How To Use Plastigage -EricTheCarGuy

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This video shows how to use Plastigage to check bearing clearances in an engine. Plastigage can be used to check all kinds of clearances, but engine and bearing clearances are among the most common. Remember there are several different kinds of Plastigage, so be sure to pick the right size for your application. Plastigage is not a replacement for precision measurements, but it can be a good quick check that you can used for engine assembly. In addition to using Plastigage, this video also shows how to use a degree wheel when torquing fasteners.
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Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. EricTheCarGuy assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. EricTheCarGuy recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not EricTheCarGuy.

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10 апр 2014

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Комментарии : 443

@eriks1526 4 года назад

so 30 years after i overhauled my smallblock i finally learned the purpose of that plastic tool 😅

@dkemp1337 19 дней назад

Oh me too wow

@Vr4joe 6 лет назад

Eric. I want to thank you for all of your videos. It seems every time I have a question while working on my vehicle, you have a video that clearly explains the answer. Thank you very much for all of the time you've spent making these videos!

@Diallo268 6 лет назад

Just a few quick things I noticed: 1. It's easier to cut the plastigage instead of sliding the whole thing out. 2. I don't agree w/ torqueing the to spec as you are going to pull it right off. Torque spec is torque-to-yield meaning you can't reuse those bolts anymore (wasted money if you had used new ones) and only applies bolt stretch to help it not back up. 3. You make great vids Eric! Keep it up!

@beetlejuice1239 4 года назад

Toluene whats the proper way of doing number 2? Without wasting anything?

@Diallo268 4 года назад

@@beetlejuice1239 Tighten it so it removes any clearances on the mating surfaces, but not to torque spec. Torque-to-yield actually stretches the bolt which doesn't help in the measurement process and that's why you have to replace them.

@kennygee2715 9 месяцев назад

I was wondering the same thing, and thank you for confirming my thoughts. I figure as long as you tighten it enough so there is no gap between the rod end and rod, it should be fine. I was concerned because I am doing an engine and I had to buy all new bolts and didn't want to waste expensive bolts $6.60/ea to do a plastigage test. @@Diallo268

@Thechildishmandingo 3 месяца назад

@@Diallo268I was thinking the same thing about the torque to yield, I think it would depend on if you’re actually using torque to yield bolts or not. Something like ARPs are reusable and usually come with their own guidelines on how to torque them down.

@garrybetts3997 5 лет назад

Hi Eric, I'm a mechanic that could have been. Love Internal Combustion (IC) engines. So watching you applying the mechanics to an engine just fires my interest. Keep up the good videos mate. Garry from Australia

@KennyInVegas 5 лет назад

Just started rebuilding my 440 engine. I've been a subscriber to your channel for years. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT!!!

@davidhall3747 Год назад

I'm in the middle of rebuilding a couple of Engines. This is a nice refresher for using the Plastigauge system.

@brynatrollope5781 2 года назад

Thank you for making this so easy to understand!! I'm a 2nd year heavy duty apprentice and only due to the fact that I operated 1 type of machine for 6 winters. 2 years ago I was offered a chance to look after the machines and I accepted. I grew up an english/art nerd who struggled with scientific concepts and math so i am a fish out of water. My teachers do the best they can but it's videos like yours that really help. Looking forward to going down the rabbit hole on your channel.

@MercOilbuner 10 лет назад

I say "measure once, forget the measurement, cut twice, throw it away, and call it a day."

@e34boat88 6 лет назад

hell yeah

@1234CreamCorn 5 лет назад

You're a piece of shit.

@BILLZ62 5 лет назад

Andrew if at first you don’t succeed fuck it

@deankay4434 4 года назад

Andy, why are you the one covered in flies?

@kealanbrowning1158 3 года назад

@@BILLZ62 yep if at first you dont succeed fuck its dad

@kevinburns939 6 лет назад

Thank you for all that you do. I am rebuilding a motorcycle engine and the spec. on the manual told me to use a plastiguage to measure the clearance on camshaft. I was unsure on how to use plastigauge until I saw your video. I just do this for fun as a hobby. And I have watched many of your tutorial on engines. I am Re-building my sons 2000 1100 shadow spirit that he purchased for 500. dollars and good old Dad has to fix it up for him. He paying for the parts. lol

@LBCTITAN 6 лет назад

This was very informative and will come in handy when its time for me to work on my Corvair engine rebuild. Keep up the good work, we appreciate the videos.

