What I learned at Alabama Int'l Dragway

Thanks again to all of you! You guys know the feelings are mutual!:rockwoot:
 
LOGANSTANFORTH said:
Needs to be Tech Inspectors to police some of this stuff, i worked for 5 years at a dirt track as a tech inspector, if it wasnt safe or i thought it would be a detriment to the whole show, they were told it will be fixed or they would have a long ride home........next time i think we need a little bit better selection process if there is going to be a showcasing of diesel motorsports (think Invitational).......we cant have multiple oil-downs every time we have a show or we will never be allowed anywhere.......we gotto get this stuff together before we lose it all.......cause how many more times does this happen before no diesel drivers show up cause there is a 75%chance your gonna get cut.......one time, shame on you, two times, shame on me type of thing.......
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I agree and I think all of the teams will take this as a learning experience and take a little more precautions next time. Everyone had all of their safety equipment in place but no one could foresee the oil down because we generally don't have them.

Dennis
 
LOGANSTANFORTH said:
Needs to be Tech Inspectors to police some of this stuff, i worked for 5 years at a dirt track as a tech inspector, if it wasnt safe or i thought it would be a detriment to the whole show, they were told it will be fixed or they would have a long ride home........next time i think we need a little bit better selection process if there is going to be a showcasing of diesel motorsports (think Invitational).......we cant have multiple oil-downs every time we have a show or we will never be allowed anywhere.......we gotto get this stuff together before we lose it all.......cause how many more times does this happen before no diesel drivers show up cause there is a 75%chance your gonna get cut.......one time, shame on you, two times, shame on me type of thing.......
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It is possible to easily pass tech and still oil down the track. Many factors can cause this that do not present in even the most rigorous safety tech inspection.

As stated above, we all need to be more proactive ourselves to try and prevent these issues. The devil many times in the details; little issues that can easily be overlooked.

Oil catch cans may be present, but if not emptied every round can fill and cause oil on the track. Easy to forget. Gotta check em.

Pit thrashes between rounds can introduce a myriad of possible scenarios; it only takes one loose bolt or clamp not properly secured.

Further, catastrophic engine failures can result from changes in tune to improve performance. Example: Tech inspection cannot prevent a turbo explosion from an aggressive jet change on a nitrous system as a competitor attempts to better his ET. Happened before, likely will again.

The part I can agree about, but not to the point of fault on the promoter of showcase events such as this, is careful selection of vehicles. Not that their was any examples in this case, but unproven setups or teams with a history of pushing setups past their limit need not apply. This can be further iterated in a drivers meeting. Save the gonzo stuff for another time if opportunity is given to showcase diesel performance at a venue such as this. Be considerate of others and save the unproven methods for the local test n tune. $.02

Diesel only event or showcase class at a larger gasser venue: oil downs take time and never lend to a smooth entertaining show for the fans our sport so desperately needs.
 
Were the faster trucks running engine diapers? Probably the worst diesel oil-downs I am used to seeing are from Cummins "freeze" plugs getting pushed out.

Regards,
Michael Pliska
 
Well to clear up all talk of oil downs. after getting home saturday night at steele. we tore the tranny out of the race truck sunday mornig to send back to suncoast on monday. after removing the tranny we found the valve cover gasket had pushed out the back of the valve cover. this gasket was brand new from cummins 2 weeks ago and has 5 passes and about 30 miles on it. it has not leaked a drop of oil from day1 until the 2nd passes saturday night. so if there is any body out there can for see things like this happening please let me know. there was a brand new cummins gasket put back in there today. i have made over 100 passes at steele in the past 6 months and have not leaked 1 drop of anything on the track. i also have done all my licensing passes there. jason collins the owner of the track is the one who signed off on my Comp license.
 
BigDodge said:
Well to clear up all talk of oil downs. after getting home saturday night at steele. we tore the tranny out of the race truck sunday mornig to send back to suncoast on monday. after removing the tranny we found the valve cover gasket had pushed out the back of the valve cover. this gasket was brand new from cummins 2 weeks ago and has 5 passes and about 30 miles on it. it has not leaked a drop of oil from day1 until the 2nd passes saturday night. so if there is any body out there can for see things like this happening please let me know. there was a brand new cummins gasket put back in there today. i have made over 100 passes at steele in the past 6 months and have not leaked 1 drop of anything on the track. i also have done all my licensing passes there. jason collins the owner of the track is the one who signed off on my Comp license.
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Install a vent on the valve cover and run it to a catch can to relieve the pressure. We had had that problem one time before and this fixed it.

Dennis
 
And don't forget to empty it after each pass or at least check depending on how much blow by your engine has.
 
Dennis Perry said:
I agree and I think all of the teams will take this as a learning experience and take a little more precautions next time. Everyone had all of their safety equipment in place but no one could foresee the oil down because we generally don't have them.

Dennis
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im not refering to a LEGITIMATE oil down, parts failure due to just failure i dont have a problem with, its when carelessness, unneccessary risks, and other things were done that all combine together to make a unsafe vehicle.....

Amish Elegance said:
It is possible to easily pass tech and still oil down the track. Many factors can cause this that do not present in even the most rigorous safety tech inspection.

see above

As stated above, we all need to be more proactive ourselves to try and prevent these issues. The devil many times in the details; little issues that can easily be overlooked.

Oil catch cans may be present, but if not emptied every round can fill and cause oil on the track. Easy to forget. Gotta check em.

Pit thrashes between rounds can introduce a myriad of possible scenarios; it only takes one loose bolt or clamp not properly secured.

yes somethings are easy to forget, most teams prepare a list of "have too's" that must be completed before that vehicle ever leaves the pit stall, tire pressure, oil level, lug nuts, fuel, blah, blah, blah, this is where stepping up your game takes place.......before the teams car ever left the trailer we would nut & bolt everything we touched, cause it cost alot to put that pavement car out on the track every week.......

