Life a Chevy 4.3 V-6 Can Run?

[Gale Hawkins]

Looked at a 1998 S-10 5-speed Chevy PU with 524K miles on it today that is not to use over a quart of oil between 3K oil changes and I know it sounds as good as our 2002 4.3 auto in our Blazer with 192K mile and it seems to have more power but it could be the auto vs. manual factor. It shifts like new which does not make sense. The seller worked for the past owner and has personally put the last 300K miles on the truck himself providing escort service for new mobiles homes over east/central US for years.

He stated the engine has had NO work done internally but most all moving parts that bolt onto the engine as been replaced with some being replaced several times. It got a new intake gasket about 100K miles ago and has been running the old green type antifreeze for years.

Inside and out it is almost a mirror image of our 2002 Blazer but rougher for the wear of the extra 330K miles/four years.

 

[Dmace]

Those 4.3l V6's were great engines. It was the same layout (bore x stroke) as the all mighty 350 small block and just about every part from bearings to pistons and valvetrain parts are completely interchangeable. So basically it was the V8 350 with two cylinders chopped off.

I have a feeling you wont see any more 300k+ miles engines nowadays.

 

[JerryK]

The 4.3 is cast iron engine and heads, with the only weak spot the aluminum intake and the plastic gaskets G.M. used for a few years. The gaskets crack over time, and leak coolant into the oil....usually right behind the alternator on the passenger side. The new fix was to replace the plastic gaskets with metal ones....just like they used before someone had the bright idea to start using plastic gaskets. Great motor.

 

[coreshot]

What are the best years to look for? I have a V6 Toyota truck that needs a transplant, and the 4.3 is an easy swap.

 

[JerryK]

What are the best years to look for? I have a V6 Toyota truck that needs a transplant, and the 4.3 is an easy swap.

I don't know when they switched from throttle body to fuel injection, but my 2001 ZR2 is fuel injected. Sometime in the mid 2000's they switched back to the metal intake gaskets. I like the fuel injected ones, and you can always swap out the intake gaskets before you install it. Good luck.... Jerry

 

[automech]

I still wouldnt want to pay too much for a 500k mile vehicle. I hope you get it cheap.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Well I liked the way it drove and it did not seem to need anything like brakes, tires, transmission (manual with firm clutch) so I went ahead and picked it up for $1100 even though the 98 S10 4.3L is showing 524K miles as a project truck.

It is so much like the 2002 Blazer and I have the factory manuals for it which should be good info for a lot of the same systems in the 1998 S10.

The truck had not been driven in a month the guy said but I would guess it could have been several months because it was parked in a shed over at his mom's place.

Coming home in it I noticed it would miss if I got on it hard running down the road like going from 30 to 50 mph in 3rd gear (still under 3K RPM) and it would keep missing for maybe a half mile then smooth out again.

After driving it about 60 miles in 20 mile runs me and my son hooked the scanner to it and drove it some. The miss would return then go away. Then I got on it harder (no red lining stuff but more like some take offs like the 2002 Blazer does over and over without issue we got it to pop PO305 that then turned into a PO300 multi cylinder miss that no longer goes away. The MAF PO101 over time will reset after cleared.

Well the idle is rough now yet it is still quite perky considering.

The PO300 code has a 1000 possible causes.

A code P0300 may mean that one or more of the following has happened:

Faulty spark plugs or wires
Faulty coil (pack)
Faulty oxygen sensor(s)
Faulty fuel injector(s)
Burned exhaust valve
Faulty catalytic converter(s)
Stuck/blocked EGR valve / passages
Faulty camshaft position sensor
Defective computer

Well my project truck is going to be that for sure but it is still worth $400 at the scrap yard.

One plus has been to appreciate the 2002 Blazer with only 192K miles when we drove it tonight knowing it may not be half way worn out yet.

If I can get the 1998 5 speed running well I will drive it a lot and practice on the project truck so when the 2002 needs deep service I will have been there and down that. Plus with two trucks with a lot if interchangable parts it will make swapping parts to trouble shoot easier. If a part off of the 2002 fixes the 1998 I will just put the new part on the 2002.

Short of being a burnt valve or maybe the computer which may not exchange with the 2002 most of the other possible causes listed above are normally replaced items anyway.

Since the is no knocking, decrease in oil PSI, mixing of fluids and still good power even with the PO300 miss I hope I just pushed the miss that was there from time to time into a full time problem that is addressable without a lot of cash.

