[s-cars] Re: S-CAR-List digest, Vol 1 #851 - 15 msgs

[serge]

Tom Mullane wrote:

> Take the offer, fix the car, and get on with your life.  The last thing I
> would want, if I were you, is to have them start removing pistons.  This is
> not a race car; a couple of marks on the top of a piston or two should not
> affect the drivability or life of the car.

Ok, I was gong to pass on comment, but suddenly I find myself overfunded by
about $.02.

I think the offer to replace the two valves is a nice starting point, but
not nearly adequate fix. If the car was started and allowed to run for ANY
length of time, I don't see how ALL the valves did not come in some contact
with ALL the pistons. Pistons are designed to withstand
compression/expansion force, not being smacked in the middle of the crown by
sharp metal objects (valves). ALL engine parts that were not designed to
come into contact with one another should be replaced. Remanufactured head
assembly seems to be a wise move, since parts, measurements, tests and
possible machining are time consuming and expensive.

WRT marks on a piston, this is really troubling to me. What force is
required to bend the two valves? I would think it is something like the
force of taking a big F hammer and striking a cold steel chisel to the top
of the piston a couple times (hence the score marks). Would anyone be
comfortable with building a 9.4:1 compression engine that regularly sees 20
psi of boost, using that same piston?  I would not be. I have seen an EM and
turbo glowing cherry red (name withheld to protect....oh hell, we all know
it was Pizzo) from a spirited drive. That's a lot of heat, imagine what was
going on inside the combustion chamber to cause that. Still ok with using
that piston?

On the service side, umm, not much there. Aside from a neat little dealer
dance to try to dodge some bullets. David has not had his car for how many
weeks? If the dealer has offered a remedy, is that not an admission of
wrongdoing? Therefore, are they not liable for any necessary repair work but
also rental car, attorney fees...

To the state AG: Please make Hoffman provide a new engine for David's wife's
car, and make it an RS2 spec, just for the grief and time spent dealing with
them. Please fire the technician responsible, and place the dealership on
some kind of probation, during which they are not allowed to scrap any good
running engines.
<end rant>


Serge Filanovsky

95 S6 Avant