Oiled down the track,Again.

Discussion in 'Race 400/430/455' started by Briz, Mar 31, 2018.

  1. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    1st round eliminations. paired against a mustang dialed in @ 6,83 I have a 6.56 on the window and in the L lane. Stage up, he leaves, I leave. Get to around the 300' mark and the rear of the Regal starts feeling loose and drifting towards the wall. First thought is Im losing air in one of the slicks. Peddle she comes back in line. about 1/2 a car behind. nail her again and the rear goes hard right which puts me nose to the wall @ close to 100 mph. peddle it again start easing the wheel into the skid and give it a bit of gas. she swings the other way ass towards the wall. get out of it, again steer out and she comes back in line as Im slowing down. Now I see smoke coming from the R side of the hood. Look down at the OP gauge. 0 pressure. switch the fuel and ignition off and steer into the return off road and onto the grass just off the track. Turns out the seal on the oil filter pushed out. Lost all 7 qts of oil. Car is a mess. Spectators and friends said the announcer was going nuts and that they were really surprised I didnt go into the wall as out of shape as the car was. The car I can clean. Im only hoping I didnt hurt the engine. Not sure if I should pull it and open up the bottom end for inspection or fill it up with oil and hope for the best.
     
    rmstg2 likes this.
  2. Bluzilla

    Bluzilla a.k.a. "THE DOCTOR"

    Glad you and your car made it unscathed!
    What brand and part number filter was it?
    I like to run a low oil pressure switch to shut down the ignition. You can get various minimum pressure limit switches.
    Some folks prefer the switch to turn on a bright warning lamp for street cars rather than loosing power steering and brakes.

    Larry
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2018
  3. Prairie Piston

    Prairie Piston Well-Known Member

    Wow nice save.
     
  4. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    I know it's our first instinct to try and drive thru stuff, but when it wiggles or starts to push let off and concentrate on keeping you and the other guy safe, no matter what the prize is, once the weight has been shifted trying to power through it ends up badly 90% of the time
     
  5. rmstg2

    rmstg2 Gold Level Contributor

    Nice to know you saved it but now what, like you I wouldn't be sure whether to tear it down first or run it. If it sounds normal and there is no oil pressure loss it would be tempting to run it.

    Bob H.
     
  6. Buicksky

    Buicksky Gold Level Contributor

    Wow sound like a nightmare, Glad you and the car came thru ok . Good luck checking the motor.
     
  7. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    It was only a couple of seconds, so fill it with oil and see how it sounds when you start it.

    If it sounds good, take it to test and tune and do a couple easy runs to evaluate the situation. If you're feeling good about those runs, take her up a notch and see how she acts and so on until its deemed good to go or doomed to fail.

    Its either going to be ok or its not.
     
    Doug's Stage X likes this.
  8. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

    I agree with Derek. I can’t see how it could get envy worse by filling it with oil and firing it up. You will know if something isn’t right and can shut it down. Good luck Briz.
    Cliff
     
  9. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Wix Racing 51060R. I had considered going with the low pressure shut off after the last oil related engine failure. I could probably make a warning light as well as engine cut out work off one switch.



    I think my plan of attack will be to drain whatever is left of the oil into a clean pan and inspect. Refill with 7 qts and install my System 1 filter. Prime up the R1 pump with a drill. Start and run the engine up to temp while on the lift then once cool open and inspect the filter screen. If theres any damage it should show there.
     
    D-Con and 300sbb_overkill like this.
  10. cjeboyle

    cjeboyle Gold Level Contributor

    Good plan! I know you’ve been through a lot lately with this car but hang in there n hope for the best
    Cliff
     
  11. Ziggy

    Ziggy Well-Known Member

    You could fill it with oil, start it and check for oil pressure. If it's good, run it a bit to warm the oil up then take a sample and have it anaylized for metal. Then you will know for sure whether or not more work is needed.
     
  12. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Briz,

    What are you running for oil pressure these days?

    JW
     
  13. Golden Oldie 65

    Golden Oldie 65 Well-Known Member

    I have a nice bright oil light mounted on the side of the tach and right under the shift light on mine. The oil light is mounted on a T fitting with the gauge. When we are on our way down the track we are looking at the tach and/or shift light, not on the oil pressure gauge. If something goes wrong I want to know about it immediately, not later.
     

    Attached Files:

    Briz likes this.
  14. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Running the Peterson R1 pump. have it dialed in at 20Lb idle and 80-90 Lb @ 6000.rpm I ran this combo all last yr maybe 50 - 80 passes without issue. Changed the oil / filter couple of weeks ago. Cut open the old filter and found nothing to worry about in there.
     
  15. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    Glad you kept it off the wall, Briz. I hope the only damage incurred was the obvious underwear removal with a come-a-long in the aftermath.
     
  16. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    Still got yer health, still got yer car, now if engine is healthy, that's a hat trick! Jim
     
  17. Dwayne B

    Dwayne B Well-Known Member

    I'M glad you didn't get hurt, and good luck on the car.
     
  18. Bluzilla

    Bluzilla a.k.a. "THE DOCTOR"

    If it were me, ..... I'd be taking a look inside. I know you have been through a lot with that engine, contrary to what other folks may think I feel If bearing, piston/ring/wall damage has begun then running it at all will only make matters worse. The positive side is if you take it apart and find no damage then you will have fresh bearings and a chance to look at the walls, rings, and skirts. No matter how you slice it, ... there is without a doubt a gamble involved. Tough decision, which ever you choose I wish you the best!

    Larry
     
  19. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    Starting it again is foolish without an inspection. Better to throw a set of bearings in it than window the block next time out. It was wound right out when it went and you got back into it a couple times. I'd have a look
     
    dan gaither likes this.
  20. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    I'd run it....I lost all but a couple quarts and made a couple passes before I noticed little or no pressure. I think coated bearings saved me. Still running.....a solid lifter motor will still run with no pressure but not a hydraulic one.

    Sometimes old filter seal stays on and then with two it will blow at high pressure. I found two on a few cars over the years that I bought.....
     

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