Before the PO300 occurred an oil change was about the one real need it had as far as I can tell so I am hopeful at this point. If it does not work out I may keep it for spare parts for a while then sell for scrap. Buy-in price less scrap value is just $700. I have had more expense projects as in the MH.

Oh I was going to mention have been running a heavy Sea Foam mix on leaving the seller's place and think that may have loosen some junk in the fuel system perhaps.

There is strong spark from the distributor on all six cylinders so that leaves the wires and plugs to check out. It will start and run with all the plug wires disconnected at the same time on either left/right bank. The only wires that will decrease/increase idle speed (yes it will idle but with a lope) is the middle wire on each bank at the distributor connection?

 

[Toyboy]

Your problem could be as simple as an oxygen sensor. You may want to change that out first, not as lot of $$

 

[om21braz]

They are good motors. A cousin of mine had a 1989 S-10 4WD he put 400k on without any serious motor or tranny repairs. Several water pumps, alternators, and other assorted items along with at least a half dozen fan clutches.

 

[300UGUY]

Those 4.3l V6's were great engines. It was the same layout (bore x stroke) as the all mighty 350 small block and just about every part from bearings to pistons and valvetrain parts are completely interchangeable. So basically it was the V8 350 with two cylinders chopped off.

I have a feeling you wont see any more 300k+ miles engines nowadays.

I disagree. I worked in a engine plant for GM, and the engines just keep getting better. Better matierals, better metallurgy, tighter tolerances. Biggest problem now is the rest of the vehicle rusting out out well before the engine is done.

 

[SPIKER]

Biggest problem now is the rest of the vehicle rusting out out well before the engine is done.

he lives down in one of those salt free states so probably not as much an issue. up here in Ohio & Mich cars are lucky to last to 150 ~200K as the bodies are gone after 10 years if not well cared for. I have several thunderbirds early 90s that are rusted away bad underneath. (not just fords) any thing rusts out really bad. just finished local recall on my Honda for the rear frame mounts rusting out and rear ends falling off... mine was pretty good best the dealer said he has seen it is an 01. most of them he had seen needed total frame fix or were getting bought back he had 4 or 5 setting out back waiting for scrap yard & company payments... Mine is pretty old with 130K but has been oiled under it several times I bought it used 10K ago and wont buy one ever again... breaks every time I turn around with it. I know why it isnt rusting out only likes to run in sunny weather lol...

I'm sticking to my rusty fords.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Your problem could be as simple as an oxygen sensor. You may want to change that out first, not as lot of $$

You may be correct. Since we have the 2002 that can use the same parts should we abandon this project truck I picked up a complete parts tune up tonight and will do that first since it is very needed. Got the engine compartment cleaned up pretty well today. Upset because I did not wash the bottom side the hood.

Awesome in hot water applied by an hand pressure sprayer worked well to melt grease/grime. Flushed it with 120F water out of the hose. It was very dirty (PS may be the biggest leak) but not too bad for the miles.

We pulled the battery rack and will do rust restorer in that area. Taking the time to disconnect, clean and reconnect all 12v connections and grounds that I run across. Cleaned the 175 fuse link under the battery rack while it was out.

Rust is not a huge issue with this truck. Clearly they moved MH's with salt on the roads you can tell but I am sure they tried to avoid that when possible.

I think the 500,000 miles it road at a 30 degree angle over the rear truck tires put a lot of road spray under the hood/underside leading to some rusting.

 

[Skyco]

I worked in a engine plant for GM, and the engines just keep getting better. Better matierals, better metallurgy, tighter tolerances. Biggest problem now is the rest of the vehicle rusting out out well before the engine is done.

Where I live rust out isn't an issue but-
What bugs me is it is rare for an auto transmission to last as long as the engine.
I've suffered several auto trans rebuilds over the years (6 so far in 41 years) but have never had an internal engine failure or worn out an engine...
I guess I don't understand why this happens...is the trans department staffed by poor engineers, or is it the accountants demanding cost reductions?
It is not just me...I've always done trans maint more often than manufacturer recommendations and still get burned....worst to date is the 2003 Honda Pilot that only had 80k and needed a $4k trans.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Yes the automatic transmissions in general tend to fail first. If this 1998 Blazer had not had a 5 speed in it I would have NEVER looked at it.

Unless set up for special application or something putting another transmission in a beater makes no financial sense to me.

If the 98 works out to be a keeper my son may get it at 16. I would care less where they drive autos or manuals but I do want them to know how. A kid is going to learn how to drive his/her first car even if it is a manual.