@michaelperez1829 2 года назад

Thank you Eric. I’m a Honda guy and love all your information on them. I’m new to rebuilding them and your videos are an excellent resource..stay dirty

@TheSlayer69690 9 лет назад

i want to say thank you Eric i have truck problems and this video is helping me out thank you and when i get my lil truck running and get back to work ima donate bro your videos are awesome ALL OF THEM i think your are very knowledgeable and you do nice production work for your videos you really show what and where things gotta happen thanks again

@petegee 10 лет назад

great video Eric, the basics are a really useful theme, keep them coming. Personally never knew what plastigage was or was used for, now I'm enlightened. Many thanks Eric.

@rpeek 4 года назад

Thanks Eric. Always great to to see you out there. Take care.

@JAguilar1 10 лет назад

Awesome video Eric. These basics videos have been extremely helpful.

@edgardogeovany7375 4 года назад

This is the way to down vids... every time I watch Eric’s vids I enjoy watching, because the ample explanation and how clear with easiness of understanding.

@deankay4434 4 года назад

Eric, thanks again for a clear to the point subject matter. Iron and aluminum blocks of different years have different specs as oil has dropped to 0W-5 synthetic that requires tighter clearances. But you covered that in your disclaimer. As time passes, GM has taken a very strict position on published specs which is part of their intellectual properties. They are shutting them down one by one. Note: I worked on contract labor in the field for over 7+ years and today, even tech’s change their user password often and monitor the IP addresses used by that PW and time of day. As a quick note, I have a 2003 iron block truck LS, but the production specs for the rods are 0.0009”-0.0025”, Service is 0.0009”-0.003” but also list 15 lb. ft. + 75 degree angle. Yours will very. Please folks, don’t give up as ACDelco.com can provide GM’s eSI (Electronic Service Information) for a fee, lasting 24 hrs or more if you desire. The advantage is updates, TSB, or Recalls can be updated with one key stroke. The same is true with programming modules if you have a shop. I had some programming modules wireless while the vehicle is in the parking lot. 1978 - ASE Master Tech - Retired Everyone, hit the like & subscribed!!!! Eric has some of the best videos on these subjects than many!

@deankay4434 4 года назад

Plasti-gauge has a patent going back to the 40’s. Just a note, it works if you don’t have 3k in “C” clamps with numbers on them.

@Dragon-Slay3r 7 месяцев назад

Shells or points its the samething as demonstrated today Ask jordan she didnt like it when the sas told her off 😂

@francopotou5702 5 лет назад

Thanks Eric its the first time i really understand how to use plastigage great tutorial God bless mate

@krmanrg 9 лет назад

Helped tremendously when installing a small engine rod....Many thanks!

@KFCOrBust 10 лет назад

Great video... Been wrenching on my shitbox cars for years and never knew how to use Plastigage!

@guidosarducci3047 4 года назад

me too. the video was definitely helpful to me.

@ThePusherMan69 10 лет назад

Awesome video thank you Eric, keep up the great work!!!!

@buaan 10 лет назад

Wish this video was around a few years ago when I was learning how to do this. I'm not sure why but I enjoyed this process when rebuilding an engine with new bearings etc. Probably because I was nearer the end of the rebuild process and everything was going back together. 25k miles the engines still going strong :).

@ClintonSnow 6 лет назад

Hi, Eric thank you so much for this video and it's really helpful please keep doing more videos like this.

@AlexWeetch 3 года назад

Thanks Eric. Very useful video and well explained.

@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 4 года назад

Excellent presentation, thanks for clarifying the finer points.

@uberbeans 5 лет назад

Great video. Very complete and spoken clearly. Definitely will subscribe.

@TaragoPreviaEstima 10 лет назад

12:06 did you notice it's at 75 not 85! might have come back a bit? anyways love your work as always

@LSmiata 6 лет назад

Also noticed and next was closer to 90deg. Grrr on torque to yield and old-ass tool used. In fairness, torque angle is good, especially when using oiled, not oiled, anti-seized fasteners. GOOD video on plastigage. P

@SonOf_Icarus 5 лет назад

Yup

@myevoIX 5 лет назад

It was at 85. The angle of the camera made it seem like it wasn’t in the right spot.

