Quote:
Originally Posted by Homeoboxter
It`s a common misconception that the IMSB is running dry and it`s lubricated only by oil mist, therefore some extra oil pressure through the shaft is going to solve all the IMS problems. The IMS is submerged in oil. (Let`s disregard now the seals on the bearing and the original grease pack that probably lasted a few weeks after the first owner started using the car). That`s why everyone who removes the IMS bearing in situ, reports about a quart of oil flowing out from the shaft. So adding an additional oil pressure line into the shaft won`t hurt, but it`s not necessary either. Even EPS claims that on their website, that oil lubrication is completely unnecessary, they just throw it in, because otherwise people would not be convinced it`ll work.
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The IMS bearing is only submerged in oil when the engine is not running and all of the oil has drained into the sump, assuming normal oil fill levels. Once running, only a mist of oil kicked up by the crank surrounds the bearings while the engine runs.
The reason the shaft is full of oil during an extraction is because the seals have hardened and shrunk, allowing the oil to get into the shaft. The fact that the oil found during an extraction is usually rancid is because it has been in there for some time because it cannot drain out when the level in the sump rises after the engine shuts down.
As for oil mist not lubricating the bearing, every LN IMS restrofit (now over some 25,000) except the Solution depends upon the mist to keep the hybrid ceramics lubricated and cooled, And having extracted a few LN bearings over the years, there was no oil to speak of trapped in the shafts.