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Could this contribute to any noticeable knocking or other sounds? I ask because I get the occasional sound that everyone seems to be chasing. I have had moderate lead results since my first UOA and my oil looks slightly gray like yours. I did just drop the pan and didn't find anything real glaring although I didn't inspect as closely. I checked end play just using a caliper measuring from a fix point and it seemed ok although I had the belt still on. I did find a weird very soft piece of something in the vtec screen although it sorta felt brittle like wood (picture attached). I may recheck the end play this time removing the belt. I could see how this may transpire and not be real apparent, the major wear and increased metals only happens when it spins with the crank, otherwise it just sorta sits there till you push the clutch. Best case thoughcatching it early how salvageable is the engine once it starts turning and scoring the block/crank?
Working at a Honda dealership for the last 16 years , I have seen three of these crank walk issues . The first two were ap1's with mega heavy duty clutches to cope with turbo power . The clutch was the assumed culprit of these two . The third one is where things get interesting. This car was a mint stock 03 that scored all the cylinder walls from lack of oil presumably . I replaced the shortblock with a factory fresh unit . I tried to persuade this customer to replace the clutch since it was out and he declined . The friction disc was worn pretty good but not to the point of causing a problem . I completed the job and returned the car to the customer . A couple of weeks went by and the car returned with a clutch issue . I assumed that it might have been a hydraulic issue but this was not the case . It had crank walk . This shortblock didn't even make 1k ! From a technical standpoint i can't tell what happened at all . All stock and a brand new engine failing ? How can this be ? Honda engineering said it was a clutch issue that caused the thrust washers to fail . Another engine was installed along with a new clutch this time around and the car never returned(even for an oil change) . I've seen many s2k's including my own with aftermarket clutches with zero issues and still utilizing the clutch pedal switch . I think there has to be an issue with the assembly process or with the cranks themselves . It is rather interesting none the less .
To me it seems that this issue manifests by the washer taking rotational wear which it isn't meant for and then wearing to the point of destruction as to why or what proceeds that level of damage or wear is the question. But clearly those pictures show this happening.
Here's a closer view of my failed thrust washers. On the flat side the top one shows a little wear on the corners, but you can still see the laser etching in the middleand the bottom one shows some rotational wear on the whole washer.
On the channeled sides the top one shows a little wear and the bottom one doesn't show any rotational wear outside of what is clearly mangled from rumbling around the engine.
the photo of the oil channel side of the less damaged one, can you find what created that very distinct arc of wear?
Yeah and my buddy wants to drop the oil pan to see if that bottom end is salvageable. I'm at the point where I'm just trying to find a new block because I have a feeling it's absolutely trashed