@temp___ 5 лет назад

This is called 'parallax'.

@WiPri0371 4 года назад

I noticed and accounted for skew. All accounted for, I believe it would've still been between 15-20. At min it would've fit squarely in the 15.

@kylewoodward7078 6 лет назад

Great video, explained very well...alot better than some other videos i seen.

@dimitriliving 3 года назад

The video I keep coming back to. Thanks for the simple explanation.

@2islandboy 8 лет назад

excellent. you are a great teacher. just forwarded to one of my students!!

@robbflynn4325 Год назад

Great tool for a shade tree mechanic! Never heard of this stuff until I watched a recent video from PeterFinn the car doctor. Really interesting kit and seems accurate enough.

@williamrameka7646 10 лет назад

Hi Eric thank you for the fantastic tips!

@ScottHenion 10 лет назад

Good vid. ;) I'd have mentioned to check journals at two positions 90 degrees apart. They tend to wear egg shaped; you might be fooled by one reading. I use micrometers on OD and telescopic gauges (snap gauges) on the ID. That way I use the same micrometer to measure both the ID and OD. Also, a set of telescopic gauges is much cheaper than a set of bore gauges. You might want do do a vid on measurement methods. Yeah, plastigage has been around since probably the Model-T days ;)

@willburns1221 Год назад

I do it in 4 positions

@u.s.a.198 9 месяцев назад

Thank you for ALL the great videos... I haven't used plastigauge since the 1980's....

@MediumHalf 10 лет назад

Now that you've shown us the PlastiGage method, a video on using your pricey precision tools to do a better version of the same thing would be awesome. I've heard horror stories of Subaru engine rebuilds where only PlastiGage was used and spun, burned up bearings followed soon thereafter.

@thomasmcalear8673 2 года назад

SUBARU=JUNKYARD

@shawnp001 Год назад

That is an awesome video im finding myself being confused with the precision tools I will use this information to make sure I'm doing it right

@kd4uga 3 года назад

Thank you for making this video. Still helping people in 2020.

@ibraheem3abassi579 3 года назад

Amazing Eric, love you work , cheers

@lawrencedeaninvestments2171 2 года назад

Thank you so much for your information I’m doing the same thing right now and this is the best video by far and how to use the plastic gauge again thank you so much

@FastFrisian 9 лет назад

Thanks, I just bought some plastigage from e-bay, and now i know how to use it.

@mv3098 10 лет назад

Great video Eric. Thanks!

@RicardoRodriguez-il6cu 10 лет назад

You need to get the snap-on toque digital wrench its amazing! you don't need that pain in the rear angle gauge. You can just change the setting to degrees and it works like a charm!

@joesbarbecue1 7 лет назад

Good explanation on how to use this stuff. Thanks

@heavymechanic2 10 лет назад

Never seen Yellow Plastigage before, but used Red & Blue in big diesels and worn oil pumps to check end clearance.

@user-ff6ww1vo9x 6 месяцев назад

I’ve rebuilt plenty of engines and that’s the right way to do it excellent video thank you

@jada8227 4 года назад

Thank you Eric. I learned something new. I'm gonna apply this to a Subaru rebuild

@EuropeanDreamz 3 года назад

🗑🤣🤣🤣

@stewartmackay539 6 лет назад

Excellent. Thank you. Very well explained

@epicasphalt6298 2 года назад

Thanks for the video. How do you clean the plastigage off of the bearing surface?

@robertdavis6708 10 лет назад

Good video E. We learn something new every day do we not? Once again sir.... this video was produced very professionally. I liked it.

@LSmiata 6 лет назад

Hello Eric, Plastigage actually very good for measuring journal clearances, much easier than using a caliper set that has multiple steps to calibrate and measure. I am working on a Toyota 2zz-ge rebuild and will plastigauge all bearings. Bummer is that I have measured bore and Toyota is asking for tolerances to 0.001mm, outside the range of my current calipers (max bore 82.013mm....with my tools I'm at 82.015 to 82.017 max....GRRR, and my tools only good to 0.01mm...estimated actual) P

@williamirizarry1113 7 лет назад

You did it again boss 👍🏻

@noelmatute5977 8 лет назад

buen video teacher mi respeto amigo

@MrJohnnyDistortion 7 лет назад

I place the bearing into the block and cap (rod & cap also) so that there is a slight protruding edge of the bearing on each side. This way, the bearing is properly seated into each half of the journal and that the two bearing mating surfaces will "crush" properly and evenly. This insures that the bearings will be evenly seated in each half of the journal when torqued down. Liberal engine assembly of course after plastigauging is completed.

