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High RPMs
The temps in my neck of the woods have actually been above freezing multiple days in a row! That turn of events has permitted me to get rid of the 5 pile of snow and ice stacked up in front of the door to the lift bay of the car barn. Could spring be coming? I am hopeful. The projects are mounting. I have boxes stacked in the car barn waiting for their contents to be removed and installed. Among other things they include a vacuum wiper motor, an oil pan and gaskets, spark plug loom wire separators, a third brake light, daytime running lights, tires, alloy rims, brake dust shields and who knows what else. Guess I will find out soon? I sure hope so! As promised, this month I present what I feel are interesting facts when it comes to lubrication and collector cars. I have also written to the engineer mentioned in the article for additional info. A reply has yet to be received by publication time. When it is, I shall indeed pass it on. Two major automotive milestones occurred this month that deserve comment. It has now been a decade since GM closed the factory gates at Oldsmobile. Why, us Olds diehards will never understand. But then Pontiac diehards can now say the same, cant they?
Corvair (1960-1969)
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April in 19 and 64 also marked the debut by Ford of the now venerable Mustang. The right car at the right time, to say the least. April Automotive Milestones4/07/1947 Henry Ford dies 4/17/1969 Ford debuts Maverick
4/18/1955 Lincoln becomes separate division of Ford 4/18/1964 Sunbeam debuts Tiger 4/21/1967 GM makes 100th million car 4/25/1901 NY first state to require license plates SpringBring it on!
THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coup de Ville, lots of Caddy information and an extensive repair library.
OldsD88@gmail.com
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At the initial start-up after six months or more of slumber just how much wear is caused when cranking the engine?
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(205.13 mph) over a measured mile. The speed record was set by CEO Lord Drayson driving a Lola B12 69/EV using specially developed Nanodrive lubricants. Mann explains that the speed-record program proved distinctly challenging: Lubricating the transmission in the Lola required good film strength at both extremes of temperature. With more than 520 kW from four electric motors, the torque from a standstill creates enormous loads, while at maximum speed high temperatures were generated, requiring sophisticated thermal management in the oils properties. The electric Lola is understood to produce 4000 Nm (2950 lbft) of torque. Now, much of the knowledge gained is being channeled into the development of future lubricants for EV racecars, such as Formula E, where saving driveline weight and package space through the use of innovative fluids is a huge benefit, he added. Low friction properties were equally important as successful wear protection to the Drayson speedrecord car. Maximum efficiency was essential in order to extract the greatest speed potential from the onboard battery pack, so one of our aims was to minimize friction losses, Mann said. In this respect, the lubricants are equally relevant to road-car applications, where anything that improves efficiency can be used to extend the useful range. Road-going EVs could also benefit from a reduction in the size and weight of the transmission and driveline, made possible by using the optimum lubricant to increase load capacity, protect against wear and reduce friction. Mann also stated that the ongoing development of oil technology could be of particular benefit to road-going hybrid drivelines, which are required to cope with increased torque loads as electric drives are added to existing transmissions and operate in confined conditions. The benefits that accrue from nanotechnology applied to EVs follow on conventional powertrain application, said Mann. Millers Oils has recently tested Nanodrive on a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 racecar, and results show a power increase of 1.5% compared to the original lubricant, claims Mann. The power gain is a result of reduced internal friction despite using the same viscosity as the original oil. Unlocking the energy normally wasted in friction gives the cheapest power increase you can get. In a heavily restricted formula it may be the only increase easily available, he explained. Less friction doesnt just provide more power, it also reduces the amount of heat produced, also reducing cooling requirements and decreasing engine wear, thus extending service intervals. Oil is often overlooked as just another consumable, but as the tests show, choosing the correct oil can make a significant difference. The tests were conducted on a hub dynamometer at Torque Developments International using Fortec Motorsports SLS GT3. Averages were taken from a series of three runs on each of two other products, both off-the-shelf SAE 5W40 engine oils. In a category with very few avenues to exploit, finding advantages in lubrication can make a big difference, said Trevor Foster, Fortec Motorsport team manager. In competitive motorsport you are continually looking for gains; most of the time they arent as simple as just replacing the engine oil! The Millers Oils formulation uses nanoparticles that produce a significantly lower friction coefficient than conventional boundary lubricants such as molybdenum disulphide. They have a greater surface area in proportion to their volume than bigger particles, making them more reactive and facilitating reduction of both friction and wear. The use of low viscosity (thinner) oils based on high-quality synthetic base stocks is known to reduce viscous friction in oil films but is limited by wear considerations, said Mann. Thinner oil films increase the risk and frequency of contact between opposing metal surfaces, requiring the use of improved anti-wear additives. Increased contact between surfaces also increases boundary friction. The benefits are also applicable for road cars, added Mann, with fuel-consumption reductions of up to 2.5% and complementary reductions in emissions. ______________ I do see potential here in terms of helping us to preserve the mechanical innards of our precious cars. Anything that reduces engine wear has to be good, right? If, when using this product, the cylinder walls, rings, crank, bearings etc. can remain lubricated notwithstanding a long winters nap, then I say where can I get it? That is the problem as, to my knowledge, Nanodrive Lube is not available commercially. Not yet anyway. Food for thought? Then again, I may stand corrected on the available commercially point Millers Oils: http://www.millersoils.co.uk/nanodrive.asp U.S. Distributor: http://performanceoilstore.com/products.asp?cat=68
The benefits that accrue from nanotechnology applied to EVs follow on conventional powertrain application .
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Speaking of Buick
Here is a must have Buick item from back in the day? I must admit that I cannot recall ever having actually seen this installed on any Buick. Sort of a precursor to daytime running lights?
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Ok, Ive had my say for the month. Now its your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and article contributions. I also ask that you please help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC at OldsD88@gmail.com. Now that you have finished reading this months issue of the newsletter, come start/ join an ongoing dialog with other CCC readers and like-minded car collector folk on the CCC Forum. Stop by, check us out and share your views . ______________________________________