Tech Committee Request for info on engine failures

[Dick Roberts (Web admin)]

Posted by Neil Thompson on June 26, 2004 at 11:59:54:

Hopefully all of you will have received an eMail from Christian who is collecting and analysing the data on engine failures.
Below is the questionaire to be filled out and sent to Christian. The more info we have the better we can understand the problem.

Please provide evidence for each engine used at Snetterton. This includes engines that did not fail or had a failure other than Inlet valve contacting the piston.

- Retain damaged components
- Check non-failed parts
- Record detail of damage on parts which show unusual wear
- Measure Valve Clearances on dis-assembly

Please report the following information: Please answer all the questions if you can. If you are referring to multiple engines please provide separate set of answers rather than using the same sheet.

1. Cam Number - to identify if there is a batch issue
2. 'Donor' Cam - New, Fresh (bought new and race mileage only), used (from road car)
3. Cam Timing - Timing of Inlet peak lift, or not known (ideally to be known for both sides)
4. Side Failed - when viewed from drivers seat Left or Right
5. Running Time - How much running time had the engine and cam before failure or until the end of race (if it did not fail or where a subsequent engine used)
6. Where on the Circuit did the failure occur - on the straight? under power, on lift off for braking, while cornering
7. Gears Through Corners: e.g. 4th Riches, 3rd through Sear, 4th/3rd Esses, 3rd/4th Bomb-hole, 4th Coram, 3rd & 2nd Russell
8. Cam Followers - New, Fresh (race miles only), Reprofiled, Used (from Road car)
9. Oil Type - Grade e.g. 15W40
10. Oil composition - semi-synthetic, full synthetic, 'standard'
11. Rocker Gear - Standard or Re-Profiled
12. Valve Springs - Single, Double, Used (from Road car), Fresh new?
13. Valve Seat - Were the valves seats cut to recess valves into the head or do the valve heads side proud in the combustion chamber (if so by how much)
14. Tappet Clearance - in 'thou' Did this change after the race.
15. Rev Limit - What was the real and actual rev-limit used by drivers, did this change through the race?
16. Valve type - Is the supplier known? Are they old, new or fresh.
17. Valve Modification - has the back of the valve been modified (at all, slightly, radically)
18. Valve Stem Seals: are they both fitted/modified
19. Piston Supplier - New Kolben Schmidt, AE, or others from production Dyane?
20. Cooling Fan – Was a full fan or cut down fan used? How many blades were fitted?