The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding an oil system priming tool for small block and big block Chevrolet engines. This tool can be used to charge the oiling system prior to first-start of an assembled engine after rebuilding. 

The preferred method of pressurizing an oiling system is a pressure pot that uses a container with the oil to be used inside it. One then fills the system with air pressure in the container and an oil line attached to the engine through the oil pressure sending unit port. 

The AERA Technical Committee offers the following information regarding the engine malfunction light and low coolant lamp on. Customers may experience and check engine light on or engine misfire, stalling rough running or low coolant indicator light on. 

There have been no reports of external coolant leakage but, it may be possible depending on severity of this condition. Coolant has been reported in the engine oil and/or in the combustion chamber. The cause of this issue has been traced back to a broken head bolt(s). Broken bolts reduce clamping load, allowing coolant to enter the engine and/or the combustion chamber. 

By Steve Scott

If you are looking at a puddle of oil on the shop floor you might say it is the crankshaft seal or oil pan gasket. Or, maybe it is one of the gaskets that cause you to keep adding coolant back into the reservoir. Rightfully, every gasket or seal is important, but the first contender may well be the piston rings, especially the compression rings. You can pick up another quart of oil, or coolant at a local parts store, but you cannot buy replacement containers of compression.

How many miles are on your rings? Most owner/operators can tell you the number of miles or hours on their trucks or pieces of equipment. They can likely do the same for what is on the tires, oil, and other service parts. For example, a C15 Caterpillar engine with a 6.8" stroke running at 1500 RPM and traveling 65 MPH for one hour obviously has traveled 65 miles. But the piston rings have traveled up and down the cylinder walls a little over 19 miles in less than 7" increments. And, they’ve changed direction 180,000 times (twice for each complete rotation of the engine). Pretty demanding duty they perform!

Make plans to attend the Tech & Skills Conference on October 6 hosted by Rottler. This conference is held in conjunction with the Rottler 100 Year Anniversary Open House, October 5-7 in Kent, WA. A preliminary schedule of events is posted and accommodations information is now available on our website. Be sure to book your rooms early as they will sell out!

Steve and Chuck continue from their last episode on engine assembly to engine testing. Now that the engine is assembled, they discuss what the next steps are for testing the engine to make sure that there are no leaks and everything is running smoothly. They also recap recent industry events, as well as announce the upcoming retirement of one of AERA’s long-tenured employees.

All AERA members have a chance to win products from our Associate Members! New members each quarter, members who renew in that quarter, along with monthly pay members whose anniversary is in that quarter are automatically entered into a drawing. AERA will draw from this pool and announce the winner. Prizes ship to the winner freight pre-paid!