Bentley V8 Engine Exposed: Water Contamination’s Lethal Impact Revealed

1987 Bentley Mulsanne S Engine Boasts 230 Horsepower

The Bentley 6.75-liter V8 has proven its endurance over the years with a production span of six decades, making it one of the longest-lasting engines in history. However, this by no means guarantees its invincibility. As shown in the video below, a thorough disassembly reveals any potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities.

Eric, the owner of I Do Cars, recently obtained a 6¾-liter V8 engine believed to be taken from a 1987 Bentley Mulsanne S. Specifically, this particular engine is the L410I model, which produced approximately 230 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The exact mileage of the engine is uncertain, but considering its production date in the 1980s, it can be presumed that it has experienced some degree of wear.

BROKEN BENTLEY / ROLLS ROYCE 6 ¾ L-Series V8 Full Engine Teardown

Prior to the disassembly, Eric observed significant harm to the oil pan, indicating that a connecting rod had potentially broken and caused exit wounds. The spark plugs also displayed indications of damage, though the majority of components in the cylinder head appeared to be in satisfactory condition. Surprisingly, even the timing assembly seemed to be unscathed. This engine was designed by Bentley with a valvetrain driven by gears, eliminating any potential complications with belts or chains like those seen in Ford’s three-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

The speaker proceeded to extract the camshaft, which exhibited signs of wear and tear. However, this is not surprising considering it was constructed approximately forty years ago.

After taking off the cylinder heads from both sides, it is apparent that the pistons’ tops are in fairly good condition. Nevertheless, upon inspection of the lower part of the engine block, it is evident that some debris from the damage has been collected in the oil pan. As anticipated, one of the connecting rods was found to be broken in half, resulting in the oil pan being destroyed.

It appears that the V8 engine may have been affected by water contamination. When water infiltrates the combustion chamber, it prevents compression of the piston, thereby causing clogged spark plugs and a damaged connecting rod.

During its time, the Bentley 6.75-liter engine was considered to be a commendable powertrain, even though it only delivered “satisfactory” performance numbers. However, in 2020, it was officially discontinued. But fear not, as it was swiftly succeeded by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which can also be found in the Bentley Flying Spur.