22 replies to this topic

[Ron Alan]

I have not taken the block apart yet...I will let you know what i find.

 

BTW...this 1.6 motor failed on the test day. We put back in the unknown motor that came with the car. We did about 30 laps in the first 5 hrs of the race shotgunning every part we could think of every 1 or 2 laps as the same stumble problem was occurring still. After hard wiring the fuel pump to the kill switch, the car did 400 more laps and ran great...go figure!

 

No oil change in the wining 25HR car...i think we added 1 to 1.5 quarts during race. Why would i look at the bearings...the motor only has 1800 miles on it

[Johnny D]

Since you we not running SM, how about this Oil Pan Baffle ??

http://mazdamotorspo...E&uniqueId=5428

J~

[davew]

Just as a point of reference; I have had 2 engine failures in the last 10 years. One was in my rental car with 5 years on the engine. Driver reported a brief flashing of oil psi light at one corner every lap during 13 hour race. I told him to ignore it and keep running. Engine lasted another 4 hours before spectacular explosion. This motor owed me nothing as it probably had 200 hours on it.Second was a fresh build that the builder replaced.

I run an average of 12 cars at 30 weekends a year. That is a lot of hours with only 2 blown motors in 10 years. I would put blame on poor assembly. Cleaning, tolerances, torque, etc.

I have said this before, do not use any motor oil that does not say RACE on it. Street oils have addatives for long life, hi detergent, strict emmissions, low rpm. None of which we want. We need the additives for high rpm, short life, no emmissions etc.

I don't build engines. So take everything I say about them as coming from a non-expert. When I see a piston, it is a bad day!!!!!!

Dave