[Manitcor]

SUBJECT: ENGINE OIL ODOR (REPLACE REAR MAIN BEARING SEAL)

MODELS: 1990-96 BUICK REGAL 1994-97 BUICK SKYLARK 1994-98 BUICK CENTURY 1990-94 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1990-95 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1990-96 CHEVROLET BERETTA, CORSICA, APV 1990-98 CHEVROLET LUMINA 1995-98 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 1997-98 CHEVROLET MALIBU, VENTURE 1990-97 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME 1990-98 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1994-96 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERA 1994-97 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1997-98 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 1990-94 PONTIAC SUNBIRD 1990-95 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1990-98 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, TRANS SPORT 1994-98 PONTIAC GRAND AM

WITH 3.1L, 3100, 3.4L, 3400 ENGINES (VINS T, D, X, M, E, S - RPOS LH0, LG6, LQ1, L82, LA1, L32)

CONDITION:
SOME OF THE ABOVE LISTED V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED. TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL.

CAUSE:
CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY A REACTION TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE ENGINE OIL ADDITIVE PACKAGE AND THE GREASE USED ON THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT REAR MAIN OIL SEAL.

CORRECTION:
VERIFY THAT THE ENGINE DOES NOT HAVE ANY EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY USING THE METHODS OUTLINED IN THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL. IF NORMAL DIAGNOSTICS ARE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH THE SOURCE OF THE OIL ODOR, REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. BEFORE INSTALLING THE SEAL, REMOVE THE GREASE FROM THE SEAL AND LIGHTLY COAT THE LIP AREA OF THE SEAL WITH CLEAN ENGINE OIL.

PARTS INFORMATION:
P/N DESCRIPTION QTY
14085829 CRANKSHAFT, REAR MAIN BEARING SEAL 1

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1998. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.