Is Replacing the Engine Crankshaft Thrust Washer Considered a Major Overhaul?
2 Answers
Replacing the engine crankshaft thrust washer is not considered a major overhaul. The repair only requires removing the oil pan for maintenance. However, for some vehicles, the oil pan cannot be easily removed while the engine is in the car, necessitating the engine to be lifted out for repair, which falls under a medium repair. A major engine overhaul typically includes replacing components such as valves, pistons, cylinder liners, or performing cylinder boring and crankshaft grinding. A major engine overhaul is primarily aimed at comprehensively addressing engine faults, replacing all oil seals, gaskets, cylinder head gaskets, crankshaft bearings, and connecting rod bearings on the engine assembly. Therefore, a major engine overhaul must ensure a one-time complete repair to avoid the numerous complications that could arise from a second disassembly.
With over two decades of auto repair experience, I can confidently say that replacing crankshaft thrust washers doesn't qualify as a major overhaul. A true engine rebuild requires complete disassembly - pistons, connecting rods, cylinder heads, everything must come apart. The thrust washer job mainly involves removing just the oil pan and main bearing caps, leaving the upper engine largely untouched.
That said, it's still quite labor-intensive. You'll need to either hoist the engine or remove the subframe, plus use specialized tools to measure crankshaft end play. Improper adjustment can lead to serious issues. I always recommend changing both oil and filter afterward since opening the oil pan risks contamination. Expect this to take the better part of a workday - it's definitely a medium-difficulty repair job.
