Comments by "crazypj" (@1crazypj) on "Why F1 Pistons Cost £50,000!" video.

Nope, 100% correct that maximum load is at TDC OVERLAP as there isn't any 'cushioning effect from mixture or combustion. That's something I knew about from motorcycle literature in late 1960's. As for why pistons cost £50,000, didn't explain that at all. (see my general comment)
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Titanium is terrible for sliding parts and want's to become part of the stationary surface. Even Honda had massive problems with titanium valves either breaking off or sticking in guides. DLC coatings have made a difference but add cost
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@lexluthor6906 Actually, machining to those tolerances isn't that difficult nowadays. Around 2002, I knew a guy who's father designed, made and marketed 'machining centers' with a tolerance of 0.0005mm. It was impossible to see the join between sliding parts, even at x10 magnification (starting price was 'only' $500,000 for basic one axis machine) I was using 'hand cranked' machines in a production environment to make parts to 0.003mm tolerance in 1976/77. CNC can make multiples to a finer tolerance after they are 'warmed up' to take account of thermal expansion. Having a tolerance of 0.001mm (particularly if =/- 0.001mm) just means there are a lot less rejects which cuts costs (very very slightly on 'low volume' production) Cylinder blocks, depending on design, use either wet or dry liners which are ground at 'running temperature' usually a pretty 'horrible' shape when at room temperature but it does make matching parts together a lot easier
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Thermal gradient. It's not heated evenly Exhaust side is significantly hotter than intake side, top is much hotter than bottom. It would be fair to say modern pistons are actually more 'pear' shaped
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I think the most fascinating thing about this video is how it's still getting a load of comments 2 years after being uploaded
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You can probably get a used one for about £50¬ £70
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@funkyzero It would need to be closer to 8,000% to get to £50,000
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@AB-80X £50,000 is still BS. F1 teams don't do R&D on pistons although they do have to find out what went wrong if it breaks. There are piston manufacturers who are doing R&D continuously, small volume production is not justification for exorbitant claims. A forged piston is a forged piston, the cost is in the forging dies which may well cost £50,000 but the pistons are only a few hundred each. Porsche use Mahle and have developed some very clever pistons which cannot be made except by 3D printing (Porsche and Mahle go back to at least mid 1960's)
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@AB-80X Interesting stuff, nice to know you know someone at Mahle. I've always favoured their pistons over some of the crap on the market from US manufacturers (Wiseco used to be particularly bad until they got some CNC machines, buy 3 or more sets to get one size matching set, still need work to balance though) Mahle have always been expensive but worth it (I was paying over £90.00 each in 1980) This is the only video I've watched from Driver 61, the clickbait worked on this occasion but it won't work again . Been nice 'talking' to you
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OK, so why do F1 pistons cost £50,000? You didn't explain that at all. Harley Davidson pistons are doing between 80~85mph about half inch after TDC. and that motor is not renown for high rpm (usually limited to about 6,000 before big ends fail due to centrifugal loads although as much as 9,000rpm on very select parts hand built motors) 1000cc motorcycles have been revving over 12,000rpm for last 20years or so, some much much higher (Yamaha with 12 months unlimited guarantee revved to 17,000 rpm, if you do a search on You Tube you'll see tach at about 21,000 rpm after a missed shift). Even if tach is '10% off' it's still crazy high rpm, Electronic tachs are usually reasonably accurate 'Custom' pistons can be made for around £125 each. X-ray adds a pretty fair chunk of change on top of that but not £49,000+. If you were explaining monocrystaline pistons which are 'grown' and take around 3 months to make it kinda explains the cost but any forged or billet piston - your way off base or someone is getting royally screwed over (worse than military contractors" oh, government, add another couple of zero's before the decimal" £5.00 becomes £500.00 )
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I used to teach it at MMI, had a few students who could hit exact numbers after only a few hours training.
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That's what they do with EGR on street engines. It helps fuel efficiency as you can run a lean mixture without overheating (can't burn exhaust gas but it helps lean mixture evaporate)
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