Thread: Plasti Gauge?

What exactly is plasti gauge? Please provide details of what it is, how its done and why its done. also what tool is used a special one is used?

Plasti gauge is a primitive way to measure bearing clearance. You cut a length of Plastigage and place it between the bearing and the the crank. You then torque down the caps. Un-torque the caps. Measure the width of the the squished gauge against the packaging.

You should really invest in a decent set of micrometers.

Google

its really simple. Its a measuring tool to check bearing clearance.

What are you measuring to find? I mean I get that it clearance but why?

What should the clearance be and what does it mean if its off.

"Compare your measurement to the clearance specification, if you are within range then you are ok to assemble". Range of what? what does this range suggest. Why does it need to be in range?

"If the measurement falls between two sizes then you can estimate what the size in between is". and then what?

Reedom,

Get a hold of a factory service manual. Read it. It has all the specs you are looking for.

Really? Your measuring the clearance.....umm let's see, you're measuring the distance between the two parts when torqued.

Clearance, or the space between the 2 parts, should be in the range of what Nissan lists. Uh, Nissan gives a low and high number, it should be between those 2 numbers.

If the clearance is off, or if your number isn't in range, that is if the thickness if your plastigauge if you measure it isn't in range, sorry if it isn't between the 2 numbers Nissan lists, it's bad, rather you can't assemble it. It needs to be in range because thats how it is, meaning that Nissan built it that way and because of that construction it needs to be kept the same or else it won't work.

And then, you fix it or you assemble it, to the point that either you put it back together or you replace it.

replace what the bearing, and fix it how?

What are you doing, putting together a motor?

God damn man, do a search. The information is out there so stop asking and start looking.

no, just curious. always heard and used the term but never really knew what it was. knew that is was measuring the clearance of the bearing but never understood how or why etc.