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Engine designs that have problems 22

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enginesrus

enginesrus

Mechanical
Aug 30, 2003
1,013
Since the one thread I started, is headed way off topic, reason for this.
Engine designs that have problems or have had them.
I'll start with the 3 valve Triton.
This guy explains. Has data from others that deal with the same problems.

 
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50s engines weren't designed to last more than 50,000 miles with frequent oil changes and lots of screwing around with breaker points and distributor caps and that's not an engineering failure, and the modern engine that runs like new at almost 150,000 miles is a failure because it's hard to get the alternator out even though it hasn't needed service??
 
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The choice from large recip aircraft engine manufactures, to use flammable magnesium castings for nose, accessory, and diffuser cases was a disaster waiting to happen, and many lives were lost because of it.
Click to expand...

Titanium is considered a flammable metal as well. Lots of titanium components in modern jet engines.
 
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Actually, flour is explosive, as is starch.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
 
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If you get it hot enough, even iron burns.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without
 
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TugboatEng said:
Titanium is considered a flammable metal as well. Lots of titanium components in modern jet engines.
Click to expand...

It so happens that I'm on holidays this week, currently surfing the net while sitting on a patio after a day of riding my 2004 Kawasaki motorcycle which right now has just short of 123,000 km on it. It's sitting right in front of me as I write this.

It has titanium exhaust headers! (Very light.) edit: And a magnesium valve cover, and a magnesium clutch cover.

And yet ... it's not on fire! And it has managed 123,000 km of not catching fire so far. Maybe it blows up tomorrow. If it does, I've had my money's worth!
 
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Almost anything burns if the surface area is high enough (e.g. a powder), it's in contact with an oxidizer (e.g. oxygen), and there's enough energy input to allow a reaction (e.g. heat). Chlorine Trifluoride is a strong enough oxidizer to burn sand. The only things that aren't flammable at some point are the strong oxidizers themselves, they're on the wrong side of the reaction to count. And even then, if you've got a stronger oxidizer you can burn a lesser, e.g. Fluorine can "burn" oxygen as a fuel.
 
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Almost anything burns if the surface area is high enough (e.g. a powder), it's in contact with an oxidizer (e.g. oxygen), and there's enough energy input to allow a reaction (e.g. heat).
Click to expand...

Sure, but the discussion was about the environment around an engine; titanium, even when under ballistic impacts, is not flammable, so engine compartments and exhaust are unlikely to cause titanium-induced fires.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list
 
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I understood it was a big help... reducing pre-detonation from 'lighter' hydrocarbons in the gasoline mix... [ponder]

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Do you feel any better?

-Dik
 
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I think it was my 68 Chevelle... have you ever tried to replace the starter motor? [pipe]

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Do you feel any better?

-Dik
 
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It's the "heavy" hydrocarbons that cause pre-detonation in gasoline engines. Diesel fuel, for example, has quite a low octane of around 30. Lubricating oils are worse. Engines with high oil consumption are more prone to pre-detonation.
 
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Surprised nobody has mentioned mazdas Wankel engine yet.

Everyone I know that has owned one has only done it once and were on first name terms with pretty much everyone at the garage.
 
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I have found most of the OP's failures to be opinions and not strongly supported failures of engineering. But that is my opinion . . .

I am glad I did look at this thread because I was made aware of these fine and very detailed references.

Amazing history of engineering - everything I thought was amazing engineering in F1 racing engines came from or developed from pre-WW2 and WW2:

drawoh said:
An excellent book on engine development during WWII is The Secret Horsepower Race by Calum Douglas
Click to expand...
This is an excellent book.

Fascinating backstory on the Vega engine development:
BiPolarMoment said:
Click to expand...

I hope to find a book on the Vega engine development.

Often, many engineering advancements are built on the data and analysis collected prior.
 
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Can't wait for the sequel "Maintenance disasters", I'm sure we all harbour a few opinions about that.
 
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Or Shade Tree maintenance disasters. My favorite example is chassis lubrication. Modern vehicles have long lasting seals made from EPDM rubber that is subject to damage from all greases that are available at the auto parts store. People complain about the removal of the zerk fitting but don't realize that they're actually doing damage by lubricating. The worst part is, if you try to explain this or document it the shade trees just root deeper.
 
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For what its worth

I bought a Honda Fit to replace my old sports cars/off roaders i drove when younger. Was sick of spending time and money on cars. Wanted something boring that wouldn't give me grief.

3 years later at 125,000km I need to replace the engine. cylinder ring is gone on the third cylinder.

cheaper to get a new engine than to fix. cars these days are getting to be a bit like home appliances... just throw away and replace.
 
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