Engine Rebuilders....Opinions?

[atilla_the_fun]

Hopefully, the rings and pistons that they would use to rebuild the engine would take care of the oil burning issue.

I don't believe that there is any evidence that rebuilt engines don't burn oil, or rather- as much oil as the original engines (given that there is such a variation between members here). You should really contact forum members to get a better idea of what really is going on.

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

[circmand]

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

I used to have an Isuzu Amigo which was a fun little Jeep like vehicle. But when going up hills in PA with the little 4 banger engine and manual transmission I had to get up speed before the hill and in the semi truck lane as it slowed down and people wanted to pass.

[Gizmo42]

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

You would think so but the passes here top out at 11-12k feet so that alone drops your power by up to 40%. Then figure in the runs up them can be 10 miles of 6-8% grade all up hill with 65 mph speed limit and you need power to get up them unless you want to follow the big trucks all the way up at 10mph.

Actually, the 3.2L from the rodeo has been shown to fit (on this forum) and does not have the same oil burning issues as the Trooper/SLX/VX 3.5L.

The DOHC 3.2 (which is the non stroked 3.5) also has oil burning issues. Isuzu considers 1 qt per 1k miles normal but I've seen them burn much more. Mine burned 1 qt per 3k miles most of the time I've had it but the last couple years its started to guzzle it.

[H3_VX]

And i'm back to the question of, "if Isuzu knew their engines were the worst in the entire market, why wouldn't they attempt to remedy the problem instead of continuing with garbage?" It just flabbergasts me that a company would have a ho-hum attitude to their obvious mechanical blunders.

[tom4bren]

And i'm back to the question of, "if Isuzu knew their engines were the worst in the entire market, why wouldn't they attempt to remedy the problem instead of continuing with garbage?" It just flabbergasts me that a company would have a ho-hum attitude to their obvious mechanical blunders.

Prolly a liability thang. If they admitted that there was a problem, then they would have had to issue a recall & lost mucho dinero.

[evillecutter]

And i'm back to the question of, "if Isuzu knew their engines were the worst in the entire market, why wouldn't they attempt to remedy the problem instead of continuing with garbage?" It just flabbergasts me that a company would have a ho-hum attitude to their obvious mechanical blunders.

cause they still have plenty of 13 year old engines to sell for $6500! (which im assuming is a $5k engine and $1500 "free shipping")

[H3_VX]

cause they still have plenty of 13 year old engines to sell for $6500! (which im assuming is a $5k engine and $1500 "free shipping")

yup, thats why if my engine ever fails i'll be doing a swap. hopefully in the next several years i'll have all GM mechanicals.

[Gussie2000]

The truth is that isuzu 3.2 & 3.5L are between the worst engines that any jap automaker ever built.

Even brand-new these engine came with a very lousy noise,which to me was a time bomb just waiting to go BOOM.

Plus 215hp for the weight of the VX was just not enough.

The 2001 nissan pathfinder with their 3.5L produces 240hp. and definately well built,strong and much less issues than isuzu's 3.5L

Many people say that the VX's interior was a huge dissapointment,but as far as i can see the really dissapointment is this engine.

[FlyingV77]

my rebuilt, bored stoked, cost 7500 installed. with a warranty

[Gizmo42]

And i'm back to the question of, "if Isuzu knew their engines were the worst in the entire market, why wouldn't they attempt to remedy the problem instead of continuing with garbage?" It just flabbergasts me that a company would have a ho-hum attitude to their obvious mechanical blunders.

Controlling interest at the time was GM, thats why.

[rsteinmetz70112]

my rebuilt, bored stoked, cost 7500 installed. with a warranty

But does it burn oil?

[tjh]

So far the used motor that I purchased which has the updated pistons has not shown any oil burn... Other than while in Moab it showed a wee bit low. It could have been the angle that I was parked at when I checked it, or may be some oil was dumped into the intake while off-road at some silly angle .

I pushed it rather hard on the way home from Utah. Some 1300+ miles(I made a little detour through Colorado) one way with no noticeable change in oil level. Still driving it without any detectable changes in oil level.


So far so good. I hope it stays this way.

[Gizmo42]

Here is some info from Jerry about oil burning and freshening up a used 3.2. He is legally blind so always types all caps, he's not yelling.

