Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
Air doesn't lubricate, but the pickup for the oil pump is normally at the bottom of the sump and if I recall from my H.S. physics air is lighter then oil so it will be at the top of the sump. I kinda doubt if they had the engine running for that great of a time period that the engine would have seize due to air in the oil.
|
The crankshaft works exactly the same as the blade in your kitchen blender, if the oil level is high enough for the counterweights to contact the oil surface. When you incorporate air into the oil by whipping it, the air is entrapped. The oil turns foamy, sort of like a malted milk beverage. The weight of the air is irrelevant.
The pump picks up this blended mixture, and the oil/air misture can no longer perform its lubrication task, since a high percentage of it is air bubbles. Cranks and rod bearings are the first to go.
Highschool autoshop (it ran right after Physics 12).
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White
Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
|