Timekeeper explosion in P400

[DieselAmateur]

This thread has got me curious about whether oil starvation is a contributing factor to the gearset failure and if there's a relatively simple way to mitigate it some. The front timing chain/ gears get oil that has passed through the camshaft bearings from the rear to the front of the engine, after which the oil drains back to the sump correct? So varying oil pressure could really affect how much oil is making it to the front timing case.

I'm wondering if there is a relatively simple yet effective "insurance policy" of supplying a bit more oil to this area of the motor. Drill and tap the top of the timing cover and run an oil feed line to have extra oil dripping/ splashing down on the gears. Tee off the return line from the oil cooler. Too large a line and you lose oil pressure, too small a line and you're probably not adding much to make any difference. I'm no engineer so I can't say what size line would be the sweet spot or if an oil supply line from a different part of the engine would be better.

 

[jrsavoie]

Doesn't the engine oil fill neck run down there?

That's where I return my engine oil bypass filters to

I put a nipple in the engine oil fill neck.

I supply the filter by installing a T in the engine oil cooler return line.

The bypass filter restricts flow so you don't have an oil starvation issue