Bearing clearances
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
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From: Evansville,IN
Bearing clearances One thing I have always wondered is how do bearing clearances effect an engines performance/longevity?
I would guess that tighter clearances would net more oil pressure. Are there any other benefits?
How about benefits to running looser clearances?
I hope to learn something.
J
I would guess that tighter clearances would net more oil pressure. Are there any other benefits?
How about benefits to running looser clearances?
I hope to learn something.
J
The general rule of thumb is .0001" bearing clearance per inch of journal diameter. Which on a LS1 rod journal (2.100") nets .0021" clearance. For any build with significant horsepower you can add .0005" to that i.e. .0026" clearance. That is not an exact rule but it will get you in the ballapark as every engine/application is different. Unless you have build the same combo a few times and ran it, which is the best way to find proper clearance from observing the wear. The crank journals ride on a film of oil created by hydrodynamic pressure which you want to achieve as soon as possible on start up. If you have too loose of a clearance there isn't as much area to distribute the load of the journal on the bearing and you will have a longer period waiting for the journal to achieve this 'hydroplaning' effect of the journal gliding on the oil wedge. Most of your bearing wear occurs on this start up time period before the crank is gliding on the oil. Also the another critical time where bearing clearances come into play is when the piston/rod start to load the crank on the power stroke, the upper rod bearing and lower main bearing will see their highest loads here and the more surface area you have to distribute that load the better off your bearings will be.
This is as best as I understand it and there is far more to it I am sure.
This is as best as I understand it and there is far more to it I am sure.
Last edited by JS01; Apr 29, 2011 at 12:41 AM.
There is some great info in Clevite's catalog, which you can find online. It talks aboutthe basics of how bearings work, what characteristics different bearings exhibit, general rules for bearing clearances, and even data on the effects of grooved bearings on oil flow and oil fil integrity.
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Teching In
Joined: May 2004
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I understand the total clearance meaning all clearances, but thats still not going to give you more power. Ring cleance will have an effect on power, but that can go so many diff ways. I installed valves in guides with .0005 or less in NASCAR heads. I have honed pistons to straighten out the bores just enough to slid the pin in. I do not believe more clearance will make more power, but this will change from one engine builder to the next.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Upstate NY
Also the another critical time where bearing clearances come into play is when the piston/rod start to load the crank on the power stroke, the upper rod bearing and lower main bearing will see their highest loads here This is as best as I understand it and there is far more to it I am sure.
FWIW: In an NA engine and moderately blown engines (Top Fuel excepted!), maximum rod bearing load is at TDC on the exhaust stroke at max rpm (lower rod bearing), not the power stroke. It's all about inertia of the moving parts and Newton's Second Law [F=Ma].
In a 90° V8 are not the power stroke loads as well as the inetia loads mentioned above at ~45° to the mains and spread out over at least two mains?
No mention so far of oil viscosity and its relationship to bearing clearances. Why? It seems to me that would be important. Ask your engine builder what oil viscosity he designed the bearing clearances for. "Huh?" or "It doesn't matter." are not good answers.
My $.02
