MC oil pressure update: What the Gods want...

[Marc Swanson]

> The problem is that short of a defect in the block, I cannot think of what
> I'll need to look at once the engine is out.

that's what I think you will be looking for at this point.

Given that you have checked just about everything else I would pull the
motor, strip it down to the bare block and send it out for a magnaflux
treatment.  While you are at it you may want to check the head too.

That certainly the best way to make sure that the block/head isn't
fubar.  I'm willing to bet that you will find a nice crack in there
somewhere, although I'm surprised you wouldn't get oil in coolant as a
result.  So if there is a crack it would have to be from oil supply
galley to oil return galley.


> Another option would be to snap up a junkyard MC motor locally and install
> it "as is" for comparison. Obviously a ton of work to end up with a junkyard
> engine with unknown history that would be questionable in the future.

Well, at this point no matter what the outcome of your magnaflux
treatment you are going to want to have a spare motor handy.  If you
find cracks you are going to need a block which you can add all your new
parts to.  If you don't find cracks you will want to use the junkyard
motor complete as-is just to maintain your sanity!


> Either way, I'm going to have pull the engine.  Crap.

looks like it.  Sorry.


> Any thoughts?  Anyone else want to take a guess before I napalm the thing?
> I'm getting very frustrated about this one.  Any advice would be greatly
> appreciated.  I'd have to move quickly if I'm going to pull the other motor
> in the yard since they're going to shutdown between Xmas and New Year's...

You'll be spending most of the holidays just removing the engine and
stripping the block unless you move like Nate Stuart ;-)

If I were in your shoes I would be looking for a spare motor if nothing
else just to have something to compare to.

So in summary:
-get junkyard motor
-remove your current motor
-strip the block
-magnaflux
if(magnaflux ok) {
	-install junkyard motor as-is.
	- sacrifice bad motor to Audi gods
}
else {
	-strip junkyard motor to bare block
	-hone if necessary
	-install all your new parts
	-re-install it and sacrifice old block to Audi gods
}

either way, sounds like the Audi gods want a sacrifice :-/

Anyhow, that's my .02

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!


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Marc Swanson, Software Engineer
Sonitrol Communications Corp.
Hartford, CT

Email: mswanson at sonitrol.net
Phone: (860) 616-7036
Pager: (860) 948-6713
 Cell: (603) 512-1267
  Fax: (860) 616-7589
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