nice and clean in here. Front crank seal not even leaking (it's original too!)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e/f844b3ef.jpg
The pan gasket came off in about 10 pieces, LOL. That thing was ON THERE!!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f844b3e1.jpg
I washed the pan, timing cover, crank pulley, crossmember, and some brackets in the parts washer. They came out looking almost new!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...4/f844b3dc.jpg
Well that's all the pics. I was most impressed with how clean the engine was inside. I showed the pics to my dad, who is very knowledgeable about cars and engines (mostly domestic, though), and he was blown away and couldn't belive how clean it was. He said "damn I know people that wish they're engines where that clean inside even with only 50,000 miles on them!!" The bottom of the pistons and the rods were extremely clean, which means the rings are still sealing good and not allowing any blowby and such. So that made me feel good to hear. There was no sludge or foreign particles of any kind anywhere.... bottom of the pan or anything. I grabbed the bearing caps to check how much play there was and there was just a tiny bit of movement, which there's supposed to be, perfect. So it gets a clean bill of health once again.... good ol' A20 never dissappoints!! :D
