What bits can you change on a F1 engine

[BigBob]

Just interested to find out how much of an F1 engine can be 'repaired'. Renaults have had a couple of alternator failures - does this mean that engine is then 'scrap' or can the alternator be changed and the engine re-used without counting against the 8 they were allowed for the year?

Is it just the main components block/crank/rods/heads etc that are considered to be the 'engine'

Just interested.


BB

[mrmr96]

Do you mean "how much of an engine can be replaced before it counts as an 'engine change' under the FIA rules"?

[stevesingo]

ancils, inc pumps, alternator, exhaust and intake are free I believe.

Steve

[Megaflow]

stevesingo said:

ancils, inc pumps, alternator, exhaust and intake are free I believe.

Steve

That's my understanding too. IIRC removal of rocker covers, cylinder heads or sump and it is out of the system.

As a result they are now using bore scoping and very complex oil analysis to detect engine issues before they become a problem.

[BigBob]

mrmr96 said:

Do you mean "how much of an engine can be replaced before it counts as an 'engine change' under the FIA rules"?

Your wording Sir, is so much better than mine.

That's exactly what I mean.

BB

[dtmpower]

Megaflow said:

That's my understanding too. IIRC removal of rocker covers, cylinder heads or sump and it is out of the system.

As a result they are now using bore scoping and very complex oil analysis to detect engine issues before they become a problem.

Which is cheaper than the FIA allowing them to open/repair it ?

[Le TVR]

dtmpower said:

Megaflow said:

That's my understanding too. IIRC removal of rocker covers, cylinder heads or sump and it is out of the system.

As a result they are now using bore scoping and very complex oil analysis to detect engine issues before they become a problem.

Which is cheaper than the FIA allowing them to open/repair it ?

I think that would result in Trigger's broom syndrome.
Just needs new crank, bearings, rods, pistons, liners, valves, cams, etc etc.

[Krikkit]

From the FIA tech regs 2012:

FIA said:

Replacing engine parts :
The parts in lists A and B below may be changed without incurring a penalty under Article 28.4 of the F1 Sporting Regulations. If changing any of these parts involves breaking a seal this may be done but must carried out under FIA supervision. The parts in List B may only be replaced by identical homologated parts in accordance with Appendix 4 of the F1 Sporting Regulations.
List A
- Clutch.
- Clutch basket.
- Hydraulic pumps.
- Engine electronic boxes (ECU's, power modules, control boxes).
- Fuel filters.
- Fuel pumps.
- Oil filters.
- Oil tank systems.
- Pneumatic bottles, regulators, pumps and pipes for valve actuation.
- Exhaust systems.
- Supports and brackets related to the auxiliaries, mentioned above.
- Screws, nuts, dowels or washers related to the auxiliaries, mentioned above.
- Cables, tubes or hoses related to the auxiliaries, mentioned above.
- Oil or air seals related to the auxiliaries, mentioned above.
- Spark plugs.

List B
- Throttle system (including but not limited to throttle device, linkage, actuator, hydraulics).
- Intake system external to cylinder head (including but not limited to trumpets, trumpet tray, air box, air filter).
- Ignition coils.
- Injection system.
- Alternators.
- Oil scavenging pumps.
- Oil supply pumps.
- Oil air separators.
- Water pumps.
- Electric and electronic sensors.

So the expense to Renault to re-homologate the alternators this year after the failures will be rather large.

[BigBob]

Krikkit said:

So the expense to Renault to re-homologate the alternators this year after the failures will be rather large.

Thanks for that - just the sort of thing I meant

BB

[Ponk]

Krikkit said:

So the expense to Renault to re-homologate the alternators this year after the failures will be rather large.

Thats an interesting point. Surely as the alternators have not been identical they are not a homologated replacement?

I assume it's been allowed as an exception under reliability grounds.

[Some Gump]

stevesingo said:

ancils, inc pumps, alternator, exhaust and intake are free I believe.

Steve

Good job you can change the intake. These are racing cars - they must be blowing welds left right and centre. Not to mention the danger to manifold.
Are they allowed to replace the floor as well? This couod be quite important when the new turbo engines are introduced...

[tristancliffe]

You can replace the alternator without penalty with another design (and homologation) if it's on an engine you haven't used before and you don't use more than 8 engines in a season.