Mid engine do it yourselfers-What is different
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 133
Mid engine do it yourselfers-What is different
Couple of things I have experienced with mid engine cars
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block.
Radiator flush. Two "radiator" caps. One on the radiator one one the block You have to fill both ends and make sure it is bled properly.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. Have to make sure that a I/garage knows exactly where to place the jack pads.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items can be harder to change/service as you have to reach over the trunk to get service them.
Thoughts ?
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block.
Radiator flush. Two "radiator" caps. One on the radiator one one the block You have to fill both ends and make sure it is bled properly.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. Have to make sure that a I/garage knows exactly where to place the jack pads.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items can be harder to change/service as you have to reach over the trunk to get service them.
Thoughts ?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,066
Likes: 4,149
From: Bergen county NJ
Don't worry about it....designed for service a mid engine vehicle can be only slightly more of a pain in the ***...I'm sure GM will resolve most service concerns ahead of time.
It's not a Mickey Mouse operation like the European exotic manufacturers used to be.
Should be a little more expensive to service but not much...
Same for actual msrp...an five grand tops
It's not a Mickey Mouse operation like the European exotic manufacturers used to be.
Should be a little more expensive to service but not much...
Same for actual msrp...an five grand tops
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
I suspect there will not be much you can do yourself on the rear mid-engine gas, front elec motor, AWD new Corvette. I suspect in the very near future, all maint and repair will have to be done at the dealer or the warranty is void. Cars will be too complicated and require too much specialized equipment for smaller garages or owners to do any work, and the warranty limitations will be spelled out in bold face.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
My mid-engined car:
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block. Check, you can reach it by opening the bonnet and twisting it with your hand. Nothing in the way.
Radiator flush. One fill opening, one empty opening at the bottom.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. My radiators are behind the driver and no hoses in the sills.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine. The oil is added to the dry sump at the front corner of the engine bay.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items are impossible to reach.
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block. Check, you can reach it by opening the bonnet and twisting it with your hand. Nothing in the way.
Radiator flush. One fill opening, one empty opening at the bottom.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. My radiators are behind the driver and no hoses in the sills.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine. The oil is added to the dry sump at the front corner of the engine bay.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items are impossible to reach.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 2,412
From: Lookin over Hoover Dam
All platforms have their ups and downs. Mid engine transmissions and clutch changes can be a simpler process. Having built tube chassis mid cars, also built several Ferrari's and worked on a lot of Corvettes...I can't say the pains are much different. NSX's can be interesting because they are transverse mounted MID, but longitudinal mid isn't bad.
I suspect for the front accessories, belts, etc that GM will HOPEFULLY make a removable/access panel firewall. Keep in mind, GM needs to pay warranty labor hours to dealerships, so ease of repair and maintenance is a focus to reduce labor difficulty and maintenance.
Inevitably, all cars are evolving into more electronic, compact platforms. Everything is increasing in difficulty, in terms of complication.
I suspect for the front accessories, belts, etc that GM will HOPEFULLY make a removable/access panel firewall. Keep in mind, GM needs to pay warranty labor hours to dealerships, so ease of repair and maintenance is a focus to reduce labor difficulty and maintenance.
Inevitably, all cars are evolving into more electronic, compact platforms. Everything is increasing in difficulty, in terms of complication.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
All platforms have their ups and downs. Mid engine transmissions and clutch changes can be a simpler process. Having built tube chassis mid cars, also built several Ferrari's and worked on a lot of Corvettes...I can't say the pains are much different. NSX's can be interesting because they are transverse mounted MID, but longitudinal mid isn't bad.
I suspect for the front accessories, belts, etc that GM will HOPEFULLY make a removable/access panel firewall. Keep in mind, GM needs to pay warranty labor hours to dealerships, so ease of repair and maintenance is a focus to reduce labor difficulty and maintenance.
Inevitably, all cars are evolving into more electronic, compact platforms. Everything is increasing in difficulty, in terms of complication.
I suspect for the front accessories, belts, etc that GM will HOPEFULLY make a removable/access panel firewall. Keep in mind, GM needs to pay warranty labor hours to dealerships, so ease of repair and maintenance is a focus to reduce labor difficulty and maintenance.
Inevitably, all cars are evolving into more electronic, compact platforms. Everything is increasing in difficulty, in terms of complication.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 2,412
From: Lookin over Hoover Dam
Yeah, wasn't talkin about the new one there bro. Clearly I haven't worked on one of those. You're just the google fact checker all the time on here I see...lol.
Last edited by KnightDriveTV; Sep 24, 2017 at 11:30 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 378
Likes: 93
From: Alaska
Perhaps I'm bringing up something that's been sorted out elsewhere, but, how do we know they aren't planning on resurrecting something like the LS4?
I don't mean actually bring back the LS4, but make a transverse mount variant of the new LT series.
That certainly could have an effect on potential maintenance difficulties.
I don't mean actually bring back the LS4, but make a transverse mount variant of the new LT series.
That certainly could have an effect on potential maintenance difficulties.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
BTW, why are you in the C8 section, since you haven't worked on one of those either.