@ElevatePerformancePartsVLOG 2 года назад

Great and informative video Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺

@EternitP8 10 лет назад

I found a very interesting tool for front wheel alignment. Would be great if you could do a review of it. It's called trackace.

@kellybaker2043 3 года назад

ALWAYS ALWAYS put rod bearing in cap..... doing it the way you did can damage bearing. The bearing locks go lock to lock then you know rod cap is on right. Good video thanks.

@shervinwilliams5526 4 года назад

Thanks for the video Eric. I have just learnt something new. I'm not a mechanic but like to learn more about my car and how it functions. I had my diahatsu hijet connecting rod bearing changed because it made a loud sound, one was worn down. The oil light used to flick off and on and sometimes stay on. After having the bearing changed the noise is less but the light still comes on after driving for a short while. I heard you said that the if the clearance around the connecting rod is greater the oil pressure will be lower. Do you think I may be experiencing the same problem. If the torque requirements not meet could this be the reason for low oil pressure?

@scottowen5151 Год назад

Thank you, your video was very informative!

@GrampaRock 7 лет назад

very well done, thanks

@seeradog 10 лет назад

I learned something new .. Thank you :)

@jimmyg197 5 лет назад

Eric love the video can't stand how people nit pick your video's it help me use a plasticgauge cause I would be still looking for the plastic marking rod used to mark the Journal...LOL So Thanks and keep them coming..

@conrad1468 7 лет назад

Awesome explanation!!

@ColdWarVet607 5 лет назад

Well Done Eric!

@LuisJimenez-jv3xr 3 года назад

Some great knowledge! I remember working with my dad and uncle using this plastic gauge. Now I can truly understand! Thanks!

@dominikrodriguez7009 2 месяца назад

great video, i’m curious because i am rebuilding an inline 4 that chewed up a couple of bearings via oil starvation. i don’t want to buy the wrong undersize or oversized bearings bearing when i go to take the measurements with a freshly turned crankshaft, so would i use the plastigauge on the least damaged bearings?

@ram457moreno 5 лет назад

Awesome information

@Mark622111 3 года назад

Good video as I'm working on a Jeep TJ rebuild. What if the Pastigage shows the bearing clearance to be out of the required specification?

@gooberrulz 7 лет назад

Thanks for another informative video. I was hoping you would reference your take on reusing TTY bolts or not in everyday applications. That is one question, as a backyard mechanic, I haven't gotten a definitive answer on.

@aygwm 2 года назад

Never reuse torque to yield bolts

@dkemp1337 19 дней назад

Once is stretched is stretched much like my ex just never the same

@AndTodaysProjectIs Год назад

Excellent video. I would think that I know how to read plastic age but I always defer to your videos as much as possible and of course I was reading it incorrectly. I was thinking the larger the squished plastic age the larger the gap. Just wasn't thinking through

@tonymacdonald2870 10 лет назад

Nice stuff Eric great info keep it up.

@michaelmcguinness647 3 года назад

Vary interesting as always. Would you happen to know if a reasonably well maintained 2006 1.4 petrol Polo at 100, 000 miles might be pron to small end wear. That is, light tapping noise much more pronounced under load almost disappears with no load.

@ovidiofs1 3 года назад

That means I still can use new standar bearings? Thanks for that video

@LAFAMA5759 4 года назад

Awesome Eric!

@digitaltitan 8 лет назад

Great video. Thanks.

@thomasjohnson1142 4 года назад

Hey bud thanks for all the videos I do have a question there is a lot of crazy controversy on the LS forums but is it ok to pull them and do a visual inspection and then reinstall bearing, cap and same bolts?

@celli351 Год назад

Eric... I love you man

@osamagomaa8507 7 лет назад

hey eric ,,, thanks for these great videos ,,, but I really need your advice now on something in my 150 cc scooter ... my scooter manual says that I must change my engine oil every 1000 km as It is an air cooled engine and also doesn't have an oil filter ,,, so now I have bought something that would allow me to add an oil filter to the passage of the oil between the oil pump and the oil lines leading to the crank shaft and the cam shaft ... which will longer the lifetime of that same oil to 3000 km !! which will definitely save me alooot of money ... but then I realized that it might kill the oil pressure and may damage the engine as well ... so what do you think of it ,,, should I instal this oil filter or not ? and will it really damage the engine that bad or not ?

