engine mounts... again, and again, and again...

[SergSC]

My tam eats engine mounts for fun... I've had it for nearly two years and this is now the fourth time! On two occasions it has lasted about 2 weeks... what the heck!?

Options... some crazy ideas.
- zircotec headers?
- is it a crazy idea to use a ducted fan to direct cold air at it all the time? Is there room?
- cover the mount in gold leaf or heat reflective paint?
- decat helps? Though I'd rather not.

Anything?

I have tried all sellers... its just getting super annoying now.

[SergSC]

I have already tried the heat shield that yiu can buy, that was one of occasions when the mount lasted 2 weeks, it was melted/drooped, with the shield pattern embossed onto it...

[Sagi Badger]

Me thinks running problem, like a bit lean. Have you had this serviced and mentioned this?

I made a heat shield and have one car with Zircotec the other with "home-spray-o-tech-o-bake-in-oven". They both seem to do the job and the home jobbie cost 20 quid, the heat shield I made from crinkly ali, forget the trade name but a bit of stainless tying wire to hold it on and job done.

J

[ray von]

Sagi Badger said:

Me thinks running problem, like a bit lean. Have you had this serviced and mentioned this?

I made a heat shield and have one car with Zircotec the other with "home-spray-o-tech-o-bake-in-oven". They both seem to do the job and the home jobbie cost 20 quid, the heat shield I made from crinkly ali, forget the trade name but a bit of stainless tying wire to hold it on and job done.

J

This stuff? http://www.nimbusmotorsport.com/prodshop.asp?categ...

[plasticman]

I often make a sleeve that goes over the engine mounting bracket . The way I see it the bracket will absorb a lot of heat from the exhaust and conduct it to the rubber mount. I use old bonnet heat shield , make it onto a triangular sleeve with staples ,then slide it on when the mount when it is being replaced.

[SergSC]

plasticman said:

I often make a sleeve that goes over the engine mounting bracket . The way I see it the bracket will absorb a lot of heat from the exhaust and conduct it to the rubber mount. I use old bonnet heat shield , make it onto a triangular sleeve with staples ,then slide it on when the mount when it is being replaced.

If I understood correctly, this sleeve is something in-between the mount and bracket so prevent heat conducting into the mount? So the shield is of the insulating variety rather than reflective?
I guess this problem probably needs attacked from all angles.
Was thinking about spraying it with some heat resistant reflective paint first + insulation from the bracket + insulated headers.

iirc there were threads on here about str8six having developed an engine mount with a ceramic coating. But this project died... I asked them about it but the person who answered didn't seem to know anything about it. It maybe just didn't work. They recommended the racetechdirect engine mounts, but despite much finger crossing this is the currently broken mount.
Prior to that I had 2 sets of tvr power mounts, the first of which failed after 2 weeks (was told they were likely from a bad batch), the free of charge replacement lasted about 8 months or so.

I don't think it makes a jot of difference where I get them from. So I don't have an axe to grind with any of the vendors.

Was wondering if it could maybe be replaced with something entirely different, like maybe a spring+damper gizmo... probably an expensive endeavour, but at this rate...

with regard to running lean, I guess that might be a possibility. No mention of this at service intervals though. At the 12k it was reported to run very well. Are there any other signs to look for?

Edited by SergSC on Saturday 20th December 16:43

[NWTony]

Torque RVT supplied me with uprated engine mounts. I don't know the details but you could give them a bell and see what type they are, if they're the same as ones you've tried?

[shep1001]

In contrast, I have had 2 (exhaust side) in 5 years/22,000 miles. Decats might be helping I suppose. If you are fitting them yourself, could it be the way you are fitting them? Never done one myself but cold it be there is some sort of knack to installing them that is not obvious, which if missed causes them to fail quickly?

I asked the garage about what causes the mounts to fail and from memory its heat transfer that is the problem more than direct heat to the rubber mount itself.

Edited by shep1001 on Sunday 21st December 09:57