General Engine Tech

I was originally planning to write a bunch of FAQs and FYIs specifically for this page, but after several years of failing to find round tuits, I decided to just put up some old messages that might be useful.

Camshafts

  • Checking Clearances
  • How Cams Are Made
  • Cam Lift
  • Roller vs. Flat Tappet Cams
  • Cam Specifications
  • Ballistic Cams
  • Miller Cycle Cams
  • Lifters

    Valvetrain

  • Poppet Valves
  • Sodium-Filled Valves
  • Desmodromic Valves
  • Rotary Valves
  • Rocker Arms
  • Lash Caps

    Crankshafts

  • Regrinding Rolled Fillet Cranks
  • Gray vs. Nodular Iron
  • Nicked or Blemished Crank Journals
  • Crank Straightening
  • Teardropped Oil Holes

    Pistons

  • Boring Cylinders
  • Honing Cylinders
  • Forged Pistons
  • Hypereutectic Pistons
  • Cast Iron Pistons
  • Rings
  • Gapping Rings
  • Total Seal Rings

    Motor Fuels

  • Carbon Monoxide As Fuel
  • Combustion
  • Leaded Gas
  • MTBE and Oxygenated Fuels
  • The Truth About Octane

    Oiling and Bearings

  • Plain Bearings
  • --reason for roller bearing engines--
  • Bearing Clearances
  • Babbitt Bearings
  • Rod Bearings
  • Crossdrilling
  • Oil Pumps and Pressure
  • Oil Coolers

    Oil and Lubrication

  • Motor Oils
  • Synthetic Oils
  • Oil Analysis
  • Viscosity and Lubricity
  • White Oil
  • Oil Temperature