Important question about stress on my engine (420a)

[jacobevan611]

Sorry if this is the wrong section. I didn't know where else to post it.

Alright, so here is my question:

About once a week My friends and I get together and go for a drive (ususally about 1 hour long) through some really windy roads with exremely tight corners. All of my friends have bimmers so torque is not an issue for them like it is for me. The upsode is my car handles just as good as their so going around the corners as fast as them isn't too big of a problem. The problem is I have to be in lower gears than they do to be able to keep up because I have no low end torque. (not that I expect alot out of such a small engine) I usually am in second gear at about 4-5 thousand rpms around the corners. Now i know if I was flooring it in a straight line hitting 4 to 5 k it isn't really that hard on the motor because I only am at that rpm for a split second, but my question is if I am pulling around corners staying at that high of rpm for around 5 seconds or longer is it bad for my engine? I can't shift into third because then I drop to about 3k rpms and I can't even move coming out of the corner. Am i ruining my engine by staying at somewhat high rpm for somewhat long periods of time? Am I loosing horsepower from excesive wear and tear on my motor?

Thanks, Jacob

 

[2qik4u]

your motor can handle 6000 rpms all day long!!! it doesnt hit the rev limiter till like 7250 so 6000 all day should not hurt your motor. make sure you are running a top brand oil and good filter and keep goin out there and havin fun!!!!

 

[pgarland]

So long as you aren't pushing past the red-line, and staying there for like minutes at a time, you will be just fine. I wouldn't recommend taking blind corners at unsafe speeds, but as far as your motor is concerned, you will be ok.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Considering the known issue with the 420A's oil pickup tube and lack of baffling in the oil pan, I wouldn't take any corners at higher speeds.

 

[Fotowntalon]

Unless of course you get a nice crank scraper system with baffles

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Unless of course you get a nice crank scraper system with baffles

Yes... of course, because then there wouldn't be a "lack of baffling" like I said.

 

[jacobevan611]

Considering the known issue with the 420A's oil pickup tube and lack of baffling in the oil pan, I wouldn't take any corners at higher speeds.

So your saying I shouldn't take corners how I do. Because I could care less how fast my car goes in a straight line I just love hiting the twisties

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Sharp right hand turns at high vehicle and engine speeds have been known to deprive the engine of oil and spin bearings. Besides it being dangerous to do on public roads, it's also dangerous for your engine. Get a full oil pan baffle system and windage tray, plus the proper safety equipment and go do your thing on a private track.

 

[jacobevan611]

Thanks alot. Where can I get a baffle and is there a write up on how to install it?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Thanks alot. Where can I get a baffle and is there a write up on how to install it?

http://www.crank-scrapers.com

Installation is pretty intuitive.

 

[jacobevan611]

Thanks a ton. I don't really have the 3-400 dollars for a full baffle system. But if I spend the 75 bucks and get a crank scraper will I be okay. Will it at least help somewhat?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Thanks a ton. I don't really have the 3-400 dollars for a full baffle system. But if I spend the 75 bucks and get a crank scraper will I be okay. Will it at least help somewhat?

No, they do completely different things.

 

[david-b]

If a crank scrapper was what you needed, they would have just said to buy a crank scrapper. 3-400 dollars is cheap compared to the time and money rebuilding the motor after spun bearings. Your call though.

 

[jacobevan611]

alright I just thought a Crank scraper would cut it because Here is a quote from Mach -Helps avoid oil starvation by keeping the oil in the pan during hard braking and turning as well as during off-road driving.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

alright I just thought a Crank scraper would cut it because Here is a quote from Mach -Helps avoid oil starvation by keeping the oil in the pan during hard braking and turning as well as during off-road driving.

That description is a bit misleading. Typically a windage tray and baffles are used for to achieve that result.

 

[jacobevan611]

so Investing in a crank scraper is a waste of money and will not help at all?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

so Investing in a crank scraper is a waste of money and will not help at all?

You're being illogical; no one said that. A crank scraper alone just won't offer the type of protection you need for making hard right hand turns.

 

[jacobevan611]

But it will help?

 

[david-b]

Look at it this way...
a crank scrapper basically adds a piece of metal on top of the oil pan. The only cut outs on it are where the crank & pistons go through to 'scrape' the oil off (thus the name), and then a couple areas for the oil to flow. So it does help SOME because the oil is not splashing up in the cylinders as much and does keep more in the pan. HOWEVER (and I can't stress this however enough) the oil will still splash away from the pickup. Baffles/windage tray keeps a constant supply of oil at the pickup.

 

[jacobevan611]

Thankyou for clearing everything up for me.

 

[starfish]

couldnt you just weld like 3 or 4 ,2" strips of sheet metal across the bottom of the oil pan(from front to back of course).Maybe drill 1" holes in the strips for oil to pass through but not splash around to much at high cornering.

 

[Locke]

It may be helpful for short duration and low speed turns, but really all you would be doing there is slowing the transfer of fluid away from the pick-up. Trap doors are the best way to keep oil on one side of the pan, and even then for limited durations. Increasing the pan's capacity will also help, along with baffles, trapdoors, and the like.

For a full blown, track only road racing car, ($$$) the ideal oiling setup would be a dry sump, ensuring there is always oil available.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Louvers too... louvers, trap doors, baffles, etc.. It's more complex than it seems, starfish.