hey my friends 85 gsl-se went bye bye yesterday. He said he was driving one day and his car started to die like if was running out of gas. He stoped and took a look under the hood. He said the hose to the oil cooler came off while driving. He put the hose back on and started the car. He said now the car feels like it has no power. what could have caused the hose to just pop off like that. Also what kind of engine damage are we looking at. Thanks

 

Well if the hose came off, all the oil ran out meaning he ran the engine with no oil meaning massive damage is possible.

 

Not good.

The rotary engine gets about 30-40% of it's cooling from oil flow within the rotors to the oil cooler, so if you lose an oil cooler line; 1) all the oil gets pumped out right quick, and 2) you starve the internals of your engine for lubricating oil and cooling medium, causing massive internal engine damage.

More information is required to see if this is something that can be repaired easily, but if he drove it hot, or without oil for any length of time - it's toast. Even as a rebuild core, it's shot. Rotary engines will not run well if they have insufficient oil or have been overheated.

Did he put more oil in it after he put the oil cooler hose back on? If not, he's screwed if he's been driving it for any length of time.

Essentially, if it has oil now and he has lost power, then it's likely that the apex seal springs, and most other springs for side seals and corner seals have been 'tempered' by the overheating condition, and the engine has lost compression. Usually, when the engine overheats, it will also cook the sealing rubbers around the cooling (water) and oil systems, so he may have coolant in his oil, and oil in his antifreeze coolant - this is a sure sign that the engine is done-for.

By the time you see symptoms of an oil system failure, the damage has been done. Sorry it's not better news.

Have your friend post up here with what happened and what it's doing - we may be able to assist to keep it running for awhile longer,

 

just the thought of a rotor spinning @ 2000 rpm with little or no oil makes me cringe.

It'll might time for a full recon. or maybe a new engine. but thats worst case senario.

 

Wouldn't you notice the drop in oil pressure before damage is done?

I don't care what's going on at the time... As soon as that idiot light comes on, or in better equipped cars, the gauge drops, the key goes off and I'll coast to the side of thte road.

 

needle should have dropped. engine is prolly toast though. if he's lucky the rotor housings will be ok, not much else will be though

 

Yeah, you would think you'd noticed that. But then again, most people don't pay attention to their dash for some reason. They see a light and just keep driving, thinking...huh..what's that mean?

 

I pay attention to ALL gauges aside from the speedo... Nobody needs that anyhow.

 

yea man I freaked when my low oil light came on. First I was like HEY! it works. But soon after I started to scream and rip flesh off.

 

Heh, same here.

 

I get nervous when I here wierd noise that come from other people's car that I think is coming from my car.

 

Smells, sounds, anything...

 

ok he when than had happend he said he just poped the hose back on and drove it home. Then he put oil in it and fixed it right but it ran like it had no power. well the damn hose came off again on the way to the shop and his motor locked up so there is no hope now. RIP GSl-SE by the way he said he was watching the oil guage he said it droped and befor he could say what the hell boom. Anyway thanks guys he will now most likley part the rest of the car out now;.

 

I did that, turned the car off the second I saw the low oil light come on. Front stationary gear bearing was seized to the e-shaft and one of the front thrust bearings was trashed. Everything else was good.