Amsoil Engine Tear Down Pics

[ARCOgraphite]

The Ford Modular uses the same arrangement:
DOHC:

SOHC:

These last forever.

The Modular was introduced in 1991, so that's 32 years ago.

Forgot about the gen I modular. I recall even the old flathead v8 engineer was involved in the modular design though maybe more in an honorary role. It revolutionary design utilised a lightweight assembled cam with attached individual lobes.

Looking at the Mod Ford followers vs. the Pentastar V6 parts I think I am seeing in the geometry less mechanical "dis-advantage" in the lever action of the Ford part - and possibly a larger circumference roller. Hard to tell without having the actual parts on my desk - or better yet on a Nikon optical comparator table. - Ken

(below) Ford 4.6L SOHC followers -

(below) Pentastar V6 Followers -

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Those stock hydraulic lash adjusters and roller followers (specifically the ones that came in the 05/06 Ford GT and 2007-2014 GT500) have been used reliably in applications spinning well over 10,000 rpm and making upwards of 3200 HP.

ARCO is simply off base on this topic

I stated I do not personally like a design using class 3 lever, and the failure was likely a combination of materials and design.

I can surely be off base on not liking the design, but the rampant failures in specific engine designs is a valid concern.

I recall reading that aggressive cam profiles in motorsports applications will use a non-hydralic lash pivot and high specification cnc machined billet double roller followers

Jesel racing cam followers -

 

[ESP9935]

Forgot about the gen I modular. I recall even the old flathead v8 engineer was involved in the modular design though maybe more in an honorary role. It revolutionary design utilised a lightweight assembled cam with attached individual lobes.

Looking at the Mod Ford followers vs. the Pentastar V6 parts I think I am seeing in the geometry less mechanical "dis-advantage" in the lever action of the Ford part - and possibly a larger circumference roller. Hard to tell without having the actual parts on my desk - or better yet on a Nikon optical comparator table. - Ken

Far and away the best follower offered for the Modular 2V/4V is the Ford GT/GT500 "supercar" follower photographed above.
In spite of appearance they are fully interchangeable with the followers in your photo (see lower follower in 2nd photo) and maintain the same rocker ratio.

They manage to be both lighter and substantially stiffer with the "inverted" design

 

[RDY4WAR]

Fascinating, but not unexpected reactions.

We have posts all over, mere speculation, saying how 10K-15K OCI's will destroy and utterly sludge all engines. Yet we have a small tuned engine, pulling a trailer, for 10 years and 10-15K oil changes and people just say any oil could have done better with zero proof, it's nothing, no stress, etc .

Amazing.

Selective biases often breed hypocrisies and conspiracies.

 

[nascarnation]

Impressed the factory turbo still survives this long with a tune and towing, those particular turbos are incredibly failure-prone.

I helped my buddy change one in a Trax. OMG what a miniaturized sh*t show. It might have been easier to pull the motor out of the car first.

 

[buster]

 

[buster]

This was posted 4 days ago.

Ford Focus

 

[ARB1977]

I use Amsoil XL in my wife’s 19 Pilot EXL. VCM is disabled. I follow the OLM. About 6000-7000 intervals, 15% OLM. Was using SS but was getting pricey even with preferred pricing.

 

[buster]

I use Amsoil XL in my wife’s 19 Pilot EXL. VCM is disabled. I follow the OLM. About 6000-7000 intervals, 15% OLM. Was using SS but was getting pricey even with preferred pricing.

XL is a good oil, similar to Mobil 1 EP (prior version not sure about Triple). It lacks the ester content of the SS.

 

[lawrencerd]

I always have to wonder with this motor if they're actually that bad or if Cruze owners are just more neglectful than average.

 

[nascarnation]

I always have to wonder with this motor if they're actually that bad or if Cruze owners are just more neglectful than average.

I doubt there is much difference in the maintenance habits of Cruzers vs whatever.
The turbo failures look to me like a design problem exacerbated by material variation.
GM initiated Dexos spec oil when these went into production, but that can't prevent the turbo cracking.

 

[buster]

I wish we saw more photos of pistons, especially since we've seen HPL cleaning up carbon in engines that appeared spotless otherwise.

