225 and my 250 engine fail

Well, i thought it would last longer than it has only done about 4000 miles and the engine started making noises when on track at Thruxton on Thursday.

Completed the sighting laps, did a few more to get the tyres up to temp, came in to adjust the pressures and change the damping settings on the BC's.

Went out again and i think it was the forth lap came down to the chicane and noticed a horrible noise from the engine, drove around slowly for a cool down lap, pulled into the garage and at tick over you wouldn't think anything was wrong, reved it up and there was a terrible noise.

Left it to cool down for half an hour but made a knocking noise on start up for a second and then went quite.

Decided to call it quits and make my way home, engine seemed okay up to 3k rpm, nearly managed to get to Stonehenge by that time it was only good to 1800 rpm, so stopped and called the RAC.

Today i stripped the dephaser pulley off as looking at a couple of youtube videos the noise sounded the same, i could not get it to rattle as some showed.

So the next thing was to pull the sump off, well there was a lot of metal bits stuck to the pick up filter, removed number 2 big end and fine, removed number 3 and the shells were stuck to the con rod and there is slight marking on the crank, so now the engine is out and the crank is almost out but my tea was ready so i left it and went home.

I don't know how or why it happened, i have changed the oil 3 times in the last 4k miles and i don't drive it that hard
So looks like a crank regrind, new bearings and oil pump could have been worse

 

Cheers Andrew
The engine was only supposed to have done 32k miles when i bought it, so thought it would have lasted a bit longer, it's a standard lump as well std turbo, 630 injectors and a remap, so about the same as all 250 megs.

I am glad it happened here although i have European recovery, it took 8 hours to get home

 

I really don't think it's a map problem, it's more to do with long long right handed high speed corners and maybe some shit i missed when i bought the engine, this engine came from a crashed car the old sump was smashed and there was also a crack in the inlet manifold, so it had a fair bump.

Just got back from an engineering company, the crank is worn 2-4 thou but the biggie is the crank is bent by 100 thou

 

Got to get it sorted soon, i have two days at Spa and a track day at the ring in 4 weeks time

 

Hi Tutuur
It was more than a crack i could put my fingers though the sump the gap was that big, it had a lot of gravel in there when i pulled it off.
was thinking about changing the cold air side of the turbo for a bigger one, don't forget i fitted a 250 lump with a new turbo.

 

Hi Danny
To be honest it's quite easy, i did mine over a couple of days because it was going so well i thought i must have forgotten something.
If you have a complete engine the only thing is changing over the sensors and wiring loom from the old engine.

Have a look here http://www.rsmegane.com/threads/225-inferno-getting-a-250-engine.13083/

 

Hi Marc
Thats a big let go, was it on a track or road, mine was Thruxton and was giving it some

 

The Cat and fiddle, i know where that is last time was on a motorcycle nice road but a bit scary.
I fitted the 250 engine as it was supposed to be a stronger engine, i think, well i know i have got away quite lightly with mine, was thinking about forged rods, i am waiting for the engineering company to say if it a goer or not (1 con rod)

 

Quite useful aren't they, the guy with the Imprezza was impressed

 

when i went there there was 6 local ish lads on bikes and i ended up at the front as they were too slow , that was a long long time ago, even before they started using police bikes for you to follow and now average speed camera's what is this country coming to

 

I think it was something that more than likely in the crash, there was a huge crack in the sump big enough to put your hand through, so it would have dumped the oil very quickly and if the engine carried on running after the event who knows, i think the bearing breaking up then blocked the intake, the intake has quite a small slot in it compared to the intake gauze size.

The dephaser pulley i think starts knocking on start up, not 100% sure never had a car with this fitted before

 

I have just tried to find thee video again but i can't, Paul at RS said it will run fine not hooked up as it is really there to help with the emissions and economy.

I think i am going down the forged pistons and rods route just need to make a couple of calls tomorrow

 

Cheers matey, it is coming along nicely, i would have had the engine back in today if i could have got the torquing figures a couple of days ago, it's not costing that much to be honest, just time and because the weather isn't great i can crack on with it , like i posted before, this could have been from the time of the crash. will never know the answer to that one.

 

I thought i was okay with it having such low miles, i am not upset about it, it is just one of those things, apart from my time it's not costing that much, a set of gaskets and big end bearings, the crank is salvageable but i had a good r26 crank so that has been fitted.
Did make a phone call to get a set of forged con rods and pistons, was also going to get a R26r flywheel from them, they were supposed to get back to me regarding delivery times but never had a call back so they can keep it

 

Yes that's the one, it checked out okay, the only thing i have found different is the bolt size holding the crank pulley on.
So part of your old engine will live on

 

Only using the crank, the rest of the engine inside is spotless, but nearly everything i took off went in the degreasing tank, crank as well, then blew through all the oil ways in the crank and engine with 150 psi of air.
I think i have done 4 oil changes in the last 9k miles, once it starts going a bit dark i change it, well it does get a bit of abuse

 

A quick update
Had a quick look at my clutch the other day and the tangs on the drive plate are distorted, so because it was all out anyway i ordered a R26r clutch kit from Ktec, i know, i know, but it was on offer, turned up next day
So this morning i decided it was better for me to get the car back on the road than go to work
checked the flywheel, drive plate to make sure that they were the same size, all good fitted the flywheel and cover, fitted the new slave cylinder and refitted the gearbox to the engine.
Lifted the engine back in, went to connect the clutch pipe and they are different sizes, after a call to Ktec it seems that the clutch that was fitted was an aftermarket one and they use different fittings, so off to Renault parts to order a new part.

So not been able to get it running yet, but i have put all the suspension back together, i also fitted my new plain disc's and Endless pads.
I am busy tomorrow so i will pick the part up on Friday and then should be up and running over the weekend

 

I am not sure to be honest, if i do it will be 4 trackdays in 14 days

 

Nurburgring then 2 days at Spa and 600+ road miles should be run in by the time i get back