Bearing noise

[Vettefan87]

Most of you already know that I had the motor in my vette rebuilt to a blown head gasket and antifreeze getting in with the oil. The engine rebuilders told me to put 1500 miles on the car with regular conventional oil which I followed to the T. The only problem I was getting, was a lifter making a little noise on cold starts, which they were getting ready to look at. But now I have a little over 1500 miles on the fresh motor and I just got done putting Mobil 1 10w30 Synthetic in it. I prefilled the K&N filter with oil and I started it. The bearings hit hard for about 3 seconds then as it went into slower idle I could hear the bearings knocking, just like they did when the antifreeze got to them, what would make them do this. I am going to take it back to the engine rebuilders but I just wanted to hear everyones thoughts on this? Did I put synthetic back in it to quick? Because when I changed it at 500 miles I put Castrol 10w40, and it only made a little noise and went away, now it does it all the time. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. By the way when I started it back up with the synthetic my oil pressure was at about 28.


Justin

 

[Vettefan87]

Just as an update. The engine rebuilders came out today and looked at it since I feared I would hurt the motor more then what it is driving it. They tried to do the blame trick, blaming it on Mann's for not cleaning out the oil cooler. After blaming it on them they tried blaming it on me, beating the car after I got it back. So it is back to the Corvette shop to get it pulled and back over to the rebuilders, well more down time. :cry

 

[Vettefan87]

Synthetic oils

I know there has been many discussion about synthetic oils versus regular conventional oil, and I am wondering if they are that much better. It is very odd that the bearing went out right after I changed over to synthetic, is there a reason that it went out? I am not sure if I will ever run synthetic in it once I get it back again.


Justin

 

[Moonunit 451]

You are getting JACKED! There must be some waranty! This is not the fault of oil. I know what you have done (which is to be overly careful, and not follow my advice). Small claims court does well for this type of stuff. I hope you documented everything and have witnesses. Cause you are about to get it HARD sideways if you don't fight like hell!

 

[Vettefan87]

I have a one year warranty on the motor. The only money I am out is to have the motor pulled and put back in which is about 800. I was just curious to see what might have caused the bearing to go bad. They cut my filter open and they said they found copper shavings, which is probably from the bearing caps? But I dont know what caused them to go out yet. I doubt its from the oil but its weird that it happened when I switched to synthetic. And like I said before they tried to blame it on me for going out and drag racing it and not taking it easy.


Justin

 

[Moonunit 451]

An engine going away that quickly has to be a error on their part. Especially since you say you heard knocking earlier. If I were you I'd fight them on the R & R! This is none of your doing.

If the guys that built it did the R & R it's on them. If it was built by someone else, they either have insurance for this type of problem, or generally have a relationship of some type with the installer. In either case the installer should recoup money for his work from the builder, not what you would be charged of course, but at a reduced rate, and the installer should not be stucking you. Do some homework and keep YOUR money.

 

[Vettefan87]

The place pulling it is not going to give me a deal. And if I want to try to get the money to get it pulled out of the rebuilders im going to have to take it to small claims court, because they will not front the money. I asked them "Shouldn't you guys pay for the motor to be pulled AGAIN?" And they pretty much said no. So it looks like I will have to take them to court. Does anyone know if I have to get the money from them to pull it before the motor is actually out of the car? Or does it not matter if I get it pulled and then take them to court? Thanks


Justin

 

[Redmanf1]

The reason you did not here it until you changed the oil is because of the 10/40. It will hide noise longer when there is a bearing clearance problem. If you found copper that is from the bearings. Most likely from poor machine or assembly work. What happens when you put a new motor on a dyno? It is progressively broke in, in the same day. One of the major reasons they do not want you to run a fresh motor hard is because if it comes apart usually most of the time you can save the parts. It is cheaper to fix that way. Also they could have used the wrong bearing size. I don't think that I would trust them. You might want to seek legal advice.

 

[Moonunit 451]

The reason you did not here it until you changed the oil is because of the 10/40. It will hide noise longer when there is a bearing clearance problem. If you found copper that is from the bearings. Most likely from poor machine or assembly work. What happens when you put a new motor on a dyno? It is progressively broke in, in the same day. One of the major reasons they do not want you to run a fresh motor hard is because if it comes apart usually most of the time you can save the parts. It is cheaper to fix that way. Also they could have used the wrong bearing size. I don't think that I would trust them. You might want to seek legal advice.

Kind of like the info I posted for ya on breaking in the motor. Drive it like you stole it after 500 mi.

You can take em any time within the statute. Get your car fixed, do the research and get YOUR money back in small claims. Good luck, and YOU CAN DO IT!

Don't lay down Be cool and get them after your car is running well! DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT! Be very conciliatory and pleasant for now no matter how hard it is. They know you're gonna sue. but they still hope you won't.

 

[Vettefan87]

The reason you did not here it until you changed the oil is because of the 10/40. It will hide noise longer when there is a bearing clearance problem. If you found copper that is from the bearings. Most likely from poor machine or assembly work. What happens when you put a new motor on a dyno? It is progressively broke in, in the same day. One of the major reasons they do not want you to run a fresh motor hard is because if it comes apart usually most of the time you can save the parts. It is cheaper to fix that way. Also they could have used the wrong bearing size. I don't think that I would trust them. You might want to seek legal advice.

This is exactly the theory my grandfather had. He has been around motors for a long time and he said when they turned the crank or what not they might not have gotten the right bearing in, and over the time of the 1500 miles just tore the bearing up. So I guess its to court.These people were recomended by everyone I talked to. but what do I do? Try to get a refund for the money I payed them to rebuild it, and get someone else to do it? Or let them try to do it again, and just try to get the money for pulling it and putting it back in? Thanks


Justin

 

[Moonunit 451]

Have them redo it.