Evo exploded out on the track yesterday!
Evo exploded out on the track yesterday!
So after 2 seasons of racing the evo without much issues, the evo gave out yesterday. I had it towed back home 2 hours away and still havent had a chance to really tear it apart to see what exactly happened. As usual I check the car out before I go out, making sure all was good. The last time I went out all fluids were good, except it looked like my coolant overflow bottle spilled out a tiny bit, maybe a few ounces below the full line. Only reason I noted that was becasue I never had to top it off at all that day. Everything else was fine.
I went out the the track, it was a little wet out there, some standing water and dirt on the track from people going off so I was taking it a bit easier. I started noticing that top of 3rd gear would feel jerky at times, and then I just started noticing that the car felt a bit slower. At first I assumed it was lack of traction due to the wet conditions. All the gauges read fine, then I went to turn left and noitced that the steering wheel was really stiff, like I had lost all power steering. THe coolant gauge spiked up to full hot so Immediately pulled off and shut it off. I tried to start it up and it just cranked like it had no compression! I got pulled back to the paddock, hopefully that 1/4 mile push didnt screw up my drivetrain,grr. I was getting pushed at about 10-15mph for a little bit so maybe I didnt.
When I pulled back in I noticed that the fuel pump wasnt coming on at all when you turn the key on. I inspected the timing belt and it was fine, then I saw there was oil near the lower timing cover and near the oil filter housing. Oil level is fine but there was quite a bit of oil that leaked. I pulled out one of my spark plugs that have less than 500 miles on them, the ngk iridium shiny polished finish looked blueish and dry. I can only guess what happened until I tear it apart later on and update you guys.
My GUESS... During that lap my walboro pump must have gone out little my little until it died, lowering fuel pressure causing me to run lean. I ran it lean long enough to burn valves and raise cyl temps enough to overheat, thus possbily ruining the HG and maybe warping the head, idk. As for why my oil pump seems to be leaking-- well maybe I overheated a seal enough to make it fail. These are just guesses as to what happened. Now maybe I will see about building up my engine. Interesting day, car was running like a champ all day, too bad this happened.
I went out the the track, it was a little wet out there, some standing water and dirt on the track from people going off so I was taking it a bit easier. I started noticing that top of 3rd gear would feel jerky at times, and then I just started noticing that the car felt a bit slower. At first I assumed it was lack of traction due to the wet conditions. All the gauges read fine, then I went to turn left and noitced that the steering wheel was really stiff, like I had lost all power steering. THe coolant gauge spiked up to full hot so Immediately pulled off and shut it off. I tried to start it up and it just cranked like it had no compression! I got pulled back to the paddock, hopefully that 1/4 mile push didnt screw up my drivetrain,grr. I was getting pushed at about 10-15mph for a little bit so maybe I didnt.
When I pulled back in I noticed that the fuel pump wasnt coming on at all when you turn the key on. I inspected the timing belt and it was fine, then I saw there was oil near the lower timing cover and near the oil filter housing. Oil level is fine but there was quite a bit of oil that leaked. I pulled out one of my spark plugs that have less than 500 miles on them, the ngk iridium shiny polished finish looked blueish and dry. I can only guess what happened until I tear it apart later on and update you guys.
My GUESS... During that lap my walboro pump must have gone out little my little until it died, lowering fuel pressure causing me to run lean. I ran it lean long enough to burn valves and raise cyl temps enough to overheat, thus possbily ruining the HG and maybe warping the head, idk. As for why my oil pump seems to be leaking-- well maybe I overheated a seal enough to make it fail. These are just guesses as to what happened. Now maybe I will see about building up my engine. Interesting day, car was running like a champ all day, too bad this happened.
Man sucks to hear. Good luck on getting her back together and out on the track again ASAP
On a happy note at least she went out doing what she likes to do best.
Again Good Luck man
On a happy note at least she went out doing what she likes to do best.
Again Good Luck man
Just the stock coolant gauge and my vac/boost gauge. vacuum readings on the gauge at idle were normal and coolant gauge was fine when I went out on track. Car was running fine, idled fine, sounded fine, looked fine when I went out on course. I think a fuel psi or oil psi gauge would have come in handy. I did have plans to get those hooked up, just were not on the car at the time.
I noticed you said the water overflow tank appeared higher than normal just before the lapping......sounds like the HG started to leak just before this run event.
My guess..HG leaked, caused cylinders to run hot, heat damaged seals on oil pump and im guessing you will have water in the oil too. You might be right in that the fuel pump was slowly packing it in, causing the lean mixture and excessive temps damaging the HG.
Sucks..hopefully there is not too much damage. I would pull the pan and inspect for metal..pull the head and check all bores along with the head and valves to get a better idea of any damage. You might want to check the bottom end bearings and replace if you see any signs of damage at all.
Sounds like time for a rebuild. Since you are worried about it, check or replace the fuel pump and in-tank filter too.
Here's hoping the damage is not extensive :-)
My guess..HG leaked, caused cylinders to run hot, heat damaged seals on oil pump and im guessing you will have water in the oil too. You might be right in that the fuel pump was slowly packing it in, causing the lean mixture and excessive temps damaging the HG.
Sucks..hopefully there is not too much damage. I would pull the pan and inspect for metal..pull the head and check all bores along with the head and valves to get a better idea of any damage. You might want to check the bottom end bearings and replace if you see any signs of damage at all.
Sounds like time for a rebuild. Since you are worried about it, check or replace the fuel pump and in-tank filter too.
Here's hoping the damage is not extensive :-)
Last edited by WRC-LVR; May 30, 2011 at 08:49 AM.
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I think I freaked when I it was running hot and all that and I might have popped it in neutral and then went to shut it off at a safe spot off the line, then thats when I might have noticed steering was hard. Idk, it just all happened at once.
I have spent the day tearing apart the car. So far I noticed that the oil leak seems to come from the oil pump/front cover. I had abosuletly no seepage or leak before so any oil I see now is from this incident. The timing marks on everything looks good, nothing jumped a tooth. belts are snug and dry, no oil on them. I drained the coolant, looks great. I did a compression test this morning before I tore it apart... 0 on all cylinders.
I pulled off the exhaust manifold already and I see inside the runners look very white, as do my valves from peeking inside the exhaust ports. They look like they have been ceramic coated but Im sure its from running so lean. This doesnt look good so far. Im pulling the head off now, just taking a break so I got on here to update you guys.
Thanks everyone, I hope it isnt too extensive either for my pocket books sake.haha
