This is a N1 piston that came apart, when we lost oil pressure. The cooling channels are visible in the top two pieces |
Along with OEM, Reinik and Tomei both have oil cooling channel pistons.
Most oil cooled pistons on the left, RB26 stock pistons on the right |
Temperature distribution in gas and diesel pistons |
Advantages
- Cooler pistons
- Possibly less detonation
Disadvantages
- Heat added to oil temperature
- Oil whipped up in bottom end
- Cost
- Complexity
We all know that RB26 move a lot of oil, and if you run them hard, they all put a lot of heat into the oil. If you change from OEM pistons, most will not have the cooling channels in them. It is a special process to make them in the OEM STD, and N1 pistons, and the only aftermarket ones we know of are Reinik, and Tomei with oil channels actually in the pistons. It seems that Tomei no longer makes the cooling channel pistons, and Reinik has been renamed Reimax, but still offer cooling channel pistons. Was the benefit not worth it, cost? The bluecar has Tomei oil cooling channel pistons in it, was a nice surprise to find the last time it was opened up. I like the idea of them, of helping to control the piston temperature, but on a max effort car, perhaps piston crown coatings are more of a benefit. The oil hitting the bottom of the piston has to add some weight, and does add a lot of windage.
SR20det Oil cooling channel pistons |
No comments:
Post a Comment