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Blown Motor caused by OIL STARVATION!!

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Old 11-10-2008, 07:12 PM
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Default Blown Motor caused by OIL STARVATION!!

I was unaware that this could of been a problem, but this is what caused my motor to blow up. We took the rods and main caps off today and the crank where the 2 rod's broke was burnt black and blue and from there to the next set the main bearings were almost burned up due to no oil, but the further we got to the back of the motor, the crank bearings were fine. All the rod bearings were fine as well.
Old 11-10-2008, 07:15 PM
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I'm kinda lost... How did you not think oil starvation wasn't a problem?
Old 11-10-2008, 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by mahhddgtp
I'm kinda lost... How did you not think oil starvation wasn't a problem?
I never have heard of anybody complaining , that this was a issue???
Old 11-10-2008, 07:24 PM
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Definitely. Keeping the needed oil pressure at WOT, or reaching the appropriate oil pressure at idle from a cold start, are both very important.

Some engines, such as the LS7, have a dry sump oil system. Basically when you're cornering, oil wants to shift to one side of the motor. This can case oil starvation on one side of the motor (since all the oil is shifting to one side because of all the G's). A dry sump system will ensure that the oil is evenly distributed throughout the motor, even if you're turning heavily and pulling high G's...
Old 11-10-2008, 07:25 PM
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Thats a new one on me. Keep us posted.
Old 11-10-2008, 07:27 PM
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Depends on how high you were turning the engine and how hard you stopped on the big end.....plus what style oilpan.
Old 11-10-2008, 07:27 PM
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Another thing. Engine tolerances and the type of oil used need to match up... Tight tolerances and a high viscosity oil aren't a good mix, because the oil cannot flow into the bearings.


Maybe I'm reading this situation wrong... Or something. Because Josh's post has me confused... Unless he's just kidding and I'm not crazy

Am I retarded????
Old 11-10-2008, 07:40 PM
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I am using the stock oil pan, and this happened with the 2 turbo's. Maybe the motor was feeding the turbo's and the oil wasn't geting back quick enough. I had 2 -10 drain's and they were mounted high. I know I do not want this to happen again.
Old 11-10-2008, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by onfire
Depends on how high you were turning the engine and how hard you stopped on the big end.....plus what style oilpan.
Turning 7000rpm. The weird thing is I usually only turn appx. 6700rpm, but I guess the converter was a little warm?
Old 11-10-2008, 07:42 PM
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I am not kidding. Its a new one on me.

I have seen 2 turbo SBC with high volume oil pumps and twins do this.

Pretty much at high RPM's the oil pump pulled all the oil out of the pan. Toasting the bearings. The differnce in the one's I have seen it it toasted all of the bearings, not just one or two.

That is what the engine builder told me. I know they went back to a regular volume oil pumps on those engines and never had anymore problems.
Old 11-10-2008, 08:26 PM
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could it be that with the twin turbo set up your oil pick up is getting alot of that frothed oil that comes from the turbo drains? Not complete oil starvation but not a good oil barrier.
Old 11-10-2008, 09:21 PM
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You really need a baffled oil pan, such as a Moroso, Milodon or Canton.
Old 11-10-2008, 10:05 PM
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I'm pretty sure that's what took my stock block out as well. Crank was burnt. I was also turning it to a little over 7000rpm but the big difference is mine was with a procharger so I don't think it's from the turbo oiling system. I think the stock oil system just doesn't cut it for high rpm. I had a ported ls6 pump and it always had good pressure at idle and when driving around. I think the stock pan & high volume pump may just cause a problem when taking the rpms too high. With my new set-up I went with the moroso pan to help keep the oil where the pick-up is. I'm not so sure on my choice of the melling high volume pump now because it moves a ton of oil and keeps my pressure over 60 just at idle. I'm hoping the deeper, baffeled pan will help so the pump doesn't suck it dry.
Old 11-10-2008, 10:25 PM
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rufretic i guess u are running a serpetene belt on ur set up?
if so did the front two main bearings fail?
Old 11-10-2008, 10:26 PM
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I run my stock pan at 7 qts to keep the pick up covered under high acceleration. Someday I'll get the moroso..
Old 11-10-2008, 11:06 PM
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There have been questions of the high volume pump moving so much fluid that the sump may run dry. No personal experience.
Old 11-11-2008, 12:56 AM
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Restricted pushrods are also a popular thing to have so too much oil isn't pumped up top.
Old 11-11-2008, 01:01 AM
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What about putting 1/2inch holes in the lifter retainers? I have seen this mod performed many times, even on horsepower tv when the were building up an ls1. I think it was the "ls-Gun" build up.
Old 11-11-2008, 01:43 AM
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Hunter,

The same thing happened to me a month or so ago. I was talking with Roy at Johnson racing pumps about it today. He is pushing me to go dry sump, but I can't afford it.

He feels the stock pumps are cavitating the oil which is cooking the oil as well as causing vapor pockets at the same time.

I will run 15-50 Amsoil in the next set up after breaking it in with regular oil.

I also talked with him about high volumn pumps and he said that they are not really better. Increased volumn, hotter pump, hotter oil that is moving faster through the system and can't cool down quick enough.

I am also thinking about a seperate cooler.

Any ideas on your end?

I will have pictures soon.

Glenn
Old 11-11-2008, 07:28 AM
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I ususally run 6 qt's of oil. My only problem is that the motor has lived for 2 year's. I am not sure if this has been a ongoing failure or just since I started racing it at the track heavily.


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