GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Application

Specification

Metric

English

General Data

  • Engine Type

90° V-6

  • Displacement

231 cu  in

  • Liter (VIN)

3.8L (K), (1)

  • RPO

L36, L67

  • Bore

96.52 mm

3.8 in

  • Stroke

86.36 mm

3.4 in

  • Compression Ratio (VIN K)

9.4:1

  • Compression Ratio (VIN 1)

8.5:1

  • Firing Order

1-6-5-4-3-2

Lubrication System

  • Oil Capacity with Oil Filter Change

4.25 L

4.5 qt

  • Oil Capacity without Oil Filter Change

3.75 L

4 qt

  • Oil Pressure @ Operating Temperature (1850 RPM) Using 10W-30 Oil

414 kPa

60 psi min

  • Oil Filter Type

Throw Away Element and Can

  • Gear Pocket Depth

11.71-11.75 mm

0.461-0.4625 in

  • Gear Pocket Diameter

89.10-89.20 mm

3.508-3.512 in

  • Inner Gear Tip Clearance

0.152 mm

0.006 in

  • Outer Gear Diameter Clearance

0.203-0.381 mm

0.008-0.015 in

  • End Clearance

0.025-0.089 mm

0.001-0.0035 in

  • Valve-to-Bore Clearance

0.038-0.076 mm

0.0015-0.003 in

Type of Lubrication

  • Main Bearings

Pressure

  • Connecting Rods

Pressure

  • Piston Pins

Splash

  • Balance Shaft Bearing - Front

Splash

  • Balance Shaft Bushing - Rear

Pressure

  • Camshaft Bearings

Pressure

  • Timing Chain

Splash

  • Cylinder Walls

Splash

  • Oil Pump Type

Gerotor

  • Oil Pressure Sending Unit

Electrical

  • Oil Intake

Stationary

  • Oil Filter System

Full Flow

Cylinder Bore

  • Diameter

96.5 mm

3.8 in

  • Out-Of-Round Maximum

0.0254 mm

0.001 in

  • Taper

0.0254 mm

0.001 in

Piston (VIN K)

  • Used Piston Clearance (41 mm from Top of Piston)

0.050-0.091 mm

0.0020-0.0036 in

  • New Piston Clearance (41 mm from Top of Piston)

0.010-0.051 mm

0.0004-0.0020 in

Piston (VIN 1)

  • Used Piston Clearance (41 mm from Top of Piston)

0.0193-0.0997 mm

0.0008-0.0039 in

  • New Piston Clearance (41 mm from Top of Piston)

0.0207-0.0437 mm

0.0008-0.0017 in

Piston Ring Groove Depth

  • Top Compression

4.019-4.146 mm

0.158-0.163 in

  • 2nd Compression

4.214-4.341 mm

0.0166-0.171 in

  • Oil Control

3.814-3.941 mm

0.150-0.155 in

Piston Ring End Gap

  • Top Compression

0.25-0.46 mm

0.010-0.018 in

  • 2nd Compression

0.58-0.84  mm

0.023-0.033 in

  • Oil Control

0.254-0.762 mm

0.010-0.030 in

Piston Ring Side Clearance

  • Top Compression

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • 2nd Compression

0.033-0.079 mm

0.0013-0.0031 in

  • Oil Control

0.023-0.201 mm

0.0009-0.0079 in

Piston Ring Width

  • Top Compression

1.176-1.197 mm

0.0463-0.0471 in

  • 2nd Compression

1.476-1.497 mm

0.0581-0.0589 in

  • Oil Control

1.854-2.007 mm

0.073-0.079 in

Piston Pin (VIN K)

  • Diameter

21.9950-22.0000 mm

0.8659-0.8661 in

  • Clearance in Piston

0.0020-0.0130 mm

0.00008-0.00051 in

  • Fit-In-Rod (Clearance)

0.0066-0.0217 mm

0.0003-0.0009 in

Piston Pin (VIN 1)

