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Old 09-28-2010, 08:01 PM   #1
ECUWRX28
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Unhappy How worried should I be?

I recently had my car go through a major transformation. At the heart of this was a RAW stage 3 block on 2010 wrx heads. Everything went together great and the break in process was going swimmingly. Regularly checking the oil the was little consumption. After a short drive (about 15-20 min.) I pulled into the parking lot and suddenly my oil light began flickering at me. I turned off the car and quickly checked the dip stick... The thing was DRY. Under the car I found that the pan and stuff was covered in oil. I got the car towed back to the shop and they took care of the leak (crank seal) free of charge. Apparently the leak began as I left my house as I later noticed the oil trail the next day. They also said that after draining the remaining oil everything looked fine, and after refilling it everything seemed ok as well. Today was my first day again driving the car and like they said it all seemed ok (nothing noticably unusual).

My concern is that there has possibly been damage done during the short time the block was running low on oil. What should I expect in the future? What are the chances I got lucky? Thanks guys.
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Old 09-28-2010, 08:11 PM   #2
slowmike
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I would be worried and putting an oil pressure gauge on it immediately. Maybe you dodged a bullet, how lucky do you feel?
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Old 09-28-2010, 08:17 PM   #3
blowbyu24
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it is the float of the bearing that is important and no one can tell you if that was effected, it seems atleast that it wasn't enough to spin, i would just keep checking the oil, but nothing you really can do now, make sure like the post about to get a oil pressure gauge 15w50 M1 and never look back
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Old 09-28-2010, 08:30 PM   #4
mtcs
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You might be able to get away with it...
You never know how bad your bearings are until you tear everything apart.

In my old car, I lost oil pressure for less than 1 mile. I stoped the car and had it towed back to my house. Fixed everything and refilled it with oil. Car lasted about 3 weeks before lots of metal flakes starting coming out the oilpan drain during my break-in oil changes. Tore it apart and the bearings took a crap. So you never know...

But I have heard of people running years before they sircum to bearing failure.
Good luck.
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Old 09-28-2010, 08:55 PM   #5
ECUWRX28
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Thanks guys for your advice its been very helpful... I dont feel very lucky but hopefully I am...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtcs View Post
You might be able to get away with it...
You never know how bad your bearings are until you tear everything apart.

In my old car, I lost oil pressure for less than 1 mile. I stoped the car and had it towed back to my house. Fixed everything and refilled it with oil. Car lasted about 3 weeks before lots of metal flakes starting coming out the oilpan drain during my break-in oil changes. Tore it apart and the bearings took a crap. So you never know...

But I have heard of people running years before they sircum to bearing failure.
Good luck.
I was wondering how did you approach this after you realized bearing failure? Maybe this is a stupid question but how bad would this damage the block? Could it be just replacing the bearings or is the block toast at this point?

Lastly, since all the work was done at a shop that offers warrenty on their work, could they be held responsible for any damage done to the block as a result of the bad seal?

Sorry for all the questins, but thanks so all your help!
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Old 09-28-2010, 09:23 PM   #6
mtcs
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Well, I didn't exactly have a bearing failure. The bearings just started coming appart. If they would have gotten bad enough, I would have most likely spun one of them. A spun bearing is catastrophic failure more often than not related to issues with an oiling system failure. If you let the bearings fail, it would damage the block. If you were to rebuild it, you could techincally go with some upsized bearings. But, I have heard of a lot of people re-spining the same bearing if they rebuild with the same block. Just not worth reusing the bare block.

Back in the day, before I knew anything about these cars really, I had all of my work done at a shop too. Thing is though, there aren't any shops that I have heard of that actually warranty a race engine. But, having said that, you never know. See if they would cover it. It would be awsome if they would.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ECUWRX28 View Post
Thanks guys for your advice its been very helpful... I dont feel very lucky but hopefully I am...

I was wondering how did you approach this after you realized bearing failure? Maybe this is a stupid question but how bad would this damage the block? Could it be just replacing the bearings or is the block toast at this point?

Lastly, since all the work was done at a shop that offers warrenty on their work, could they be held responsible for any damage done to the block as a result of the bad seal?

Sorry for all the questins, but thanks so all your help!
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Old 09-28-2010, 09:15 PM   #7
ASU
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I thinking you are jumping the gun here. Unfortunatly you need to wait and see, no shop is going to tear down a block because you think you may have bearings that may have gone bad with no symptons. Document the failure and remind them if the block gos belly up. I think you are going to be fine.
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Old 09-28-2010, 09:27 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU View Post
I thinking you are jumping the gun here. Unfortunatly you need to wait and see, no shop is going to tear down a block because you think you may have bearings that may have gone bad with no symptons. Document the failure and remind them if the block gos belly up. I think you are going to be fine.
I definatey have a tendency to jump the gun. I am just hoping that Im not completely ****ed, that there is at least a chance that any potential problem could be covered by the shop, thought I have a feeling that it wouldnt be since the block was built by RAW and not them. O well... like you said, well see. Thanks again guys
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Old 09-28-2010, 09:40 PM   #9
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Dont worry Im paranoid too............... Built blocks are noisy creatures and I every sound in my block makes me paranoid to no end.
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Old 09-28-2010, 11:10 PM   #10
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Well, since RAW is out of business and Ron skipped off to Spain screwing everybody in the process I would not count on them covering anything under warranty any time soon.
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Old 09-29-2010, 01:42 AM   #11
kasra007
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when you spend this much money on your car, there are two things you should never forget or cut corners on : A/F and oil pressure gauge. they will save your car.
run lean at 25 psi and your engine goes boom
lose oil pressure and engines goes boom =o
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Old 09-29-2010, 01:58 AM   #12
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Oil pressure gauge is good to have even on a stock car.

What oil you running BTW?

I think you dodged the bullet as well, if the bearings didn't get oil it wouldn't take more then a second for them to tell you they did.
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Old 09-29-2010, 08:53 AM   #13
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I know I asked you on the phone, buy they didn't find anything when they drained the oil, right? when is your next break in oil change?

Sent from my UD8 Droid in a Jamaican bobsled.
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Old 09-29-2010, 09:58 PM   #14
ECUWRX28
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I know i had setup to buy those gauges from a member but couldnt find the time to make the trip to pick them up... I am still on break in oil at this time, no boost, and not over 4k rpms.... Nope Andrew they found nothing in the oil that was drained but well see again at the next oil change at 1500miles... IAG has been great and so helpful with this whole issue so I feel like Im in good hands and as far as RAW goes I was lucky enough to have had my block built by shawn so at least hes still in the country haha... Thanks all, fingers crossed and hoping for the best
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Old 09-29-2010, 10:23 PM   #15
2milehi
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If you have your old oil filter, remove the filter element from the metal casing and check it out. If there is any bearing material, that is the first place it will turn up.
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Old 10-01-2010, 02:32 AM   #16
ASU
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How is everything going, if you have a bearing failure you will know it, there is no mistaking a spun bearing loud as hell, there seems to be no in between with bearings either there good or they are not, when its not you will know ASAP.
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Old 10-01-2010, 10:11 AM   #17
FuJi K
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There's a little drain on the oil pump. Hopefully that's not plugged. It being plugged means the oil can't drain from behind the seal, excess pressure will push the seal off.
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