Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
m6pwr - Over several decades I have had the pleasure of working with some German Manufacturers on product development – electronic fuel injection, diesel engines, mechanical and air suspensions and transmissions
I’ve also worked similarly with Japanese, English and American Manufacturers
In my case I found that the Germans do their initial development up to marketplace introduction very well. Later I found their product development based on marketplace performance was cautious, slow, measured and continuous!
In one case we isolated about 20 issues with a heavy high speed diesel engine (initially 400hp - finally 500hp). I experimented at the same time feeding all data to Germany. Some of the issues isolated were lubricant viscosity/specification, sump size, fan type and operating speed, turbo position etc. They rejected all of our 20 issues as marketplace fixes. During the next year all 20 issues and a few others too, were fixed on-line in Germany as we had suggested,. The engine then became super reliable.
In another case a heavy vehicle axle manufacturer had a serious in-service issue – an axle from a fully stabilised tri-group could simply fall out under severe conditions. Being innovative we fixed this and advised Germany at the same time suppling drawings of the modifications. They simply wouldn’t/couldn’t believe it! They flew their Senior Development Engineer out to Cairns and he was driven from there to Sydney (around 3000kms) to experience a typical journey of that era first hand. He was amazed and when he came to my office in Sydney and reviewed what we had devised he immediately advised Germany by telephone and telex to implement a “fix” package and approved the on-line implementation of our initial fix components
So I’ve found that the German (and Japanese Manufacturers too) in particular have always jealously guarded their “national” expertise. In the end they like to make the decisions and to be seen to do so – even if the ideas aren’t their own! As well their product development is second to none IMO!
Some of the world’s most innovative lubricants, especially synthetics, have been devised in Germany – and Castrol have (were) always at the forefront!
In the case of BMW and Castrol their joint recommendation of lubricants is second to none. Minor tweaks can of course be made by those with the expertise of CATERHAM. Such people are few and far between!
Stick with what BMW recommend……………………………
And yes, initial break-in lubricants are used by certain Manufacturers. It's been this way for decades
I wish BMW was like this. Their inability to quickly resolve the problem with the HPFP on the N54 power plant is one example and the fuel delivery system of the M57 diesel(US spec) is another.
Hi,
m6pwr - Over several decades I have had the pleasure of working with some German Manufacturers on product development – electronic fuel injection, diesel engines, mechanical and air suspensions and transmissions
I’ve also worked similarly with Japanese, English and American Manufacturers
In my case I found that the Germans do their initial development up to marketplace introduction very well. Later I found their product development based on marketplace performance was cautious, slow, measured and continuous!
In one case we isolated about 20 issues with a heavy high speed diesel engine (initially 400hp - finally 500hp). I experimented at the same time feeding all data to Germany. Some of the issues isolated were lubricant viscosity/specification, sump size, fan type and operating speed, turbo position etc. They rejected all of our 20 issues as marketplace fixes. During the next year all 20 issues and a few others too, were fixed on-line in Germany as we had suggested,. The engine then became super reliable.
In another case a heavy vehicle axle manufacturer had a serious in-service issue – an axle from a fully stabilised tri-group could simply fall out under severe conditions. Being innovative we fixed this and advised Germany at the same time suppling drawings of the modifications. They simply wouldn’t/couldn’t believe it! They flew their Senior Development Engineer out to Cairns and he was driven from there to Sydney (around 3000kms) to experience a typical journey of that era first hand. He was amazed and when he came to my office in Sydney and reviewed what we had devised he immediately advised Germany by telephone and telex to implement a “fix” package and approved the on-line implementation of our initial fix components
So I’ve found that the German (and Japanese Manufacturers too) in particular have always jealously guarded their “national” expertise. In the end they like to make the decisions and to be seen to do so – even if the ideas aren’t their own! As well their product development is second to none IMO!
Some of the world’s most innovative lubricants, especially synthetics, have been devised in Germany – and Castrol have (were) always at the forefront!
In the case of BMW and Castrol their joint recommendation of lubricants is second to none. Minor tweaks can of course be made by those with the expertise of CATERHAM. Such people are few and far between!
Stick with what BMW recommend……………………………
And yes, initial break-in lubricants are used by certain Manufacturers. It's been this way for decades
I wish BMW was like this. Their inability to quickly resolve the problem with the HPFP on the N54 power plant is one example and the fuel delivery system of the M57 diesel(US spec) is another.
