Will The Elio Have An Interference Engine?

[Johnapool]

Goofyone, those are some great links. Made the idea completely clear. Processes are interesting. Thanks.

 

[Terrence]

Thanks, Zelio, I did find that TechTalk about the flame-sprayed steel lining. We Americans are accustomed to long-lived engines that don't burn oil. I remember some of the aluminum engines that weren't so good, and this little car needs to build a positive reputation right off.
I will say, we are all brave to be buying first model year machines. They should call us their Beta team. At the very least, we'll be enjoying motorcycles with air conditioning and a dry seat.

Hello and welcome Johnapool. I see that you remembered the Vega aluminum also (I had purchased a used one ). That was best to pull that motor out, install a v-8 and take it to the drag strip.
I am so proud of the research, development, engineering they are putting into the Elio! Do you agree with me the Elio should get the engineering award of decade! The Elio built for a purpose 84 mpg, affordable,reliable,quality parts, and safe (air bags, traction control,rollcage).
Terrence

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

Thanks, Zelio, I did find that TechTalk about the flame-sprayed steel lining. We Americans are accustomed to long-lived engines that don't burn oil. I remember some of the aluminum engines that weren't so good, and this little car needs to build a positive reputation right off.
I will say, we are all brave to be buying first model year machines. They should call us their Beta team. At the very least, we'll be enjoying motorcycles with air conditioning and a dry seat.

I wish I could be accustomed to that, my ratio is 1 quart of oil for 100 gallons of gas.

 

[Johnapool]

I wish I could be accustomed to that, my ratio is 1 quart of oil for 100 gallons of gas.

LOL...You're just driving 58-year-old technology, Josh. The oil level on my little '05 Scion with 141K doesn't even move between 6000 mile oil changes (which is about 200 gallons of gas).
It has a little 1.5 litre with variable valve timing and a timing chain. Seems to be indestructible.
How do we get a message to Elio Motor Company? I am all in and still getting emails daily encouraging me to buy an Elio....
And...I wish we, as future Elio owners, could get real updates on how the company is doing, are body panel tools and dies being made yet, is the transmission one already being manufactured, has an engine been assembled yet....a stream of update information would be awesome.

 

[Injunjoe]

I just replaced the timing belt which broke Thursday going to town. It is a G10 in my 1990 Geo that you see on the left (like P3 and P4). So glad it is a non-interference engine, as it only had 40k on the belt. A tow (reimbursed by insurance) and $20 was all it cost. I expect the Geo to last until I get my white Elio!

 

[Ty]

You'd bettter get it rustproofed...might be some time yet.

BTW, I take back what I said about timing chains being so reliable. My son bought a BMW 120D coupe, a low mileage 2007 model.

It has been very troublesome, to say the least! Firstly the dual mass flywheel bearing failed, wrecking the flywheel and clutch. I got that repair done locally; I have a BMW specialist nearby who charges a reasonable price (but still almost $2,000). I was taking the car back to my son's place when the DSC/ABS system failed, sending the engine to idle. It had to go straight back to the garage for another expensive repair.

BUT...The most expensive trouble was a rattling timing chain, which occurred very soon after. On these engines it does go wrong and if it lets go it will obviously wreck the engine. The chain is fitted to the back of these engines (engine out to fix!) and the chain guides are made of plastic. The plastic guides can break, loosening the chain right off. If it isn't repaired, the chain will snap. Even if it doesn't, it can wreck the drive sprocket. Unfortunately, the sprocket is part of the crankshaft. Think engine out rebuild, for a new crank!

BMW admitted the fault and some time ago they recalled affected cars in the USA, for a free repair. They refused to take responsibility in UK until earlier this year. Thankfully, my son's car has now been repaired at no cost to himself. It took them three days to repair it!

OUCH! While I can afford luxury cars, the parts are so expensive when things start to go bad that I've stuck with mostly American made. It's too bad, too as I've always wanted to try out that infamous BMW handling.

 

[Palliden7]

I'm hoping that Elio will have IAV build another test bed engine where they can work with some hot rodding ideas. The production schedule out to June of 2017 they should be looking at all the requests for those of us who have a deposit on an Elio and who want to have more hp from the engine.

 

[WilliamH]

I'm hoping that Elio will have IAV build another test bed engine where they can work with some hot rodding ideas. The production schedule out to June of 2017 they should be looking at all the requests for those of us who have a deposit on an Elio and who want to have more hp from the engine.

We have been told that Precision Turbo and Engine is working with Elio on a possible turbo option that can be retro fitted.
Also that the IAV engineers have been looking into turbos for the Elio.

 

[Rickb]

A few years back I test drove every BMW Model the local dealer had in stock. WOW on the performance and the road hugging handling. The ultimate driving machine. My son buys BMW's coming off lease agreements, low mileage, with a full factory new car warranty, and about 50% off MSRP.

 

[outsydthebox]

My son's father-in-law (Gary) was pretty much given one! An older gentleman/friend owned it and because it needed about $3,500 in mechanical work, he decided to let it go cheap. So, Gary has been tinkering with it for a while, told me that his only "gripe" is, almost every procedure requires special, proprietary (and expensive) tools!
I sure am glad the Elio won't have any BMW content!