OEM 2000 Dodge Stratus Piston

2000 Dodge Stratus Piston Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Replace a Piston in an Engine on 2000 Dodge Stratus?

  A: You should begin by taking out the cylinder head and the oil pan when replacing the piston. Drill the ridge out of the cylinder with a good ridge reamer so the tops of each piston are properly covered and numbered each time. Connected rod holes should not have numbers punched in them to avoid damaging them. Place permanent ink or a scribing tool against the cylinder's side and write the number on each side of the rod and cap. Printed on each piston is the weight class, either L for light or H for heavy and those labeled S can be used in any service piston assembly. All piston assemblies used must match the same weight class and the weight designation stamps should be placed toward the timing belt side of the engine. Keep the crankshaft spun to centralize the connecting rod in the cylinder bore as you take out the pistons and connecting rods from the top of the cylinder block. Unscrew the cap bolts on the connecting rod, then install new bolts instead. Install Special Tool 8189 which are connecting rod guides, to guard the damaged crankshaft journal and rod surfaces. With care, push the piston and rod assembly out of the cylinder bore, protecting the fractured rod and cap joint areas. Remove Special Tool 8189 and mount the bearing cap onto the end of the mating rod after removal. Make sure the design on the upper and intermediate piston rings faces the crown of the piston and use an appropriate expander on them and the side rails of the upper and lower oil rings before clearing carbon from the piston ring grooves. Before installing, put the rings, with the manufacturer's mark facing up, on top of the piston in the order mentioned: oil ring expander, upper oil ring side rail, lower oil ring side rail, No. 2 intermediate piston ring and No. 1 upper piston ring, each correctly aligned side rail. Set the end gaps of the piston rings and, at the same time, ensure the oil ring expander gap is at least 45° far from the side rail gaps. Before adding the piston and connecting rod, confirm the compression ring gaps are staggered and the oil ring expander ends butt each other. Dunk both the piston head and rings in uncontaminated engine oil, stick the ring compressor over the piston and guarantee the positions of the rings do not change. The designation L or H for the weight stamp should appear at the front side of the engine. Move the crankshaft until the connecting rod journal fits smoothly, coat the journal in engine oil, add the upper bearing section and insert Special Tool 8189 into the connecting rod. Slide the rod and piston assembly inside the cylinder bore, so the rod covers the crankshaft journal and use a hammer handle to lower the piston as the rod is positioned. Unplug Special Tool 8189, put in the lower bearing half and cap using fresh bolts tightened to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) plus another quarter-turn and then re-attach the cylinder head and oil pan.