  • Diameter

22.995-23.0000 mm

0.90531-0.90551 in

  • Clearance in Piston

0.0065-0.0155 mm

0.00061-0.00026 in

  • Fit-In-Rod (Clearance)

0.0073-0.0225 mm

0.00029-0.00089 in

Crankshaft

  • Main Journal Diameter-All

63.470-63.495 mm

2.4988-2.4998 in

  • Rod Journal Diameter-All

57.1170-57.1475 mm

2.2487-2.2499 in

  • Main Journal Taper-Maximum

0.00889 mm

0.00035 in

  • Rod Journal Taper-Maximum

0.00889 mm

0.00035 in

  • Main Journal Out-of-Round-Maximum

0.00635 mm

0.00025 in

  • Rod Journal Out-of-Round-Maximum

0.00508 mm

0.00020 in

  • Main Bearing to Journal Clearance 1

0.0178-0.0406 mm

0.0007-0.0016 in

  • Main Bearing to Journal Clearance 2, 3 and 4

0.0229-0.0457 mm

0.0009-0.0018 in

  • Rod Bearing Clearance

0.0127-0.0660 mm

0.0005-0.0026 in

  • Crankshaft End Play

0.076-0.276 mm

0.003-0.011 in

Connecting Rod

  • Rod Side Clearance

0.102-0.508 mm

0.004-0.0200 in

  • Connecting Rod Large End Bore ID

60.295-60.312 mm

2.37378-2.3745 in

Camshaft

  • Journal Diameter

47.655-46.858 mm

1.8462-1.8448 in

  • Bearing Inside Diameter 1 and 4

46.970-46.934 mm

1.8428-1.8492 in

  • Bearing Inside Diameter 2 and 3

46.977-46.942 mm

1.8481-1.8495 in

  • Bearing-to-Journal Clearance

0.041-0.119 mm

0.0016-0.0047 in

  • Intake Maximum Lobe Lift

6.56 mm

0.258 in

  • Exhaust Maximum Lobe Lift

6.56 mm

0.258 in

Balance Shaft

  • End Play

0.0-0.171 mm

0.0-0.0067 in

  • Rear Journal Diameter

38.085-38.105 mm

1.4994-1.5002 in

  • Radial Play-Front, Bearing Clearance

0.0-0.026 mm

0.0-0.0010 in

  • Rear Bearing to Journal Clearance

0.012-0.109 mm

0.0005-0.0043 in

  • Drive Gear Lash

0.050-0.125 mm

0.002-0.0049 in

  • Bearing Bore Diameter-Front

51.973-51.999 mm

2.0462-2.0472 in

  • Bearing Bore Diameter-Rear, In Block

47.584-47.612 mm

1.8735-1.8745 in

  • Bearing Inside Diameter-Rear

38.118-38.194 mm

1.5007-1.5037 in

Valve System

  • Lifter

Hydraulic Roller

  • Rocker Arm Ratio

1.66:1

  • Face Angle

46 degrees

  • Seat Angle

45 degrees

  • Minimum Margin

0.635 mm

0.025 in

  • Seat Runout-Maximum

0.050 mm

0.002 in

  • Seat Width-Intake

1.53-2.03 mm

0.060-0.080 in

  • Seat Width-Exhaust

2.29-2.79 mm

0.090-0.110 in

  • Stem Height-All

49.15-50.17 mm

1.93-1.975 in

  • Stem Clearance-Intake

0.031-0.071 mm

0.0012-0.0028 in

  • Stem Clearance-Exhaust

0.036-0.074 mm

0.0014-0.0029 in

Valve Spring

  • Free Length

49.78 mm

1.960 in

  • Load-Closed

334 N @

43.69 mm

75 lb @ 1.72 in

  • Load-Open

1014 N @ 32.4 mm

228 lb @ 1.277 in

  • Installed Height

42.93-44.45 mm

1.690-1.750 in

  • Approximate Number of Active Coils

4.48

  • Approximate Number of Total Coils

6.60

Flywheel

  • Runout-Maximum

0.38 mm

0.015 in