Upside down engine

merlin · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:48

If a car is rolled and sits upside down for a while - what are the implications for the engine (if any)?

Also - upside down - is there any possibility of water and oil mixing?

barclay03 · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:52

dont think there any chance of water and oil mixing, tho depends on the engine, and if it wasnt left running at the time of bein upside down i think it would be ok to start it up as it wouldnt have been running with all the oil rushing to the head

Dandle · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:52

If it was running upside down there could well be lots of wear due to the oil system running dry. Also a lot of times some oil will bypass the piston rings and get burnt then thrown out the exhaust.

merlin · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:54

Well this is a K20a engine, and the instant it lost oil pressure it'd cut out.

So should be intact.

Oakesy2001uk · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:55

why would a car be upside down for extended periods, you buying an engine that way left upside down in a field for a few hours or something? Surely no-one would store an engine upside down?

EDIT: Just read your reply, should be ok if it cut out, being upside down not running should do nothing.

merlin · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:56

Oakesy2001uk said:
why would a car be upside down for extended periods, you buying an engine that way left upside down in a field for a few hours or something? Surely no-one would store an engine upside down?

No, tis an argument presently occuring in another dimension (grid reference www.itr-dc5.com).

merlin · 27 Oct 2006 at 16:57

Oakesy2001uk said:
EDIT: Just read your reply, should be ok if it cut out, being upside down not running should do nothing.

That's my take on it too.

Dandle · 27 Oct 2006 at 17:12

merlin said:
Well this is a K20a engine, and the instant it lost oil pressure it'd cut out.

So should be intact.

How come? Never heard of that before.

Hate · 27 Oct 2006 at 17:17

i heard that if its left you'll get hydraulic lock... thats all I know thou

Dogbreath · 27 Oct 2006 at 17:53

Hate said:
i heard that if its left you'll get hydraulic lock... thats all I know thou

Yes, that's ineviable as the oil will seep past the piston rings. Removing the spark plugs before turning the enigne over would be a good idea.

DRZ · 27 Oct 2006 at 18:21

Indeed, no reason for lasting damage providing you make sure there is no fluid in the cylinders before you try and start the engine again.

Nozzer · 27 Oct 2006 at 18:26

I've often wondered this. As the best way to get all the crap out of the cabin in the Lotus is to pick it up and give it a shake.

Firestar_3x · 27 Oct 2006 at 18:31

I would be worried about fluids mixing, the fuel cuttoff should activate once the car is tipping so will kill the engine, the fact slight lubrication will be lost isn't an issue since the time without a full oil supply will be so short.

NathanE · 27 Oct 2006 at 18:39

I think it would simply stall as all the oil in the sump would flow with mavity and clog things up.

merlin · 27 Oct 2006 at 21:32

Firestar_3x said:
I would be worried about fluids mixing, the fuel cuttoff should activate once the car is tipping so will kill the engine, the fact slight lubrication will be lost isn't an issue since the time without a full oil supply will be so short.

You mean you wouldn't be worried.

Yes, intertia switch kills the engine and also oil pressure has to be maintained on these engines. If pressure spikes outside accepted parameters - rpm is instantly limited, if pressure loss continues - no ignition.

Siliconslave · 27 Oct 2006 at 23:20

i'm pretty sure there was a thread a while ago about starting a car that had been upside down in a ditch - seem to remeber mickey giving an in depth answer about how it should be done, and it wasn't just turn the key......

will try and find it

edit: here we go, from this thread