Okay, so today I got my hands dirty with the “crankshaft journal.” It’s not something I do every day, but I had a reason to tackle it, and figured I’d document the whole shebang.
Getting Started
First things first, I made sure the area was safe. Disconnected the battery, chocked the wheels – you know, the usual safety drill. Then, I got the car up on jack stands, nice and secure. Can’t be too careful when you’re crawling underneath a vehicle.
The Dirty Work
Next up, I located the oil pan. This is pretty obvious on most cars; it’s that big, usually metal, pan hanging down underneath the engine. Then I found the drain plug and slowly unscrewed it, I positioned my oil catch pan and let the old oil drain out. Man, that stuff was black!
After The oil was out, I could take out the oil pan. And then, I could see the crankshaft clearly.
Inspecting the Journals
With the crankshaft exposed, I could finally get to the journals. I carefully cleaned each journal one by one, wiping away any remaining oil or grime. I was looking for any obvious signs of trouble – scratches, scoring, anything that looked uneven or worn.
I took my time with this, feeling the surface of each journal with my fingers. Smooth is good, rough is bad. If I found anything that felt even a little bit off, I made a note of it. I also used a flashlight to get a really good look at each one, checking for any discoloration or heat marks.
Putting It Back Together
Once I was satisfied with my inspection, it was time to put everything back together. This was basically the reverse of taking it apart. I Reinstalled the oil pan and put a new oil filter on it. Make sure to tighten the screws.
Finally, I lowered the car, reconnected the battery, and started her up. I let it idle for a few minutes, checking for any leaks and keeping an ear out for any unusual noises. Everything sounded good, so I took it for a short test drive. Success!
All in all, it was a pretty straightforward job. Just took some time, patience, and a little bit of elbow grease. And now I’ve got a much better understanding of what’s going on inside my engine!
