Oil Contamination? Starvation?

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Easy240
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:57 am
Car: 1991 Nissan 240sx SE

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I'm tearing down a 1991 KA24DE with 800 miles on the rebuild. She developed a small knock, so I ripped her out before any damage to the crank.
Here is one of the rod bearings:
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So my question, is the a result of improper installation? Oil starvation? The oil did get contaminated by fuel from a stuck open fuel injector at one point, but the car was only started/idle for diagnostics, and oil was changed before driven. Or is this normal wear for 800 or so miles?


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Easy240
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:57 am
Car: 1991 Nissan 240sx SE

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C'mon Techs, chime on in. :help:

compactfean
Posts: 2602
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:28 am
Car: 89 240sx s13 sr gt3071r 23psi
B14 sentra ser sr20de-t 7psi
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Location: reno nv

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The pictures don't show up on my phone but basically if the crank didn't mic out or clearances weren't checked either could cause that. Also if the bearings were installed ”backwards” it will cause that. (oil hole on wrong side)

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Easy240
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:57 am
Car: 1991 Nissan 240sx SE

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The block had been decked/honed/bored os, the crank was ground for .25 undersize bearings and polished, balanced with the rods/pistons. The Machinist sold me these bearings when I picked up the crank and block. I did use platic gauge to check clearance on main bearings, but not on the rods. I have manley h beam rods with ARP bolts, but no arp main studs.
The oil pump was also rebuilt. Oil was changed 5 times during the 800 miles with 5w-30 castrol gtx (was cheap) and Bosch oil filters.
It DID run hot a couple times do to air in the system, but it never over heated.
Been really busy lately, but I had a chance to measure this rod bearing and it is indeed the wrong size! Lesson learned.
The machinist told me to order undersize 0.25, but changed his mind and said he would get them. This guy is a master, so I trusted him. Too much I guess!
Factory specs from FSM state undersize 0.25mm thickness should be 0.0769 - 0.0772 in. Mine is 0.0699 in.!
I remember why I didn't plastic gauge the rods, I kept messing up the line taking off the rod cap! Any good advice on doing this?
Thanks again everyone!


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