Alucil Vs. Nikasil...How to Differentiate...PIC's POSTED
#16
Instructor
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i've been unable to eat or sleep since this thread started ;-] all along i've understood that my '86 had nikasil cylinders because of a post linking to protomotive web site where one of their respected techs' states the way to tell is to count the fins on the cylinder...eleven for nikasil, ten for alusil can anyone corraborate? For the record i called Protomotive and that's their story and their sticking to it.
#17
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Hmmmm.....Bob counted 10 on my 'Ausil's'.
I need to go back to Bob's tomorrow anyway to get a few bit. I'll have him pull out both sets again and we'll take a closer look.
-Charlie
I need to go back to Bob's tomorrow anyway to get a few bit. I'll have him pull out both sets again and we'll take a closer look.
![Confused](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
-Charlie
#19
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Well, I did not get time to check my motor last night but I did look in Bruce Anderson's book again. He shows an Alusil cylinder and a Nikasil cylinder side by side - they both have 11 fins!
#20
Rennlist Member
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I may be belaboring a point here, but I checked the spec book and it says that SC's came with either alusil or nikasil for all markets. This is consistent with my observation of alusils on my '83 euro.
#22
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Me too.
My Euro '80SC has Alusil. If you have a mid-'83 or earlier case you can look up through the sump plate and see a cylinder. You may need to rotate the engine by hand some. Alusil is light gray, while Nikasil is shiny.
Rob
1980SC
My Euro '80SC has Alusil. If you have a mid-'83 or earlier case you can look up through the sump plate and see a cylinder. You may need to rotate the engine by hand some. Alusil is light gray, while Nikasil is shiny.
Rob
1980SC
#23
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I'll be running my Bob's place tomorrow to pick up either my oil cooler or my cash from the Potomac swap meet this past weekend. I'll bring my digi cam and see if I can get a pic of both (Nikasil and Alusil) side by side as they would be seen from bottom of engine. Hopefully put an end to this thread one and for all. ..
BTW: I like the idea of looking into the sump plate to take a peek at the cylinder walls.
-Charlie
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BTW: I like the idea of looking into the sump plate to take a peek at the cylinder walls.
-Charlie
#24
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I've got the goods.....I went by Bob's place this afternoon and got the pics (will post later).
For the record....from the horses (Bob's) mouth.
All this pertains to the 3.0 L engines.
1) Nikasil have 11 fins, Alusils have 10.
2) Nikasil's DO NOT have the 'ribs', Alusils DO.
3) ALL Euro spec. cars have the Nikasil cylinders.
Bob was very adamant about 3#. "Every single euro. engine I pulled apart had Nikasil cylinders. Tell your internet friends this IS the way it is. Alusil's cylinders in a Euro car must have been from a replacement motor as those cylinders (Alusil) were not intended for those (euro) cars"
For the record....from the horses (Bob's) mouth.
All this pertains to the 3.0 L engines.
1) Nikasil have 11 fins, Alusils have 10.
2) Nikasil's DO NOT have the 'ribs', Alusils DO.
3) ALL Euro spec. cars have the Nikasil cylinders.
Bob was very adamant about 3#. "Every single euro. engine I pulled apart had Nikasil cylinders. Tell your internet friends this IS the way it is. Alusil's cylinders in a Euro car must have been from a replacement motor as those cylinders (Alusil) were not intended for those (euro) cars"
#25
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![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/side%20by%20side.jpg)
Nikasil on Left, Alusil on Right.
This is how the cylinders are positioned when you are looking up from underneath the car.
Notice rib perpindicular to fins on the Alusil.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/alusil%20-%20rib.jpg)
Closeup of Alusil. Notice 10 fins and rib.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/Nikasil%20-%20no%20rib.jpg)
Closeup of Nikasil. Notice 11 fins and no rib.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/ausil%20markings.jpg)
Alusil markings ('$' sign) are located at 3 O'Clock position assuming rib is located at the 6 O'Clock position.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/nikasil%20markings.jpg)
Nikasil markings (Mhale) are located at the 9 O'Clock position.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/alusil%20cylinder%20wall.jpg)
Alucil cylinder wall. Notice they are drab, dull and grey.
![](http://68.49.188.115/photos/nikasil%20cylinder%20walls.jpg)
Nikasil cylinder wall. This is not a very good picture, but Nikasil walls are shiny and highly reflective compared to the Alusil's.
#26
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Thanks for settling this argument once and for all. When I first read about the techmology behind Alusils I thought 'good idea, I am just pleased that my motor does not have them'. Now I find that it does!!
#27
6th Gear
Join Date: May 2002
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Great thread guys! It's 1:30am but I cant wait to find out what I have. I'm going to the garage.
Hope I dont wake the wife. <img src="graemlins/sleep.gif" border="0" alt="[sleep]" />
Hope I dont wake the wife. <img src="graemlins/sleep.gif" border="0" alt="[sleep]" />
#28
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Ok..nice work...
- I would like to know if this applies to 3.2 L cars. I think the 3.0 and 3.2 use the same 95 mm bore...so the cylinders might indeed be exactly the same.
Can anyone ( again !) confirm this point...whether the indicators for each cylinder type also applies to 3.2's ???
-- Wil Ferch
- I would like to know if this applies to 3.2 L cars. I think the 3.0 and 3.2 use the same 95 mm bore...so the cylinders might indeed be exactly the same.
Can anyone ( again !) confirm this point...whether the indicators for each cylinder type also applies to 3.2's ???
-- Wil Ferch
#29
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<SNIP> I would like to know if this applies to 3.2 L cars. I think the 3.0 and 3.2 use the same 95 mm bore...so the cylinders might indeed be exactly the same.
Wil,
Bob had plenty of and 2.7 cylinders but did not see any 3.2. I may stop by this weekend to help him work on a clutch (so I can learn before I attempt mine). I'll ask him if the same applies to 95mm, 84+ cylinders.
-Charlie
Wil,
Bob had plenty of and 2.7 cylinders but did not see any 3.2. I may stop by this weekend to help him work on a clutch (so I can learn before I attempt mine). I'll ask him if the same applies to 95mm, 84+ cylinders.
-Charlie