Further, catastrophic engine failures can result from changes in tune to improve performance. Example: Tech inspection cannot prevent a turbo explosion from an aggressive jet change on a nitrous system as a competitor attempts to better his ET. Happened before, likely will again.

your right but there is a line you need to draw......sure some tweaking here and there is fine but if i show up with a stock truck and make a pass then throw a 200 horse shot on it and blow it......i'm at fault.....do your "testing" on the dyno, not when there is a race to be run and dont worry i have done a few SWAG things that worked but ive learned from that and just put it back on the trailer if it aint safe.....

The part I can agree about, but not to the point of fault on the promoter of showcase events such as this, is careful selection of vehicles. Not that their was any examples in this case, but unproven setups or teams with a history of pushing setups past their limit need not apply. This can be further iterated in a drivers meeting. Save the gonzo stuff for another time if opportunity is given to showcase diesel performance at a venue such as this. Be considerate of others and save the unproven methods for the local test n tune. $.02

exactly, i dont have a problem with guys out there going fast and making insane power, but do it safely......no point to lose a foot due to a converter explosion cause you were too cheap to spend 400 bucks on a blanket when you already spent 50K on the truck, or a horrible fire cause you used plumbing fitting instead of the "expensive" stuff......if anyone here has ever seen what happens when a fire suit melts to a persons legs they will understand, i watched it happen to a good friend as i drug him out of his racecar when he blew an oil line cause he rigged it together.................

Diesel only event or showcase class at a larger gasser venue: oil downs take time and never lend to a smooth entertaining show for the fans our sport so desperately needs.
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BigDodge said:
Well to clear up all talk of oil downs. after getting home saturday night at steele. we tore the tranny out of the race truck sunday mornig to send back to suncoast on monday. after removing the tranny we found the valve cover gasket had pushed out the back of the valve cover. this gasket was brand new from cummins 2 weeks ago and has 5 passes and about 30 miles on it. it has not leaked a drop of oil from day1 until the 2nd passes saturday night. so if there is any body out there can for see things like this happening please let me know. there was a brand new cummins gasket put back in there today. i have made over 100 passes at steele in the past 6 months and have not leaked 1 drop of anything on the track. i also have done all my licensing passes there. jason collins the owner of the track is the one who signed off on my Comp license.
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i wasnt stating anyone was at fault, or a bad driver or anything, i understand about parts failure, TRUST ME on that one, but im glad we all learned something from this.........if it wasnt for my work i would gladly volunteer what i know to be a tech inspector for the races but being in iraq kinda kills that whole idea.....
 
Dennis Perry said:
I agree and I think all of the teams will take this as a learning experience and take a little more precautions next time. Everyone had all of their safety equipment in place but no one could foresee the oil down because we generally don't have them.

Dennis
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How did Caged Furry run??
 
BigDodge said:
Well to clear up all talk of oil downs. after getting home saturday night at steele. we tore the tranny out of the race truck sunday mornig to send back to suncoast on monday. after removing the tranny we found the valve cover gasket had pushed out the back of the valve cover. this gasket was brand new from cummins 2 weeks ago and has 5 passes and about 30 miles on it. it has not leaked a drop of oil from day1 until the 2nd passes saturday night. so if there is any body out there can for see things like this happening please let me know. there was a brand new cummins gasket put back in there today. i have made over 100 passes at steele in the past 6 months and have not leaked 1 drop of anything on the track. i also have done all my licensing passes there. jason collins the owner of the track is the one who signed off on my Comp license.
Click to expand...

LOGANSTANFORTH said:
im not refering to a LEGITIMATE oil down, parts failure due to just failure i dont have a problem with, its when carelessness, unneccessary risks, and other things were done that all combine together to make a unsafe vehicle.....






i wasnt stating anyone was at fault, or a bad driver or anything, i understand about parts failure, TRUST ME on that one, but im glad we all learned something from this.........if it wasnt for my work i would gladly volunteer what i know to be a tech inspector for the races but being in iraq kinda kills that whole idea.....
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Guys I have taken a Lott of ribbing over the last couple of years with my freeze plug incident:doh: so thanks for taking the monkey off my back:Cheer:
it can happen to the best of us, better luck next time.
Sounds like a good time all in all.
 
Your oildown is a thing of legend Dave.......
 
stupidity

Big Swole said:
I learned that the AL Int. Track guy that kicked us out is a piece of Chit!!

I also learned that some people need to learn that when their chit is broke, DON'T try putting it back on the track and hold it to the floor!!!!

And to the old Fart that disrepected my girl friend about where she parked, Say that chit to my face next time!!! That crowd can stay a$$'s at home next time! That kinda attitude is NOT welcome in this sport!![/QUO
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To the idiot who thinks anyone got them thrown out of Steele they should get the facts and that is the person renting the track for that day canceled the diesels because they were running out of time to put the big show on. Maybe you sshould get lessons on finding out the fact before you open your big mouth and get your so call girlfriend parking lesson also
 
This thread will not become a bashfest.


Period.... From ANY side..... Clear?????
 
Dennis Perry said:
Install a vent on the valve cover and run it to a catch can to relieve the pressure. We had had that problem one time before and this fixed it.

Dennis
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i have 4 vent on the motor already. 1 on timming cover,1 on the lifter cover,1 on the spare turbo drain, and 1 on the back of the valve cover. they all run into 2 catch cans. after looking at the gasket the rubber came off the steel core. cummins has replaced it.
 
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