Here are the bad rod bearings from #4:

http://www.sr20deforum.com/GRM/032302/silversxbearings.jpg

At least this motor had both halves of the bearing in there. The crank journal doesn't feel as bad to the fingernail as my last one does. It is discolored black in many places though. As many of you know my digital camera sucks at close up pics and even though I tried like 10 different pics with many different lighting schemes and none of them came out well at all.

So what does it mean when the rod bearing is discolored and no so scored as opposed to not discolored and more scored? What does the discoloration mean by itself?

woah, that's nuts. well, when the rod knock appeared on that motor, it was right after i had put a CAI on, and i revved the engine immediately after starting that car, to hear the sound it produced. I then went out, did some hard driving..and then the noise became very apparent. hmm.. cool picture ***

What do you mean by "discolored"? Is it a copper color? When a bearing wears through the surface layer it shows the copper colored metal underneath. You need to get a better digital camera, dude :).

Oh, on a side note I tried cleaning up the head a bit today with some berryman's carb cleaner. You should see how clean the combustion chamber side is :). Going after the valvetrain side tomorrow. This thing is going to look like new when I'm done.

Josh

It's the crank rod journal that's discolored black in some areas. Again it's not as scratched up as the other crank I have, but the other crank didn't have this discoloration. What does the discoloration on the crank rod journal mean?

I will have a new digital camera on Thursday so I can hopefully get some decent shots of what I am talking about.

Not *exactly* related, but important. Used oil is very carcenogenic; you should be using latex gloves.

Not MY hands in the pic, but my hands did get equally as messy, as they did with the last motor and other things in the past. I had no idea this was true, although I realize about everything that exists in my garage is probably taking years off my life. :) Thanks for the tip.

The reason crank journal was discolored is cause someone drove on the highway, or beat the shiznit out of the engine causing the oil to get very hot, with the amount of heat produced between the crank and the bearing- cause the bearing is now gringing at the crank it will discolor the crank. Nothing to worry about, as long as the journal is good U can go ahead and put new bearings in the engine. BTW Latex is used on your ****- not hands, U should know that by now. With the amount of oil I deal with at work my hands will soon probably fall off due to cancer ehh ? Gloves suck U can get a good grip with em when they are slippery plus with the $$$ U would spend on the gloves U can get some beer and have a good time working on your SE-R :D

I found out when he installed his CAI he started the car and immediately tore down the road to hear the sound of it, and right after that run he heard the knock.

With the amount of oil I deal with at work my hands will soon probably fall off due to cancer ehh ?

Yes.

Gloves suck U can get a good grip with em when they are slippery plus with the $$$ U would spend on the gloves U can get some beer and have a good time working on your SE-R :D

Then get these instead. They grip well.

Mechanic's Gloves (http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW233.html)

Cold starts and WOT is what is the main cause of spun bearings on all cars not just SR20s. High temperatures of the rod/jourlnal combined with somewhat cool oil will turn the crank a different color. Have any of U welded before ? and then touched the place with a cold wet rag ? see how it turns dark...thats is what happens with the crank shaft.
Mike Jez
93 SE-R soon back on the road
01 Max tearing up the streets

so basically flooring my car at startup to get oil to my head is not a good idea :D j/k and if oil causes cancer, shit, thats bad. I used to be a mechanic (yes, for a living) and have gotten it in my mouth, eyes, ect, ect. same with tranny, ps fluid

I have this problem and was wondering how long my engine will last. Also what should i do to not make it worse. I only need it to last another month or so.

I think if you make sure the crank is still smooth and put a new bearing on it, possibly one size tighter, you will probably be ok. Follow the FSM on installing new bearings!

Funny, tomorrow I'm trading this bottom end as well as another head to SentraPLAYA for a GTi-R manifold tomorrow. :)

WOW. Attack of the old thread.

Originally posted by eric96ser
WOW. Attack of the old thread.

Wouldve been better if he made a new thread so everyone could tell him to do a search =)