We have experienced an engine failure (cited by the manufacturer as having run with no oil in the engine) during a cold chamber test at -40c (-40f). The oil used was Eni 5w-30 iSint fully synthetic. The pour point spec is -42c (-43.6f) The engine damage is consistent with having suffered oil starvation, in that the crank bearings have overheated and failed. Ultimately there was a catastrophic failure of one of the con rods, which made a break for freedom via the crank case.The rods are blued for 3/4 of their length which would indicated that they have not been cooled at all during this process.
The system has a low oil pressure shutdown facility and high oil pressure was seen during the 2 minutes that the engine ran prior to failure. We are reasonably certain that although oil pressure was present, there was no oil flow through the filter. We think this because although there are lots of particles in the sump, including a very fine metallic powder, there are no particles in the fine gauze of the oil pick up and the oil filter medium is completely clean (was replaced just prior to the test).There is also no fine grey dust present in the tube of the pickup.
We need to be sure that the reason for the failure is that the wrong spec oil was used, in that the pour point was within 2 degrees c of the test temperature. I have trawled the internet to find out what happens to a synthetic oil as it approaches its pour point (can't find a thing) in an attempt to understand the physical properties of the oil used and if those properties would lead to a lack of oil being pumped around the engine.
If anyone can point me in the right direction? Thanks.
The system has a low oil pressure shutdown facility and high oil pressure was seen during the 2 minutes that the engine ran prior to failure. We are reasonably certain that although oil pressure was present, there was no oil flow through the filter. We think this because although there are lots of particles in the sump, including a very fine metallic powder, there are no particles in the fine gauze of the oil pick up and the oil filter medium is completely clean (was replaced just prior to the test).There is also no fine grey dust present in the tube of the pickup.
We need to be sure that the reason for the failure is that the wrong spec oil was used, in that the pour point was within 2 degrees c of the test temperature. I have trawled the internet to find out what happens to a synthetic oil as it approaches its pour point (can't find a thing) in an attempt to understand the physical properties of the oil used and if those properties would lead to a lack of oil being pumped around the engine.
If anyone can point me in the right direction? Thanks.
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