Got disappointing news from engine builder oil related

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Dec 24, 2024
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Piggybacking off my last thread, I reached out to the engine builder of my motor requesting the bearing clearances. His "break in" sheet with the motor says to run 5W40 or 10W40, but if needed 5W30 or 10W30 could be used. Wanting more information I reached out for the clearances and this is what I was told:

"We do not include our build sheets with shortblocks. It would be a fee of $250 for us to provide the build sheet. Clearances have been set for the application discussed and because we keep all the data on file, it will be available if a failure happens."

Wasn't the news I was hoping for in the email but I wanted to ask you guys if there is any way to figure out the most ideal oil weight without it. The only thing I could think of is possibly an oil pressure gauge info.
 
Thicker is always better, it's almost impossible to go too thick*. Going off pressures is going to be hard, the conrod bearing clearance has less influence on the pressure.

It's possible to go thicker than needed and sacrifice a few hp but that's really a motorsports issue where every hp counts.

Go with the 40 weight he's suggesting, especially if this is a vehicle that will be driven enthousiastically.
 
What a bunch of miserable blow hards. Trying to scam you out of $250 just to tell you what they already have on hand for what you already paid them thousands for on the rebuild? Insane, the build sheet should be free if you're their customer.

Just use a 40 grade. But what engine is this and what's your cold and hot idle oil pressure. I bet it's fine with a 5w-40. 15w-40 if it doesn't get cold.
 
You need to find a New engine builder!

This is a VERY popular and good Honda engine builder. But I agree with all of you guys, to say I was pissed at first and said out loud some choice words would be an understatement.

Not to mention I bought ALL the parts, sent them to this place, and only paid them for labor. So basically you're holding hostage information on parts that I own. :mad:
 
Thats CRAZY trying to milk that last $250.00 out of you. Worst case scenario -- sign a waiver not to release any information??? As other posters mentioned moving forward -- why not run what was recommended -- even by a snake...

I am running 40 weight. I just am always the type that wants as much information as I can have. Verify verify verify
 
Not to mention I bought ALL the parts, sent them to this place, and only paid them for labor. So basically you're holding hostage information on parts that I own. :mad:
The builder had no revenue on your engine from parts markup. Many shops depend on this. Perhaps a build sheet would have been included if parts had been bought from him. Just a thought.
 
The builder had no revenue on your engine from parts markup. Many shops depend on this. Perhaps a build sheet would have been included if parts had been bought from him. Just a thought.
They shop probably has a $160 shop rate and experienced mechanics that complete 2 hours jobs in 1, leaving plenty of room for revenue generation. I have been a customer at a handful of high performance shops and have never once been charged for a "build sheet".

One includes includes a master GTR tech, who has written off plenty of things to save me money; Like receiving too much Gtr brake fluid and doing a brake flush for free. Or a shop giving up one of their shop car tuning spots to tune mine, which included a 6 hour drive to the tuner.

This type of customer service makes me take my cars to them for simple things like oil changes and brake changes that I could do myself. Making them far more than the cost of a "build sheet".
 
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"We do not include our build sheets with shortblocks. It would be a fee of $250 for us to provide the build sheet. Clearances have been set for the application discussed and because we keep all the data on file, it will be available if a failure happens."
$250 rip off fee to email info that would take seconds for him to find, "we keep all data on file." That speaks volumes to me.
 
Flip side: that is their intellectual property. Why should it be given away for free?

You bought a service/product. Not the rights to the knowledge or design. Ex: you bought the fried chicken, not the fried chicken recipe.

Just my 2 cents. Capitalism is great but it can be a B sometimes. 🤷‍♂️
 
His break in sheet says 5w40 I would run that !
then if a problem arises that may be oil related you can say hey man running what you told me.
 
This is a VERY popular and good Honda engine builder. But I agree with all of you guys, to say I was pissed at first and said out loud some choice words would be an understatement.

Not to mention I bought ALL the parts, sent them to this place, and only paid them for labor. So basically you're holding hostage information on parts that I own. :mad:
Best engine builder or not, don’t support that nonsense. Regardless, run a 40 weight and have fun with that beast!
 
Builder probably pissed you didn’t buy the parts through him at his markup. He’s looking to make up the loss. Like you I’d be a little upset too.
 
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