Once they get good with one manual transmission then they are set for life if they need to drive a manual later in life. This 5 speed Blazer is the most easy manual I have ever shifted.

 

[deepNdirt]

I purchased a Used '89 Chevy Astro back in 2000 it had 230K on the 4.3v , the price was right and it ran and drove good, I was told it used about 1-quart every 2000 miles, No Biggy! I had been driving the van for 3 days :Edit:-> ( 3 weeks ) when I left it running out front of a house while I quickly went inside, I was in for about 5 minutes when I return and noticed the van was no longer running.... I had thought perhaps it overloaded with fuel and choked down, When I went to restart it, it would not turn over, I could hear a click sound coming from the starter, I had thought the battery might been dead, so I tried jumping it off and still got only a click from the starter, I decide to pull the dipstick and take a look, I found that it had no oil showing on the stick and quickly realized the engine and shut down due to having no oil, I test it by grabbing a hold of the fan pulley to see if I could at all turn it and no could do, I of course went and got 4 quarts of oil and added them, I pulled the spark plugs to release the compression, and got a socket and ratchet to fit the crank bolt while another person grabbed hold of the fan pulley we Begin to work it back and forth little by little until the engine free itself,
I continue to drive this van for another 50,000 miles although keeping a closer watch on the oil and adding 1 quart every 1000 miles,...........
So if your looking for testimony on the 4.3 engines there you have one........ great Engines even when they lock-up they can be revived:thumbsup:
Incidentally I sold the Van and its new owner drove it for another couple of years, I don't really know how many miles accumulated on the van but I'm sure it was close to 400k

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That was some experience. :thumbsup:

I think it must have been one the last small engines with both a cast block and heads so it could take a lot of abuse. I guess it was good it was idling so it locked up quickly and died before much damage.

Rain has moved in for a while today but I am looking forward to getting the a total electrical tune up with new stuff from the distributor to the heads. In looking at the plug wires I think they are OEM. Just the parts (nothing fancy) was $150 so I see why shop tune ups can run $300-$500 in shops these days.

Where this old S10 is a keeper or not it has encouraged me about the life of our 2002 Blazer with 192K miles currently that runs and looks good at this point.

Thanks again for your experice.

 

[deepNdirt]

That was some experience. :thumbsup:

I think it must have been one the last small engines with both a cast block and heads so it could take a lot of abuse. I guess it was good it was idling so it locked up quickly and died before much damage.

Rain has moved in for a while today but I am looking forward to getting the a total electrical tune up with new stuff from the distributor to the heads. In looking at the plug wires I think they are OEM. Just the parts (nothing fancy) was $150 so I see why shop tune ups can run $300-$500 in shops these days.

Where this old S10 is a keeper or not it has encouraged me about the life of our 2002 Blazer with 192K miles currently that runs and looks good at this point.

Thanks again for your experice.

yeah the od thing was that the lifters never sounded off, they must been good-n-coated . and in my earlier statement I said 3 days driving... I meant to say 3 weeks,

 

[jonyyuma]

Gale see if you can get the EGR valve loose, then spray the base with penatating oil..Our 2.8 v6 was doing the same thing years ago. I cleaned it ,fixed the hose on top of it and it went on for years??? JY.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Checked out the ERG valve. I was dirty but did not help it run better.

After a lot of reading last night I was sure the tune up was not going to help our po300 error condition and sure enough it did not. I should have read more but hey it is a project truck so it is work some learn some work some learn some.

We drove it enough to get it warmed up then tried the carb cleaner spraying alone the intake. Could get a 100 RPM increase shortly after a shot of cleaner around #4 cylinder.

At this point I am assuming "intake manifold gasket leak". Not sure how many miles ago they replaced the intake manifold gasket due to a coolant loss. I think it was a long time ago.

Since it did idle well the first day we got it I am thinking heavy Sea Foam usage may have started to clean up the intake or it was weak and when hitting higher RPM's it opened up a crack.

I had a shop replace my intake gasket on the 2002 Blazer so this will be a new level of drive way project. Wish it was warmer.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

One other thing... it's a great engine but the fuel injectors usually have a short life before they leak and drip. Usually mileage will drop and it starts idling rough with a fuel smell. My '95 Blazer has a slightly different type from yours but similar. It seems that I have gotten about 50k from each set of injectors. (Called a fuel spider.) The '98 uses a fuel spider also but I see that you can buy individuals on it. RockAuto Auto Parts has the best prices for parts usually.