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Old 10-08-2009 | 06:41 PM
  #5772  
dlenginesaustralia
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From: Western Australia, AUSTRALIA
Default RE: DL-50 engine

ORIGINAL: Cyberwolf


ORIGINAL: paul5992

Cyberwolf, You build engines for a living? That's hard to believe, if you don't realise that two, even well machined surfaces, need some kind of sealant to make an air tight seal. I'm not sticking up for Jody I just find it hard to believe that you have that much experience with a question like that.
Ok for one I do build engines for a living like I said I own and operate a automotive machine shop, I have nothing to prove to you or anyone else for that matter, I just asked a simple question.
As for two well machined surfaces needing something to help seal them up, yes they are called gaskets ever heard of them?
Or a compatable sealant of some sort.
Most the newer cars and light truck's have gone as far as useing no gaskets on such things as water pumps, oilpans, timing covers and so on with only a light coat of silicon to bind the two together form the factory, due to the fine finishes they put on mating parts. Ford had a major problem with this, the oil was attacking the silicon used and plugging up the oil pump screen and taking the bearings out their engines. This of couse happen's as a rule after the engine was out of warranty.
The use of Alum heads on Cast Iron blocks has presented a major problem that has been sort of fixed now, useing only a graphite head gasket with silicon inlays was blowing out after a short period of time so metal shims was added to allow the head to grow and shrink due to the coefficient of dissimilar metals used, Allows the head now to actually move on the block without blowing the gasket.
What I was asking was this and I will spell it out so even the simplest of minds can understand , does the factory add a sealant to the gasket to seal the two haves together of the DL-50 engine, if so there is an issue with the machine work done, weather it be a tolorance build up uneven surfaces or just to rough a finish or maybe even a torque issue I don't know but I do know this if its leaking there is something wrong someplace.
I to like my DL-50 engine so far it has been a great little engine But if there is a potential problem I would like to curb it in the mists before it can lead to other more serious things, such as a air leak causing a lean run. If oil can leak out air can leak in no getting around it.
While we havent had too many with leaking case halves, we have seen the odd one and a suitable gas resistant sealant will do the trick. The machined surfaces are normally pretty good with a fine finish, I suspect though the surface might get dinged up a little sometimes during assembly and/or a bit short on the sealant and then you have a leak.

Just for info heres some pics of the DL50 vs the DLE55 crank case. The 55 now has a lip and a recess to improve the seal/increase the surface area of the two mating surfaces. The 50 didnt have this....must have been enough of a problem for DL to want to make a change. Good to see they are always making improvements

See pics.

Cheers

Scott
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