on 5/4/02 11:57 AM, John Rodgers at j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET wrote: > Frank Grunthaners comments regarding breakin and synthetic oils, were > very instructional. It raises a question. > > In the pursuit of performance for our beloved boxes (not speed in this > case - just longevity with minimal maintenance) many different routes > have been traveled. Increasing wheel diameter so reduce highway cruise > RPM.......changing drive ratios in the tranny so as to avoid > inappropriate engine rpms yet still avoid being a traffic obstacle on > the freeway ........... rebuilding engines with balanced cranks, ceramic > coated piston skirts, bigger valves, etc, etc, etc. ...... all to add > long life with minimum maintenance. > > Now as it happens, in the general aviation industry, piston engine > cylinders are removable as they are in the VW aircooled and WBX > engine.During an overhaul aircraft cylinders are often bored to oversize > bring the cylinder back into round, and then cromeplated to bring the > cylinder barrel back to standard diameter. Aluminum pistons are the > mated with grey-iron rings which are wear to a magnificent match with > the crosshatching in the chrome in the cylinder barrel. The chrome > crosshatching will hold oil and help in lubrication of the rings after > breakin. The chrome plated cylinders stand up to wear extremely well, > much better than steel. > > My question is, "has this been done with the small automotive engines > that use replaceble cylinders? Would it be a practical thing to do? Why > do it? Why not? >
Because it is expensive. Aviation engines cost alot more, like $20,000+ for a rebuilt, and thats for your basic aircooled flat four. Part of that is because of liability issues but not all of it. |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.