@irarayistdreaddrien8690 Год назад

hello Eric, thank for the reminder

@7minibike2 10 лет назад

are they stretch bolt like they use in heads.i did the same tork doing head gaskets on my 3.1 but had too use new bolts thanks for the info. mike

@steelavocado1 Год назад

I rebuilt a engine over the summer and didn't replace cam bearings... Long story short I have great pressure when cold, then zero when warm. Its crazy how much bearing clearances matter!

@bobv8219 4 года назад

Nice job Eric you're the bomb brother

@adoavih9578 3 года назад

Hey Eric . I have a few questions ! I have a b20z2 that I just had the valve lash done but I’m noticing a tapping sound after a few races . I have since re lashed the valves (no difference) and now have torn off the oil pan to check the rod bearings . Do you know if the b20 had issues with spinning bearings ? Can I replace them with out removing the engine . And lastly , would you recommend using the same nuts/bolts or purchasing new ones ? Thanks for all your help

@zx8401ztv 10 лет назад

Smashing but simple tool eric :-), you also have some really nice precision ones, nice to have a standard you can rely on :-).

@riley191919 10 лет назад

Credit where credit is due, us yanks use plastigage, a cheap knockoff by Dana. You uk fellows invented the stuff for your navy in the 1950s, and the true name is plastigauge.

@zx8401ztv 10 лет назад

riley191919 I didnt know that, we all copy from each other and i dont think it matters in the long term, plastigauge looks handy for everyone :-)) Hey we copied your "Vise-grips", our copy was called "Mole grips" after the company that copied yours, a great tool made by clever americans :-))

@abubakarhassan6926 Год назад

Our mechanics here in nigeria use the old-fashioned way of experience in measuring the torgue specs and clearance

@718stix 4 года назад

This was ver informative thanks alot

@vwfez8697 3 года назад

awsome man , thanks . very good video.

@newls1 10 лет назад

excellent video

@DOMINION4x4 7 лет назад

thanks so much for the video.

@dennissecor8092 3 года назад

Great video thank you!

@allanherrera9549 6 лет назад

Hi. hello I have a chrysler town and country 2006 of 3.3 and started hitting a connecting rod. I want to replace only the metal that is wrong. What should be the measure of the new metal? the same? (is it standard) or the next measurement?

@mikeriley8546 4 года назад

great video.thanks

@jerrydesgranges8294 3 года назад

Nice, I kind of have the same problem with the connecting rods in my 4.8 block and have those numbers on both the connecting rod and caps. Where can I find the information about those numbers from the connecting rods and their caps. Cause I just used plastigage to check my rod bearing clearance and plastigage was gone from during the check. Everything from crankshaft and bearings are standard size. What does that mean?

@symtex36 2 года назад

Thanks eric... Im in the process of fixing rod knock on mybevo MR 2010... Rather, in the process of finding damages.

@shabirffc 2 года назад

Very good....keep it up

@derBara83 8 лет назад

thank you Eric.

@LuisRuiz-xb4jo 8 лет назад

Exelent vídeos thank you for you help

@kebrdcmando 10 лет назад

On those fractured caps you also need to be careful when handling them. Dont put the fractured side down on anything. Those things are such a precision fit that if you damage the face of that fractured surface just a little bit they not longer fit together like they suppose to. You will be able to assemble them and torque them but you caused a stress riser that can and has caused catastrophic engine failure.

@bencrosbie Год назад

Good video Eric. do you actually add the stretch angle or just the torque will do? that means bolts can be used once.

@Jason_Laster 5 лет назад

What's the most i could turn my crank to fix spun bearing damage? I have a subaru ej25 with 52mm journals. Damage isnt too bad so im hoping turning it will keep me from having to buy a new one. Anyway, any help would be appreciated

@cambodianboost3945 11 месяцев назад

Kinda noticed you checked the clearance in inches but referenced your chart in millimeters, but it looks to be still in tolerance from .006 - .0024 thousands, since .0015 falls between the two. Still a great shape crank non the less