Too bad that facts interrupt your little circle jerk.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 115
From: Arlington TX
Couple of things I have experienced with mid engine cars
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block.
Radiator flush. Two "radiator" caps. One on the radiator one one the block You have to fill both ends and make sure it is bled properly.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. Have to make sure that a I/garage knows exactly where to place the jack pads.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items can be harder to change/service as you have to reach over the trunk to get service them.
Thoughts ?
Oil changes The oil filter in my mid engine cars is in the center of the car high up on the engine block.
Radiator flush. Two "radiator" caps. One on the radiator one one the block You have to fill both ends and make sure it is bled properly.
Jacking. The radiator hoses run up either door sill. Have to make sure that a I/garage knows exactly where to place the jack pads.
If you spill oil it can fall on the hot catalytic convertor because it is parallel and beside the engine.
Various belt driven accessories and other maintenance items can be harder to change/service as you have to reach over the trunk to get service them.
Thoughts ?
Catalytic converters are close to the engine on many cars, that is a non-issue. I would worry more about a turbo than a mid engine for oil fires. A small spill will burn off without a fire, an oil leak is what you have to worry about.
Drive belts, don't see an issue. My Tahoe is at 166,000 miles still on original accessory belt so they can last plenty long. My Gallardo has one drive belt for the alternator only and wouldn't be impossible to change, all the other accessories are driven by shafts off the engine.
Oil filter can be relocated anywhere, I doubt Chevy will put it in the V. My Gallardo is in a crappy spot (in the V) but it isn't like I have to change it that often anyway and it only takes me a couple of minutes at most.
My car only has 1 place to fill engine coolant even with 2 radiators.
16 Vettes and counting…..
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,811
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I haven't worked on a new NSX either, but I know how they are designed. Actually, a ton of new cars I haven't worked on, but I do try and keep up with their designs. You should have made your post clearer by stating that you were talking about a car that was built a decade ago, since it has been out of production a long time and has been replaced by a newer model.
BTW, why are you in the C8 section, since you haven't worked on one of those either.
Too bad that facts interrupt your little circle jerk.
BTW, why are you in the C8 section, since you haven't worked on one of those either.
Too bad that facts interrupt your little circle jerk.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
I did have an '09 Cayman S. Almost all of the work on the Cayman was done from the bottom of the car while on a lift. You removed a belly pan to get at things. Obviously, a big clamshell rear hood (like a GT40 of yore) could change all that, but that is how Porsche did it. To say it was a pain to work on was an understatement. Good car, but I sold it before the warranty expired as I did not want to pay the freight for repairs and maintenance on that car....
Last edited by quick04Z06; Oct 3, 2017 at 04:57 PM.
Race Director
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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I did have an '09 Cayman S. Almost all of the work on the Cayman was done from the bottom of the car while on a lift. You removed a belly pan to get at things. Obviously, a big clamshell rear hood (like a GT40 of yore) could change all that, but that is how Porsche did it. To say it was a pain to work on was an understatement. Good car, but I sold it before the warranty expired as I did not want to pay the freight for repairs and maintenance on that car....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
My F430 was similar. Most of the maintenance done from underneath. The belly pan and diffuser required removal to access anything. After that just about everything was accessible. The hurt with the Ferrari is the cost of parts. I kept it 2 years and traded it for a new Jaguar F Type R.
It doesn't take me any longer to change the oil in my Mercedes than in my dry sump Z06 that doesn't have a belly pan, but I do have a 4-post lift(two of them) as I'm too old to be crawling under cars to change the oil.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
My plain old Mercedes four door sedan with it's front engine/transmission and rear wheel drive requires me to remove a belly pan to drain the oil. Four screws holds it in place and adds less than 5 minutes to the time required to change the oil. It's oil filter is accessed under the hood and is cleaner to change.
It doesn't take me any longer to change the oil in my Mercedes than in my dry sump Z06 that doesn't have a belly pan, but I do have a 4-post lift(two of them) as I'm too old to be crawling under cars to change the oil.
It doesn't take me any longer to change the oil in my Mercedes than in my dry sump Z06 that doesn't have a belly pan, but I do have a 4-post lift(two of them) as I'm too old to be crawling under cars to change the oil.
On the Cayman S, you could not see the engine from the top. There was a tiny hatch to let you add oil, but oil level was checked electronically (no dipstick) and if you were at the track, the first time you knew of a belt fraying or fluid leak was when it was too late. Frankly, I like to be able see what is going on under the hood by inspection at the track instead of having all access from underneath. GM could certainly go a different route with the mid-engine Vette and I hope they do, perhaps using a big clamshell hood to give quick, wide-open access to the engine bay.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
On the Cayman S, you could not see the engine from the top. There was a tiny hatch to let you add oil, but oil level was checked electronically (no dipstick) and if you were at the track, the first time you knew of a belt fraying or fluid leak was when it was too late. Frankly, I like to be able see what is going on under the hood by inspection at the track instead of having all access from underneath. GM could certainly go a different route with the mid-engine Vette and I hope they do, perhaps using a big clamshell hood to give quick, wide-open access to the engine bay.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
I am sure you are right--easier to replace a bumper cap than some huge, clamshell rear part. But, access with the hinged rear shell is great.