Notices

bottom end gone, what causes it?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 30 September 2008, 10:50 PM
  #1  
danny78
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
danny78's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Stockport
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default bottom end gone, what causes it?

My botttom end has gone on my standard sti v2 I want to know what is the usual cause of this?
I was on a track day when this happened and I don't want it to happen again! The engine was as quite as a mouse and pulled 281bhp the week before this started so I don't think its due to mlg (70,000 mls) so was wondering do they suffer from oil starvation due to oil pumps or the sumps not being very well baffled? also do they suffer from the oil temp getting too high? I'd only done about 4 laps of snetterton.
Thanks Danny

Last edited by danny78; 01 October 2008 at 12:38 PM.
Old 01 October 2008, 11:22 AM
  #2  
jaytc2003
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
jaytc2003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Manchester ish
Posts: 18,547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

on a track chances are temps have become elevated, dont know about oil surge but I suppose it is possible, if you have a low ish oil level then this could also compound high temps / surge.
Old 01 October 2008, 04:46 PM
  #3  
andyxros
Scooby Regular
 
andyxros's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: huddersfield
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

gave mine a pasting over moors other week and the next day first time start slight bottom rattle then fine but 3000 to 3500 rpm light throttle it rattles ..cheaked oil and it was about 2mm in dip stick way too low and not changed for 7 months whitch on mine it should be more like 4 month so its down to neglect on my part that it going on the bottom end flushed oil changed oil to mobil 1 super synthetic (47 blinking quid)or what ever 10/40 i think and put slick 50 in and its not too bad now alot quieter for now. no performace loss............yet.
Old 01 October 2008, 05:19 PM
  #4  
New_scooby_04
Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
New_scooby_04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The Terry Crews of moderation. P P P P P P POWER!!
Posts: 18,687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by danny78
My botttom end has gone on my standard sti v2 I want to know what is the usual cause of this?
I was on a track day when this happened and I don't want it to happen again! The engine was as quite as a mouse and pulled 281bhp the week before this started so I don't think its due to mlg (70,000 mls) so was wondering do they suffer from oil starvation due to oil pumps or the sumps not being very well baffled? also do they suffer from the oil temp getting too high? I'd only done about 4 laps of snetterton.
Thanks Danny
Could be any of a number of thingse.g.

1) Oil level too low
2) Oil pump failure -std ones can get stuck open
3) Oil temps too high
4) Poor fuel - Det.
5) Charge temps too high -Det
6) Fuel pump/reg/injector failure - Det
7) Maf went kaput - You guessed it Det!

Keeping things together on the track is usually about keeping fluids where they're supposed to be and keeping temps down! That's why you'll see a lot of scoobies with FMICs and Oil coolers were you on the std V2 interwarmer? You should also use the finest Ester based synth oils and high octane fuel if you're tracking the car.

Fitting a knocklink or other warning of Det would be a move for the future.

Ns04
Old 01 October 2008, 05:57 PM
  #5  
dazdavies
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (22)
 
dazdavies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: N/A
Posts: 7,061
Received 82 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Most often cause of bearing failure is oil starvation usually caused by the standard OEM Oil pump pressure relief valve sticking. This is because the piston on the oil pump has a 10mm groove in and can become prone to foriegn debris.

One of the best ways to prevent this is to run the modified oil pump from RCMS this has the piston in the pump replaced for a smooth non grooved item.

I had bottom end failure without one an have never had it with one. This is with 4 different scoobies and about 100K miles
Old 01 October 2008, 06:11 PM
  #6  
overlord
Scooby Regular
 
overlord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i wolud also like to know about this because i spun a bearing on a 4000mile old engine
1) Oil level too low ( no)
2) Oil pump failure -std ones can get stuck open (4000mile old uprated one)
3) Oil temps too high (only drove hard for 1 min)
4) Poor fuel - Det. (yes)
5) Charge temps too high -Det (doubt it )
6) Fuel pump/reg/injector failure - Det (not sure)
7) Maf went kaput - You guessed it Det (not sure)

before i noticed the rattle on mine i had just been driving at about 90+ on some long ish corners with it fairly close to the limiter for about 30secs-1min

i think the piston on the oil pump on mine has a groove on it

Last edited by overlord; 01 October 2008 at 06:17 PM.
Old 01 October 2008, 06:22 PM
  #7  
millitant_sti
Scooby Regular
 
millitant_sti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

well basically it could be a lot of things driving like a looney could be 1 lol.
Old 01 October 2008, 06:26 PM
  #8  
merlin24
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
merlin24's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: RM Performance
Posts: 3,032
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

IMHO - A baffled sump and an external oil cooler would be sensible mods if doing track-days.

