Goofy Automotive Engineering

[roKWiz]

What would be the goofiest piece of over/under engineering you've ever seen in the automotive world ?
And what do you think the purpose of it was for ?

Thoughts ?

Replacing a rubber oil pan gasket yesterday on the Ford Trader got me thinking what a strange idea they had assembling the bottom end.

Ultimately the engine is Mazda built but the original design is Perkins.
The oil pan is attached via the usual bolts threaded into the underside of the lower block (also being 2 piece ??)

Sandwiched between as normal is a rubber gasket but on the outside of the pan is another identical rubber gasket which is bolted with metal strips to the outside.
I can not for the life of me, figure out what the **** this would do and how it could add extra sealing protection for the oil pan.

[MrEL]

I'm tipping it's for load spreading to stop people monstering up the pan bolts unequally and distorting the sealing gasket and causing leaks.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by MrEL

I'm tipping it's for load spreading to stop people monstering up the pan bolts unequally and distorting the sealing gasket and causing leaks.

I would like to believe that.
It also has the metal bars which attach along the outside perimeter to do the same thing.

[foxtrot3]

Originally Posted by MrEL

I'm tipping it's for load spreading to stop people monstering up the pan bolts unequally and distorting the sealing gasket and causing leaks.

Hi. More like to stop people with striped aprons who overtighten the bolts from distorting the sealing flange. Cheers MD

[roKWiz]

Funny you say that. Think this needs some more information, as deleting the second gasket is a common modification to stop leaks !
This particular engine was the last in line of my trucks to be modified due to it recently starting to leak.
The other 4 Perkins/Mazda powered trucks I have changed previously don't allow the pan - block gasket to distort like the twin set up does and none leak oil.
The 2 larger inline 6 cylinder Perkins/Mazda have a simple single gasket design like any car and don't leak.

[arm79]

My 1.6L MK2 Escort had some sort of anti-run on or anti-dieseling valve plumbed into the carb (or intake manifold, I can't remember) to stop the engine from continuing to self run once the ignition was turned to off.

It was a simple solenoid with a small air filter attached that would close when the ignition was on and open when off. Simply to lean out the intake and/or prevent any vacuum build up drawing fuel through the carb.

Was a weird little add-on, but maybe the norm for cars of its age, and trouble some due to the crap electrics. Occasionally it would oscillate open while the car was being driven and cause the thing attempt to stall. When it happened at night it made things interesting as it would cause the lights to dim and flicker. I hit a keep left sign one night when it did this, I lost sense of place on the road and turned too early.

[Citroënbender]

Ah yes, the infamous Weber DGAF carburettor.