Engine Failure (#4 Rod Bearing + Short Block)

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

With a Porsche you have to, just to identify where to put drip pans under a new one!

[andrew20195]

Originally Posted by regal

They would have reused the oil pump.

I wouldn't have... but it's possible they did. If they reused the front cover then contamination from the previous failure may have caused this second failure. Good point.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by andrew20195

I wouldn't have... but it's possible they did. If they reused the front cover then contamination from the previous failure may have caused this second failure. Good point.

Good call. I forgot about that.

[Si_Chris]

Originally Posted by spitfire481

did you have that crank pulley on both motors?

Originally Posted by Malt

I was just about to ask this.

This might be the source of the engine failure.

Aftermarket crank pulleys are not dampened like factory crank pulleys which can cause the crankshaft to go out of balance when rotating and chew up your rod bearings.

[regal]

Originally Posted by Si_Chris

This might be the source of the engine failure.

Aftermarket crank pulleys are not dampened like factory crank pulleys which can cause the crankshaft to go out of balance when rotating and chew up your rod bearings.

This has been a endless debate on every car forum. Personally I wouldn't use an aftermarket pulley on this fragile boxer.

[Malt]

Originally Posted by Si_Chris

This might be the source of the engine failure.

Aftermarket crank pulleys are not dampened like factory crank pulleys which can cause the crankshaft to go out of balance when rotating and chew up your rod bearings.

Granted I don't think this was the source of the failure, it would be foolish to completely rule it out. There was a confirmation from subaru that the stock crank pulley is not a dampener, but given the trivial gains it provides it might be wise to err on the side of caution in this situation and not use one.

[eriktherod]

Toyota Headquarters contacted me today, in response to my letter (email) to Jim Lentz. They also contacted the dealership and were made aware of my situation.

The woman from Toyota simply wanted to reach out to me and let me know they were deeply concerned. She told me that regional managers and technicians were involved and would be looking into it further.

I began to get concerned when she asked me if I had any aftermarket parts on the car. I was hesitant to disclose because often times the person on the phone is not technical and saying things can lead to things becoming more complicated.

The only aftermarket part I have on worth mentioning is the Perrin Crank Pulley. The rest are things like the battery tie down and oil cap from GrimmSpeed, LatheWerks shift knob, etc.

I am fairly sure it is not the crank pulley for several reasons. The pulley is not an underdrive nor overdrive pulley it is simply a lightweight replacement. The stock pulley is not a harmonic balancer/dampener, so the replacement does not need to be. I've had the pulley since 10K miles, and my first engine failure was at 25K. Now the second at 29K, not even an oil change later. I seriously doubt the pulley is the reason my engine is blowing again before the next oil change.

However, I fully understand that Toyota may use this against me to pin the fault on me. I will not be having any of it and I will push the onus back on them to prove to me how the pulley caused the failure. Once they attempt that, I will request Perrin to back me up with technical details and expertise on why this is not the case. I am sure a lawyer will play into there at some point but I hope it does not escalate to that degree.

Toyota did ask me what I wanted out of this. I told them that I do enjoy the car and they do not offer another car that I would be interested in. I reiterated that I want this car, but a reliable one. Apparently they are facing difficulties fixing it properly and it is making me question the car and Toyota as a brand. I asked them for a replacement car which she said "will be considered when we get more information."

I will know more by Thursday so I will keep you all updated on this saga. I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worse.

[vroom4]

You expect Perrin to help you fight Toyota....really?

[z3ro]

Originally Posted by vroom4

You expect Perrin to help you fight Toyota....really?

why not? It cost's them nothing to provide engineering data, after an NDA of course, and helps this guy out quite a bit. Perrin isn't going to go to court for this dude, but providing data should be of no issue.

EDIT: Plus bad press gets around car clubs quick and if i heard a specific company's pulley was blowing motors, i probably wouldn't buy it and would be suspect of their other offerings.

[Thorpedo]

Unless I missed it, all you folks are missing something big here... The cylinder heads

If I'm not mistaken, they were reused, correct?

What happens when an oil return passage is blocked from the cylinder heads? Admittedly I am not an expert on flat fours, and am unsure of their oil return design, but I do have many years of professional engine building under my belt.

Say the oil return system on at least one of the cylinder heads was partially blocked, you can starve the engine of oil even if it has the proper amount in it. In instances where it is entirely blocked, you can drain the oil and get drastically less than you should, and then find all the oil later on when you disassemble the engine.

IMO the pulley is not your answer, as I will be installing one on my engine without any worry whatsoever despite your situation. This is coming from experience with balancing engines, too.

[eriktherod]

I do not expect anyone to fight my battles for me. I am simply arming myself with information, information that comes from engineers and experts who have been doing this for a while now. This information could prove critical of convincing Toyota or the courts that the pulley is not the problem instead of them using it as an out. I am merely preparing for the worst scenario.

The information you all provide here is also useful. I know the basics of cars and their workings, but many of you have much more expertise. I am happy to hear your theories of what may have been at fault, given it has technical merit.

What makes me curious is how Toyota OK'd the first repair without any second thought. My pulley was on then and I am sure the dealership reported it as an aftermarket part. If Toyota now makes a deal out of it I would say they are grasping at straws just to wash their hands clean.

[FRSapex]

Originally Posted by eriktherod

I am fairly sure it is not the crank pulley for several reasons. The pulley is not an underdrive nor overdrive pulley it is simply a lightweight replacement. The stock pulley is not a harmonic balancer/dampener, so the replacement does not need to be. I've had the pulley since 10K miles, and my first engine failure was at 25K. Now the second at 29K, not even an oil change later. I seriously doubt the pulley is the reason my engine is blowing again before the next oil change.

Not stating one way, or another but... I had an aftermarket pulley (without dampener) on my 240Z (L28 straight 6) that was blamed for throwing my crank out of balance, thus causing rod bearings to fry.

Just saying.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

With a Porsche you have to, just to identify where to put drip pans under a new one!

Sorry man, had to..

Not at all. LOL!

I don't own a Porsche, never have, and probably never will. But, thank you for thinking I might.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by eriktherod

Toyota Headquarters contacted me today, in response to my letter (email) to Jim Lentz. They also contacted the dealership and were made aware of my situation.

...

I've had the pulley since 10K miles, and my first engine failure was at 25K. Now the second at 29K, not even an oil change later. I seriously doubt the pulley is the reason my engine is blowing again before the next oil change.

Is it yet another engine failure? That's not clear to me, else I missed something you wrote.

I have not read anything yet confirming this. I understand that you strongly suspect this to be a repetition of the first instance, but do we know that? Is it a bearing failure, again? Which one(s)?

Has Toyota specifically told you exactly what is wrong with your engine this time?