Olympus helps keep Ford on track for V8 Supercar success
A Ford Performance Racing team win in a V8 Supercar Challenge race is a tribute to all those involved, and among those who celebrate behind the scenes are the engine technicians who use the team’s Olympus videoscope before each race to visually inspect the inside of the engine of the car to detect corrosion, cracks, scoring, material transfer or other flaws that could potentially lead to a catastrophic engine failure during the race.
Corrosion in internal combustion engines is most often caused by condensation of water vapour combining with sulphur in the burning fuel to form sulphuric acid. The chemical composition of E85, the blended ethanol/petroleum fuel used by V8 Supercars, is more corrosive than standard fuels. Water and acid condenses on to the cold surfaces of the cylinders and crankcase walls, resulting in etched wristpins, valve tappets, timing chains and other engine parts.