OK ,LETS GIVE IT SHOT, FIRST OFF THERE ARE PLENTY OF THOSE ENGS THAT DO NOT USE OIL, BUT MOST ARE PRONE TO AFTER ABOUT 60.000 ,MILES, USUALLY TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY EGR
VLV , THANK YOU GM, ALLSO ISUZU , BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE ENG IN 98 AND LATER HAD VERY SHORT PISTONS , ISUZU FELT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE PISTON SKIRT TO CUT A SLOT FOR OIL DRAIN BACK, LIKE ON THE 92-97ENGS , THEY DO NOT HAVE OIL DRAIN BACK HOLES BEHIND THE RINGS , THEY HAD A LARGE CUT OUT IN THE PISTON THAT GOES ABOUT 1/3 AROUND ON EACH SIDE OF THE THRUST SIDE , SO THEY DRILLED 2 OIL DRAIN BACK HOLES IN THE PISTON RING LAND ON EACH SIDE OF THE PISTON, THINKING THIS WOULD BE OK AND IT WAS IF YOU KEPT THE CORRECT TYPE OF OIL AND CHANGED IT LIKE IT SHOULD BE, SO NOW WE HAVE TWO PROB AREA,S OIL DRAIN AND EGR , AND THAT WAS EASILY FIXED , GM REDESIGNED THE EGR VLV ,

ISUZU FIXED THE PISTONS BY DRILLING 2 MORE HOLES IN EACH RING LAND , PISTONS ARE ABOUT IDENTICAL, THE RING EXPANDER WAS REDESIGNED ALL SO , SO THE WAVY PART IS NOT SO CLOSE TOGETHER, , NOW THE PROB IS FIXED , I WOULD HOWEVER USE NOTHING BUT THE ROTELLA 5-40 DSL GRADE ENG OIL , IT WILL KEEP THE ENG CLEANER THAN ABOUT ANY OTHER OIL , AND YOU WILL PROB SEE ABOUT 25 OTHER [POSTS CONCERNING WHICH OIL IS BEST FOR THAT ENG, ON THAT ACCOUNT ALL I CAN SAY IS THERE ARE OTHER GOOD OILS ON THE MARKET , THIS ONE IN FACT DOES WORK, BUT IT CAN NOT CREATE MIRACLES , IF THE RING LAND ARE ALL READY CARBONED FILLED NO OIL WILL CUT IT LOOSE COMPLETELY, BUT THE ROTELLA WILL CLEAN MOST OF IT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME , NOW CAN YOU FIX THE USED ENG , YES BUT THE PISTONS WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED , REMOVE THE RINGS AND DRILL TWO HOLES IN THE BOTTOM RING LAND , ON EACH SIDE OF THE PISTON , THEY ARE ABOUT 1.5 MM DIA, AT THE MOST , AND YOU CAN DO IT , IF CARE FULL WITH A HAND DRILL AND A SUPPORT TO HOLD THE PISTONS, JUST DRILL THEM IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE ONES THAT ARE THERE , BUT EVENLY SPACED TOWARD THE THRUST SIDE OF THE PISTONS , THEN PUT IN A NEW SET OF RING S AND KEEP THE PISTONS IN THE SAME HOLE IT CAME OUT OFF, THEY A RE SIZED INDIVIDUALLY WHEN NEW ,

[djvx]

No it's really $6490. Not really ordering two.....or even one for that matter.

Take out a loan and pay it off gradually, probably what I'd do.

[djvx]

Actually, the 3.2L from the rodeo has been shown to fit (on this forum) and does not have the same oil burning issues as the Trooper/SLX/VX 3.5L.

You could do a quick search on that engine. Even with the slight loss of power, its almost worth it given the lack of oil consumption on the 3.2L.

I know of a Rodeo that wasnt really maintained that well but has nearly 300,000 miles on it. Its has had a very hard life but is still ticking.
I really wish I knew if I am going to be one of the lucky ones and my vx engine will last for 200k. Like someone said earlier--its always there in the back of my mind. But, even more aggravating is not knowing what the best solution is once it does blow up. In a perfect world I would choose a 3.2 Rodeo engine with low miles and go that route I guess.