In this edition of WebRidesTV’s coverage of the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we see or very own Lauren Jones talking to Roger Hood, of Mobil 1’s Research and Engineering department about their newest developments in engine technology. Surely, if anyone knows engines, Mobil knows engines.
The first engine of the two, the 850HP Aveo does anything but disappoint. This economy car has the same power as a NASCAR, and rightfully so, as this car was modified by Jason Whitfield. In the racing industry, Jason Whitfield is a world renowned engine builder. Of course Mobil 1’s interest on such a car is to show that high performance requires high protection. A tiny engine that creates such a significant amount of power has it’s problems with friction and heat. Without durable oil in such a situation, a heavier piston would be rigid, only causing marginal damage. On the other hand, a small, structurally weaker engine running at higher speeds and power will be more prone to wear and tear.
The next car is a 1100 HP, twin-turbo Toyota Tundra engine inside of a Scion xB. This demonstration shows how Mobil 1 formulas are designed to preserve the intense heat and stresses on metal that a turbocharger can produce. The mammoths working in conjunction in this ride show the extreme of how truly stressful a high powered engine can be on the bearings of a turbocharger. Mobil 1 is designed to put a layer around the bearings themselves, thus causing a frictionless movement as the bearings should ideally never touch the housing.
