The unlucky 1%

[flaps10]

Some potentially loaded questions there Arthro (you can start a fist fight in most forums with an oil analysis discussion). I'll only focus on reliability studies in this response.

I'm not usually the first to stick up for Mr Raby but I respect his work. If anyone has gone out and built engines and blown them up (at his own expense) and documented the results it has been him. That information is justifiably proprietary, but his most notable result is the plain bearing "Solution".

The thing that makes it risky for a company like his is that if some geek like myself can get hold of the parts and install them then a whole lot of unknown variables enter the picture (initial condition of the engine, quality of the install, etc). The Solution won't resurrect a zombie, but people seem to want to try.

People want to compare the warranty of the various options and are somehow surprised that the warranty on a sub $1000 kit wouldn't cover your smoking boat anchor engine with a rod sticking out the side, because surely there could be no other reasons for a subsequent engine failure.

Had it been available for dual row cars at the time I had my engine apart I would certainly have selected it. As it stands, it's not hard to improve on the factory selection.

[arthrodriver]

Well just tell me to STFU if I am asking too many questions. I looked again at the youtubes and some topics occurred to me. Re corrosion: the pictures of the races and metal balls look just like failed wheel bearings to me and don't see any pitting outside of the contacting surfaces. Has anyone sectioned an IMS "tube" where the alleged corrosive fluids reside to look for pitting?

Way back the VW hotrodders had a trick ball bearing lower end "OKRASA" or some such. Seems like the ball bearing application was inferior to plain bearings due to short life. Just ref.

Finally:So the LN fix is similar to a cam running in machined webs with oil feed holes?

No fist fights intended , but how about the oil analysis. They use it in aircraft engine analysis, right, flaps10?

Edit: You tube said something about an electronic monitor of the IMS??? Hype?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by arthrodriver

Finally:So the LN fix is similar to a cam running in machined webs with oil feed holes?

No fist fights intended , but how about the oil analysis. They use it in aircraft engine analysis, right, flaps10?

Edit: You tube said something about an electronic monitor of the IMS??? Hype?

The LN bearings (non Solution) are ceramic hybrids that are sufficiently lubricated by the oil mist inside the engine. They do not require any other modifications to work, and some modifications actually reduce their effectiveness.

Oil analysis (that is, a complete analysis rather than a partial one) can tell you a lot about your oil, and a little about your engine. Some labs claim to be able to provide you with a complete analysis of your engine condition by looking at the oil, but you should take that with a grain of salt. They act more like a compass, giving you a sense of direction rather than a GPS telling you exactly where you are.

LN does produce an oil monitoring sensor (Guardian) which is effective, but only in limiting the amount of damage done when the IMS fails. It is not capable of preventing it from failing, only alerting you earlier in the failure process.