Good indicator of RB26DETT condition

[zymotic]

Can't remember of find the thread I was thinking about just vaguely remember someone talking about part of the engine that peeled when the car had a hard life. Is this the thing they're talking about? What is it?

I mean just cos theres no paint on this thing does it mean its a shagged RB26DETT?

Possibly my dumbest ever question but I had to ask :Oops:

Soz forgot to use my crayons.

[(B1) MR_fanny]

wat are we lookin at exactly?? wat thing??

[(B1) MR_fanny]

oh i get it...the plenum. hmmm...dunno..hehe

i was also told to check the condition of the stickers with numbers that run along the wires closest to the engine. if theyre really shriveled then its an indication of a hard life. but then again were talkin about a 10+ yr old car here so who knows exactly.

[zymotic]

Ok so thats the plenum? What does it do? Intake for air or fuel???

[Serious-Seven]

thats the fuel plenum.

it does indicate condition most of the time. but it does mostly indication if the car has been in bad weather etc.

[T0nyGTSt]

Intake plenum with the stock fuel rail.

It depends... I'd reticient about really clean engines because someone might be hiding something?

Or do you just go with a dirty engine because the mechanicals are great and the seller doesn't want to hide anything?

I seen some 1996 GT-R's with peeling plenums - it's no indication of engine wear.

At then end of the day, I only trust a compression test.

T.

[Frosty]

you would think that paint flake could be because of heat = meaning trashed out

but yes its a 10yr old car

i mean that is a good question because im looking at the 26 conversion to mine and i seen a half cut of a 26 and it looked like complete shit.

anyone else have something to add to this??

[lwells]

The stock plenum seems particularly prone to peeling. Personally I would look at the cam covers as well as see if there is any sign of them being removed. Not really a sign of "health" per se, but should give you an indication if someone has frequently been removing them to meddle with timing, etc.

Lucien.

[zymotic]

I spoke to this engine rebuilder the other day and he was saying stuff about a compression test will only tell u a few things about the engines health at that particular point in time. He said that cars in Japan rarely go over 80kph and that when we get them here and go 100+ that sludge inside the engine can brake off and screw the engine.

I guess in that way its safer buying local cos at least u know its seen the highway and the "sludge" has reduced without causing engine probs. I call it sludge cos i dont know the correct mech term.

[lwells]

"Sludge" eh? This a technical term that mechanics use these days? Don't spose he had a few local delivered cars to sell you too

A compression and leakdown test is about as close as the average joe can get to checking the health of an engine without ripping the whole thing about.

With oils and lubricants replaced and driven reasonably softly for the first few days, an import should not be any less reliable. Slow city driving is not good for any car (compared to highway miles), but you would have much the same issue buying a car in Australia. Oh, and from what I have read, a lot of Japanese have a very liberal interpretation of their speed limits

Lucien.

[Emre]

The plenum in the first picture looks like it's been stripped on purpose, quite amateurishly, without being removed.

It can't be a case of paint peeling off, as there is no paint left on it.

However, the whole engine bay is quite dusty which can mean a number of things.

Possibilities are : The car has been sitting in storage for a long time, the owner has never opened the bonnet, the owner opened the bonnet but can't be arsed to clean it, etc... I certainly do not spend any time cleaning my engine bay. The appearence of an engine bay can reflect its mileage or fastidiousness of its owner but not its condition.

If it's a local car, get it checked.

If it's not a local car, get it checked.

[zymotic]

Ok so a compression test is when they test the pressure in the 6 cylinders right.

Is a leakdown test where they pour something in the engine and check for leaks

[T0nyGTSt]

A proper wet and dry compression 'give an indication' of what parts are likely to be faulty...

Rings, piston crowns, valves/stems.

I'd rather have farked valves rather than farked rings, crowns for obvious reasons.

T.