Mick
Old 01 October 2008, 09:41 PM
  #9  
danny78
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
danny78's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Stockport
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Hi, thanks for the replies
The oil level was bang on and the coolant level was bang on. I have a parreral fuel mod with fpr set at 3 bar with vac pipe off and standard intercooler, I had a full tank of shell v power as well.
is there any way of checking the oil pump or is it best just replace because there that common? Is det going to cause just bottom end damage because my pistons seem fine?
Old 01 October 2008, 10:46 PM
  #10  
dazdavies
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (22)
 
dazdavies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: N/A
Posts: 7,061
Received 82 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Det won't cause bearing failure.
I bet this was the oil pressure relief valve sticking. The RCMS is not an uprated pump its modified. To increase pressure you can shim the pump or go for the 12mm AVCS oil pump.
Old 02 October 2008, 06:55 PM
  #11  
merlin24
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
merlin24's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: RM Performance
Posts: 3,032
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Detonation will normally burn the piston crown and ring lands first but the shock wave from the det is also transmitted down the con rod and hammers the big ends also to eventual failure.
The oil pump backing plate screws do tend to come loose,resulting in a lowering of the oil pressure which wont help either - go for a Modified pump as recomended above.

Mick
Old 02 October 2008, 08:06 PM
  #12  
dj219957
Scooby Regular
 
dj219957's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Staffs
Posts: 3,708
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

"Det won't cause bearing failure."

i think a fair few on here will disagree and try to prove you wrong mate
Old 02 October 2008, 08:15 PM
  #13  
W1ndowLicker
Scooby Regular
 
W1ndowLicker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The problem I had with mine was driving for about 30 secs at 150mph in a Type R, which with the short ratio 'box related to 7500rpm
Old 02 October 2008, 08:33 PM
  #14  
dazdavies
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (22)
 
dazdavies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: N/A
Posts: 7,061
Received 82 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by dj219957
"Det won't cause bearing failure."

i think a fair few on here will disagree and try to prove you wrong mate
Det will destroy pistons result in noticeable loss of power long before bearings get damaged. I had an engine failure due to severe det. One piston and bore got wrecked. The bearings were not that old and damned expensive (RCMS WRC items) so I reused them on the rebuild. They have been in the engine since and are still going strong.

If bearings are damaged and pistons are OK the cause of bearing failure will NOT be detonation!
Old 03 October 2008, 08:14 AM
  #15  
dynamix
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (3)
 
dynamix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: near you
Posts: 9,708
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

I'd say the cause of this would be oil starvation. Snetterton has some very long right hand corners and without sump baffling the oil will be moving away from the oil pick up pipe.

Were you on track tyres?
Old 05 October 2008, 11:27 PM
  #16  
danny78
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
danny78's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Stockport
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Tyres

Yes, I was on r888's and tein super streets on hardest setting. On your spec it doesn't mention any uprated pump but does mention baffled sump is that true?

Last edited by danny78; 05 October 2008 at 11:31 PM.
Old 06 October 2008, 07:41 AM
  #17  
dynamix
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (3)
 
dynamix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: near you
Posts: 9,708
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

It will not have been your oil pump and an uprated pump can do nothing if there is no oil around the pickup pipe to draw through.

Mine has the narrow spec c sump which is less prone to surge and the cosworth baffle plate to help further. (I have an uprated/modified pump too)

I would speak to one of the recognised tuners on here to get a baffled sump - Lateral performance do a good one I am told that will protect your engine if you are doing track stuff on R rated rubber.
Old 06 October 2008, 10:02 AM
  #18  
New_scooby_04
Moderator
iTrader: (4)
 
New_scooby_04's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The Terry Crews of moderation. P P P P P P POWER!!
Posts: 18,687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Out of curiosity, what kind of ballpark figure is one looking at for the supply and fitment of a baffled sump?

Ns04
Old 06 October 2008, 06:35 PM
  #19  
silent running
Scooby Regular
 
silent running's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: East coast.
Posts: 3,957
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Well just to add to the info on here, my bottom end failure was right after a prolonged bout of detonation right at the limiter. To my mind, the det shock transferred down the rod, did the shells in, this then increased clearance at the big end, then a combination of shell and crank material circulated, simultaneously the piston was now rattling because of the huge clearances which destroys the shells even more, oil pump seizes with swarf intake, oil pressure drops even further, engine breaks.
Old 06 October 2008, 07:47 PM
  #20  
RS_Matt
Scooby Regular
 
RS_Matt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Wakefield
Posts: 5,303
Received 18 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

They say bottom end failure with Evo IV's is mainly caused by being sat at the lights with the clutch depressed! Not sure if this is a factor with scoobs. Shouldn't be after 4k!
Old 07 October 2008, 08:37 AM
  #21  
Welloilbeefhooked
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
Welloilbeefhooked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 3,577
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by RS_Matt
They say bottom end failure with Evo IV's is mainly caused by being sat at the lights with the clutch depressed! Not sure if this is a factor with scoobs. Shouldn't be after 4k!
You are joking right?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JimBowen
ICE
5
02 July 2023 01:54 PM
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
28
28 December 2015 11:07 PM
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
12
18 November 2015 07:03 AM
has-scooby
Subaru Parts
4
06 October 2015 03:47 PM
Ganz1983
Subaru
5
02 October 2015 09:22 AM



Quick Reply: bottom end gone, what causes it?



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:16 PM.