Here's how the engine lubrication system works in your car, and why oil is so important!

It all starts down in the oil pan:


Oil gets sucked up through the pickup tube and into the oil pump:



The oil pump is a gerotor type:


Then oil flows through the upper oil pan to get filtered:

This is what the inside of a neglected filter looks like:

It's then fed through the timing cover before going back to the engine block's central gallery to feed the main bearings.


The timing cover carries the oil to the main block gallery and splits it off to the VVT gears and timing tensioner:

The main bearings lubricate the connecting rod bearings on the crankshaft through internally drilled holes in the crankshaft:


At the engine head, the camshaft bearing cap has tracks for lubricating the camshaft and feeding the VVT gear:


This is the solenoid that controls it all:


Enjoy!

 

Good stuff, I would like to see you do a more detailed breakdown of how the VCT solenoid actuates the cam gear. When people actually SEE what makes the cams advance they will understand how/why the technology is so amazing.

 

Also I would love to see you take the cam advance sprocket apart to see if it uses a return spring or if it's double action oil to return to the resting position when the solenoid isn't being pulsed. There are no factory directions for disassembly of the cam sprocket and I SUSPECT it's because there is a return spring that is too difficult to reinstall? I've never taken one apart though and I don't know why it would have no maintenance disassembly directions if it is a 100% oiled system?

 

Thanks for sharing all this.

 

Love the brother love! Hope there's no wife strife, though....