OFP Mod for REW Install
 

I do not know if this has been covered on this forum. If it has then just ignore everything below this line. Just hoping to save people multiple rebuilds

We have a car in the shop right now for a REW install, that has spun bearings on multiple engines prior to it coming to us. As I was reworking EVERYTHING, there were multiple candidates for causes of this failure.

Bearing failure is caused by oil starvation, and this car had more than its fair share of massive oil leaks. However the main cause of the multiple engine failures was the use of the Renesis Oil Filter Pedestal, this is a must with the REW install since there is no clearance for a filter or the oil cooler return line with the REW pedestal.

The problem is that the pedestal looks like it will mount directly to the engine, which it will, however the supply hole to the bearings is more than 50% blocked, the hole for the oil to return to the pan through the pressure regulator does line up. This leads to a false sense that there is plenty of oil reaching the engine internals.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...9ff9532a69.jpg

Renesis gasket on a REW, notice how the top hole it half blocked.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...ab7f4f2938.jpg

Renesis gasket on Renesis OFP


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...a5fce57a78.jpg

Renesis Gasket on FD OFP


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...31f05d8f93.jpg

Etched hole locations from REW


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...731c805181.jpg

Dykem and scribing


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...6f7625b97d.jpg

Ported

Thanks for posting, saving a couple of us a few headaches down the road.

Do the holes on the pedestal need to be port matched? A quick idea also, why not use an Rx8 oil filter relocation kit and use an FD plate to mate to the block. Theoretically you would only have to worry about matching AN fittings, correct?

That is what the last few pictures are showing




there is no clearance for a filter or the oil cooler return line with the REW pedestal. There is also no room for a OF relocation kit on the FD pedestal.

Good information. I had a small o-ringed plate machined that is FD ports on one side and Renesis pedestal on the other but this seems much easier to do.

I basically did what Banzi did back when I first picked up my car.
Also made my own gasket. No issues, it's been 3+ years.


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It is, since the FD iron is already tapped for the M8 bolts, even though the FD pedestal uses M6 studs

I just made an adapter too.

Getting the oil filter remotely mounted is more than worth the cost of admission as well ;)

I find it difficult to believe that they wouldn't have noticed that the oil filter pedestal adapters were different :shocking:

I might be worried about how little material is left on the side you adjusted as well.....it doesn't leave much for the gasket to seal

Remote mounted oil filter is mandatory. This car we made a custom bracket and put is under the car for easy access when changing the oil.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...b95ac4ce8a.jpg


Relocated filter

I was a little worried about it at first but 3+ years and no issues.
I also made my own gasket though.

This is a nice solution :)

You must be running the return line to the remote filter, then to the block.

If you look inside the OE pedestals you will see that the return flow is split between the filter and regulator.

I don't have a picture of the underside handy...but the 2 holes are joined together inside

Obviously, they would need to be, otherwise you would either be feeding all the oil to the regulator or all to the bearings. Both scenarios would result in instant failure.

I was referencing the factory oil flow through the OE pedestal. What you are planning should not hurt anything as long as the filter is not too much of a restriction, since all the return oil is going through the filter. Factory flow splits the return between the regulator at the pan and filter, then the filtered portion goes to the bearings.

Yeh good point banzai.

At first glance it's an easy mistake which almost fooled me too with mounting Rene ped on 20b.

Thanks Banzai, I noticed that same issue when attempting to test fit the RX8 pedestal onto the REW block. I will make those modifications as you illustrated.

Thread revival. I'm curious to know what kind of gasket material and thickness was used by those who made their own.

Regular gasket paper that you get from advanced auto is what I use.
Its green and comes rolled up, over 3 years now with zero issues.

.

Thanks firecran!