Turning engine upside down?

[jsoderbe]

Hi,

I read somewhere that turning an engine upside down could release debris laying in the bottom of the case, potentially destroying the engine. Any thoughts on this? I am removing a 3.2 that need some oil tube replaced, and it is way easier to do upside down on the engine stand than laying under the car.


Regards,

Johan

[billjam]

Johan,
I don't know what you are reading, but if there is debris in the bottom of your engine, you already have a problem, so turning it upside won't make it worse.

If you are replacing the oil return tubes, doing it under the car is not that hard.
Check this Pelican tech article.

[Walt Fricke]

Bill is right - anything loose of significance will have come out when you drained the oil.

But most of us who have replaced the stock return tubes just crushed them with water pump pliers or the like and yanked them out. Easy as can be in the car. And installing the collapsible ones is also easy. If you haven't pulled the motor yet, perhaps you shouldn't.

Now if you want to clean and spiff it up, and do various other things, about everything is easier with the motor up on a stand - valve adjustment, thermostat O ring replacement, mucking about in the chain housings, and so on. But there is a real time cost to R&Ring an engine.

If you leave it in the car, you can even do the tube replacement without draining the oil. Just jack the car way way up on one side (good jackstands front and rear) and do it, then repeat on the other side. You won't lose much oil that way.

[jsoderbe]

I think I got it from Rennlist, in regards to 996:es that apparently are known for a lot of stuff in the oil sump. Good to hear that there is no problem with my 3.2.

I am removing the engine to put it in another car, so it is going out no matter what.


Thanks!

Johan