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How do I keep from spinning a bearing?

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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 01:34 PM
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Default How do I keep from spinning a bearing?

What are the leading causes of spinning a bearing? My short block's milages has broken into 6 figure territory, but the whole top end is still pretty new. My oil pump is fairly new ported and shimmed ls6. I have 55 psi cold idle and 45 - 50 hot idle. 65 psi at cruise and 75+ at WOT. Im running Amsoil Euro 5w40 oil. Its a 2002 car so it came with teh stronger rod bolts. The motor has seen almost exclusively highway miles from my lengthy commute to work and school, and the insides are in great condition. No ridges on the cylinders when I had the heads off a few K miles ago.

Im just wondering what are some common causes of spin bearings? I understand the dangers of low oil pressure or stretching a rod bolt, but failing that, what causes a bearing to crap out? Im considering raising my revlimit from 6800 to 7000, and shifting somewhere around 6800 up from 6600. I just dont know how much I can throw at the motor before Im really pushing my luck.
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 01:37 PM
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you seem to have all the points covered already so:

1. run 6-7 quarts of oil, check it every other week
2. pray

worked for me so far (75k miles)!
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 01:46 PM
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-Keep fresh oil in the engine
-Dont spin the rpm's up too high, high rpms's spin bearings. Going up to 6800-7000 will increase the chances of spionning one a lot.
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by brad8266
-Dont spin the rpm's up too high, high rpms's spin bearings. Going up to 6800-7000 will increase the chances of spionning one a lot.
How can I compensate for this? There are plenty of motors that spin a lot faster than 6800. Or is it a matter of using better bearings when I eventually freshen up the motor?
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 02:11 PM
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I have a LS6 348cid with Eagle rods and Ross forged pistons with stock crank and a LS6 ported oil pump and had it (balanced) and ARP L19 rod bolts ,and I crank mine 7800 rpms with no problems at all,for over three years now with Mobil 1 synthetic 15w50
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 02:54 PM
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good luck on your shortblock,mine went south a couple months ago at the track. still haven't took it apart but it is probably the rod bearing knocking.i was shifting at only 6600 in an 02 motor so i don't know why it croaked.i was slightly low on oil but it spun before i got to the finish line and i was only running 1/8 th mile.
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by slow trap
good luck on your shortblock,mine went south a couple months ago at the track. still haven't took it apart but it is probably the rod bearing knocking.i was shifting at only 6600 in an 02 motor so i don't know why it croaked.i was slightly low on oil but it spun before i got to the finish line and i was only running 1/8 th mile.
Well if it was low on oil, you could have sucked the pan dry. Its not unheard of. How low was it? 2 quarts or so?
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by GuitsBoy
How can I compensate for this? There are plenty of motors that spin a lot faster than 6800. Or is it a matter of using better bearings when I eventually freshen up the motor?
A blueprinted/balanced engine with good bearings and hardware(rod bolts ect..) will let you spin it pretty high without worrying about bearings.
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 06:13 PM
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Moving a good supply of oil through the rod bearings helps also (assuming the journal and rod and bearings are concentric and have proper clearance) If you do not have enough side clearance on the rod ends it will slow the flow of oil which then becomes hotter and less able to lubricate the bearing surface which is very soft and easily damaged.
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 10:49 PM
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it all comes down to rpms, the higher the rpms, the higher chance you stand for problems. like said keep your oil changed and watch level and you should be ok.
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by GuitsBoy
Well if it was low on oil, you could have sucked the pan dry. Its not unheard of. How low was it? 2 quarts or so?
i'd say around 1-1 1/4. it was almost at the add line and i lost alittle when a valve cover gasket sucked in and lost alittle.maybe it was just low of oil and run out,that way i cam put the blame on myself and not the mighty ls1.
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