Big Bang!

[TVR5]

After reading much about the speed 6 engine going BANG, what actually happens? Does it go F1 style with loads of white smoke piling out of the exhaust, or does it just not turn over one morning, or does it just start making an ever worsening knocking sound?

From reading loads of threads on it (knackered engines), I reckon it's often (not always) down to being careful with the running in period and thereafter letting it warm up properly before flooring it. That's certainly how the engine in mine feels anyway, ie when it isn't warmed up it runs like a bag of spanners and clearly wouldn't like to be revved, thereafter (after 60 degrees C has been attained on oil temp) it runs fantastic and likes being revved (although still running in and so I've only just got to 4100 rpm so far).

Is this about right, ie Oil minimum of 60 degrees before taking it past 2500rpm?

[osullivd]

Yup, lots of threads which cover running in periods etc, but the main advice seems to be NEVER rev it whilst the engine is cold - which is below 50C - i.e. keep to approx 2K revs or lower below this temp. 60C is considered warm and as such as long as the engine sounds fine and is running OK you are good to go...

Running in though is still a matter for debate - there appears to be some less than correct advice going around that you should run the engine in over 5 or even 6K! This appears to be wrong even to the factory, which is much more like 2K to run the engine in (advice from previous post quoted below)

"You can be too cautious in which case glazing can occur but most advice is on the cautious side. I suggest the following:

<500 miles - Light throttle up to 3K, never labour engine

500-1000 miles - Light throttle up to 3.5K with a few runs to 4K in 3rd on light/med throttle

1000-1500 miles - Light/medium throttle progressing revs to 4.5K at 1500 miles. Gradually increase occasional medium throttle runs to 4.5K in 2/3/4th gears

1500-2000 miles - Medium throttle progressing revs to 7K on occasions at 1800-2000 miles. Use med/hard acceleration sparingly at 1500 but start to push hard on occasions when engine nicely warm as miles reach 2000

>2000 Simply ensure engine is always warm before any hard acceleration"

[TVR5]

Thanks for advice!

Mines only done 500 miles and I occasionally run it up to 4000rpm. (Just a bit over sometimes as revs pick up that quick). Was told by the garage max 4k revs would be ok from day 1 anyway.
I am very wary of being too soft on the engine as on a previous Griffith I had the pistons glazing problem, and was told by TVR power in Coventry to give it (Griffith) more stick. So want to avoid that problem now.

But it's blooming hard trying to keep to more or less the guide lines stated in the hand book or the ones in your reply. Requires concentration all the time. And as I say I reckon a lot of people (especially new to TVR) will obviously not stick to them, and succumb to temptation and rev it farily hard from day 1 and from cold. Hence problems...

[MikeE]

I think your link between engine blow ups and running in abuse has been widely accepted as untrue. If your going to have problems with stretched valves and dissintegrating finger followers this is more than likely down to manufacturing faults than abuse.

Now I'm not saying you shouldn't be careful running it in, but don't become paranoid about it because any potential future problems may be completely outside your control anyway - so my advice would be to just enjoy it to the full once you've picked it up from the 1000 mile service