I think I blew a rod bearing cap through the oil pan or block. :sad3:
I was at Monticello Motor Club, a great technical track, and on my 4th time out for the day, coming around a turn, full acceleration in 3rd - maybe 4000 - 6000 rpms, and blue smoke out the front right wheel well, then loss of power, loss of power steering, etc.
at first I thought I blew a tire, then I thought I busted the fan belts. but after I got out of the car, I saw a trail of oil, and oil coming out from under the engine. tires were fine. fan belts fine.
the flag man said he saw flames under the car when it happened.
the Porsche driver in back of me said he saw a ball of flame coming out from under the car.
I assume it was engine oil hitting hot exhaust pipe.
I found a 2" x 2" piece of oil pan or engine block when we rolled the car off the flatbed.
interestingly enough, the dip stick still shows being only 3/4 of a quart low on oil.
i'm not sure what turns when i engage the starter motor, but it is not making compression to start the motor.
what probably happened:
a rod bearing was bad, and it blew under the constant pressure of running up gears 2, 3 and 4 to close to redline.
in the week or 2 before track day, I heard a tapping at startup, occasionally when cold.
I kept thinking it sounds like a rod bearing, but then would think maybe it's gear lash (that usually happens, buy only when warm).
it made no sense to me that a rod bearing would be bad.
I also heard continual tapping occasionally, in first gear, 2000 - 3000 rpms, under very light throttle.
prior to that last circuit, I think I heard it as I was moving forward in the line of cars getting ready to go out on the track.
but I kept thinking .."it can't be"...
so the car is at Motor Works West in Wyckoff, NJ.
I will get an update from them when they put it up on a lift.
Lessons learned:
When the car tells you something, listen to it!
Stop and fix the problem, before it gets worse!
Try not to rationalize something as something other than what the facts are telling you.
i placed a "wanted to buy" for a used engine in the "wanted/for sale" threads, because it will probably be less expensive than repairing the 58,000 mile motor.
if anyone knows where i can put my hands on one, please let me know.
I was at Monticello Motor Club, a great technical track, and on my 4th time out for the day, coming around a turn, full acceleration in 3rd - maybe 4000 - 6000 rpms, and blue smoke out the front right wheel well, then loss of power, loss of power steering, etc.
at first I thought I blew a tire, then I thought I busted the fan belts. but after I got out of the car, I saw a trail of oil, and oil coming out from under the engine. tires were fine. fan belts fine.
the flag man said he saw flames under the car when it happened.
the Porsche driver in back of me said he saw a ball of flame coming out from under the car.
I assume it was engine oil hitting hot exhaust pipe.
I found a 2" x 2" piece of oil pan or engine block when we rolled the car off the flatbed.
interestingly enough, the dip stick still shows being only 3/4 of a quart low on oil.
i'm not sure what turns when i engage the starter motor, but it is not making compression to start the motor.
what probably happened:
a rod bearing was bad, and it blew under the constant pressure of running up gears 2, 3 and 4 to close to redline.
in the week or 2 before track day, I heard a tapping at startup, occasionally when cold.
I kept thinking it sounds like a rod bearing, but then would think maybe it's gear lash (that usually happens, buy only when warm).
it made no sense to me that a rod bearing would be bad.
I also heard continual tapping occasionally, in first gear, 2000 - 3000 rpms, under very light throttle.
prior to that last circuit, I think I heard it as I was moving forward in the line of cars getting ready to go out on the track.
but I kept thinking .."it can't be"...
so the car is at Motor Works West in Wyckoff, NJ.
I will get an update from them when they put it up on a lift.
Lessons learned:
When the car tells you something, listen to it!
Stop and fix the problem, before it gets worse!
Try not to rationalize something as something other than what the facts are telling you.
i placed a "wanted to buy" for a used engine in the "wanted/for sale" threads, because it will probably be less expensive than repairing the 58,000 mile motor.
if anyone knows where i can put my hands on one, please let me know.