 

[ChrisD46]

Perhaps engine dependent , but I've seen the nicest engine internals with Mobil 1 .

 

[Tower of Power]

My 2.4l Ecotec has 175K miles, running Amsoil SS 0W-40, 10-12k drain intervals, 2 micron bypass filter every 2 years. Wear is 4x lower than running standard group 3 Ac Delco or SuperTech oil running 5k drain intervals per oil analysis. Still has factory compression/leak down. Gets 32mpg and I can easily tow 2k lb trailer through the mountains. Engine still looks new, no varnish, gum or sludge. These engines are known for ring clogging, oil burning and timing chain wear from GDI abrasive soot and fuel dilution. No such problems running Top Tier Premium fuel and Amsoil.

 

[kschachn]

My 2.4l Ecotec has 175K miles, running Amsoil SS 0W-40, 10-12k drain intervals, 2 micron bypass filter every 2 years. Wear is 4x lower than running standard group 3 Ac Delco or SuperTech oil running 5k drain intervals per oil analysis. Still has factory compression/leak down. Gets 32mpg and I can easily tow 2k lb trailer through the mountains. Engine still looks new, no varnish, gum or sludge. These engines are known for ring clogging, oil burning and timing chain wear from GDI abrasive soot and fuel dilution. No such problems running Top Tier Premium fuel and Amsoil.

How did you measure this wear? Measuring comparative wear between oils is not an easy task, I'm surprised you were able to perform such a test.

 

[Tower of Power]

I wish we saw more photos of pistons, especially since we've seen HPL cleaning up carbon in engines that appeared spotless otherwise.

Here is pics of my 2.4L Ecotec GDI pistons, running Amsoil SS 0W-40 and Top Tier 93 Octane, non ethanol fuel. 90k miles. The low volatility helps in keeping carbon build up to a minimum. Performing daily Italian Tune Ups helps keep carbon to a minimum.

 

[FZ1]

Found this on a FB group, thought I'd share it. Who doesn't like good tear down pics?

Background:

"2012 Cruze Eco 1.4L Turbo. This car has seen nothing but AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 since 2013, and has been tuned since as well, first with Trifecta then with BNR, making about 50hp and 70lb-ft more power *to the wheels.* Starting in about 2015, the car was used to tow my 14' boat as well as my utility trailer and various uhaul trailers. Since I started working from home full time in 2015, most of the driving was short trips, wide open throttle to redline daily.
At 72k miles, I pulled the cams to upgrade valve springs. The oil in service at the time of this disassembly had 12,500 miles and 2 years on it, about 1/4 of which was with a trailer behind it and the rest of it hitting max boost daily. I stopped caring about fuel economy once I stopped commuting. The oil change prior to that went 15,622 miles and 18 months, and all oil changes before that were at 10,000-15,000 miles (dealer drained it a couple times to service the oil pan and PCV system or they'd all have been 15k miles)."

View attachment 148247View attachment 148248View attachment 148249View attachment 148250View attachment 148251

Very Nice!

 

[Tower of Power]

How did you measure this wear? Measuring comparative wear between oils is not an easy task, I'm surprised you were able to perform such a test.

I obtained 500 samples from BlackStone Labs for my engine, took average of all samples covering 10 years. I then tested AC Delco (Mobil) and Supertech for several OCIs, been using Amsoil SS for the past 2 years. My iron levels are 1/4 when using the other brands. Aluminum, Chromium, Lead, Copper does not even register. I use TestOil.com. They offer more tests, includes Particle Count, Oxidation, Nitration, TBN, and Analytical Ferrography for lower costs than BSL. Plus their Gas Chromatography is far superior to BSL fuel dilution estimation. A must for GDI engines.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/amsoil-0w-40-euro-10500k-12-equinox-2-4l-150k-long.343936/

 

[kschachn]

Still not happening. Did your statistical analysis of the UOA indicate this was valid data?

 

[vinu_neuro]

I would be careful would making conclusions off just top-end condition with very extended oci's. I have seen heads that looked clean with extended oci's but the pistons being pretty gruesome on teardown.