Sustained High RPM Running AJP8
Sustained High RPM Running AJP8
Author
Discussion

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
The oil drains in the heads are very slim indeed

Does this mean that oil pools in the heads during sustained high rpm running?

This is a fatal issue with some other engines, but at least the AJP8 doesn't have crank case breathers that can fill with oil because the heads fill up

Would be great to hear from Tuscan Challenge Engine owners who can share their experience of the AJP8 engine in extremis



itsallyellow

3,750 posts

237 months

Tuesday 5th March 2019
quotequote all
Have never had an issue and have pretty much never been below 5500 rpm..... at spa the lowest rpm we see for 40 minutes is about 5800

Often take our race engine to 8300rpm!


Mike

Jhonno

6,175 posts

158 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
It is the SP6 which I believe can have some oil dramas at sustained high revs..

spitfire4v8

4,018 posts

198 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
The only oil that gets positively lubricated to the cams area is what bleeds out of the cam bearing clearances, themselves fed by a restricted orifice anyway, plus a bit of splash from the chain.
The rear drain is massive in engine oil terms, but also you've conveniently forgotten the other massive drain area where the chains are.

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
spitfire4v8 said:
The rear drain is massive in engine oil terms, but also you've conveniently forgotten the other massive drain area where the chains are.
Doh!

Of course I was only considering the lifter well drains

itsallyellow said:
Have never had an issue and have pretty much never been below 5500 rpm..... at spa the lowest rpm we see for 40 minutes is about 5800

Often take our race engine to 8300rpm!


Mike
That is incredible

Is the alternator pulley different, because that must be maxing out too?

spitfire4v8

4,018 posts

198 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
I guess most of the oil is designed to exit via those drains, and their height sets the minimum level in each "chamber" .. if the chamber fills then the oil exits via front and read by going around the cam caps and cam cover gap .. probably why a badly sealed cam cover leaks so badly!

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
spitfire4v8 said:
I guess most of the oil is designed to exit via those drains, and their height sets the minimum level in each "chamber" .. if the chamber fills then the oil exits via front and read by going around the cam caps and cam cover gap .. probably why a badly sealed cam cover leaks so badly!
And I reckon the minimum level is only actually relevant at startup, perhaps their real job is to allow the cam cover to be removed without creating a horrible mess

itsallyellow

3,750 posts

237 months

Wednesday 6th March 2019
quotequote all
ukkid35 said:
spitfire4v8 said:
The rear drain is massive in engine oil terms, but also you've conveniently forgotten the other massive drain area where the chains are.
Doh!

Of course I was only considering the lifter well drains

itsallyellow said:
Have never had an issue and have pretty much never been below 5500 rpm..... at spa the lowest rpm we see for 40 minutes is about 5800

Often take our race engine to 8300rpm!


Mike
That is incredible

Is the alternator pulley different, because that must be maxing out too?
No we have the standard alternator, it has been on the car since 2008 with no issues.

Mike

NuddyRap

220 posts

120 months

Tuesday 26th March 2019
quotequote all
spitfire4v8 said:
I guess most of the oil is designed to exit via those drains, and their height sets the minimum level in each "chamber" .. if the chamber fills then the oil exits via front and read by going around the cam caps and cam cover gap .. probably why a badly sealed cam cover leaks so badly!
It does indeed leak badly, as your floor knows from me!

The underside of the car developed a lovely thick oily sludge over a few months. It was like scraping tar.

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Wednesday 27th March 2019
quotequote all
NuddyRap said:
It does indeed leak badly, as your floor knows from me!

The underside of the car developed a lovely thick oily sludge over a few months. It was like scraping tar.
If you find an easy way to clean the underside please do let me know

A couple of years ago I managed to let the timing cover fixings come loose which caused a real mess under the car

I still haven't managed to clean it off which makes working underneath a real trial

Edited by ukkid35 on Thursday 28th March 08:10

Byker28i

77,399 posts

234 months

Thursday 28th March 2019
quotequote all
ukkid35 said:
If you find an easy way to clean the underside please do let me know

A couple of years ago I managed to let the timing cover fixings come loose which caused a real mess under the car

I still haven't managed to clean it off which makes working underneath a real trial
Jack up one side of the car
Spray with water soluble degreaser, then

Karacher MINI VP160 VARIO POWER JET
https://www.kaercher.com/uk/accessory/mini-vp160-v...


ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Thursday 28th March 2019
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
Jack up one side of the car
Spray with water soluble degreaser, then

Karacher MINI VP160 VARIO POWER JET
https://www.kaercher.com/uk/accessory/mini-vp160-v...
Thanks, much appreciated

Better start saving for the MINI VP160, best price I can find is £26

stickylabels

840 posts

109 months

Thursday 28th March 2019
quotequote all
Mr Kidd, I used Bilt Hamber Surfex HD on my chassis during the winter. You can dilute as suits and as well as removing general crap it was also very good on the chassis parts underneath the oil breather catch tank which was leaking slightly. Rinses away very easily etc. In fact I've just used again today on my Jeep taking the salt off the inner arches, inside the wheels and so on. You can find it on the Zon etc.

Sticky.

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Thursday 28th March 2019
quotequote all
stickylabels said:
Mr Kidd, I used Bilt Hamber Surfex HD on my chassis during the winter.
Many thanks - If I get through all the Gunk Engine Degreasant I have then I'll give that a go

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Saturday 18th July 2020
quotequote all
I have a sealed engine for the first time ever

It's not using any coolant, and the oil consumption is minimal

I was used to the engine using a fair amount of oil when on track, but now I reckon that was because of the loose valve guide

I've done a modest 20 - 22 laps here at the Ring over the last two days and the oil consumption is barely measurable, perhaps 300ml

I was right not to touch the heads when I took the sump off, because the head gaskets are properly sealed, not a drop of coolant lost

This is a first for me in 9 years of ownership

Mr Cerbera

5,144 posts

247 months

Monday 20th July 2020
quotequote all
ukkid35 said:
...."when I took the sump off"....
Oooh Paul, good man. I've often thought of doing this... just to have a look... is it reasonably easy/straight forward ?

Ta !

PJ

CerbWill

700 posts

135 months

Monday 20th July 2020
quotequote all
Mr Cerbera said:
Oooh Paul, good man. I've often thought of doing this... just to have a look... is it reasonably easy/straight forward ?

Ta !

PJ
Not even slightly. Best/only possible to do with the engine out of the car. You need to remove the the cam covers, timing chain cover, the gearbox, clutch housing, clutch and flywheel to get to the rear main seal plate, and remove that. Then you can remove the sump, assuming I've not forgotten anything else.

mrniceguy351

158 posts

70 months

Monday 20th July 2020
quotequote all
itsallyellow said:
Have never had an issue and have pretty much never been below 5500 rpm..... at spa the lowest rpm we see for 40 minutes is about 5800

Often take our race engine to 8300rpm!


Mike
Is that with stock rods and pistons?

Jhonno

6,175 posts

158 months

Tuesday 21st July 2020
quotequote all
Al Melling recently posted a video of a running AJP with perspex windows in the timing case so you could see the oil flow! Quite interesting!

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,359 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st July 2020
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Al Melling recently posted a video of a running AJP with perspex windows in the timing case so you could see the oil flow! Quite interesting!
What a tease! Where's the link?