I would call it a trend... from the calls I receive and rods I sell to those who have suffered the mishap.
and for those who have'nt picked up the relevance I posted earlier in this thread..
Detonation is what is the big killer of rods, and I am seeing >30% of cars coming thru here with significant timing pull, which is det.. and causes immense cylinder pressures..
an example of the pressures I describe.. race engine, but you get the drift.
2600psi cylinder pressure... on 26degree ign advance, 35psi boost, big turbo 2ltr 20v. engine builder added 4 degrees more timing, cylinder pressures exceeded 3000psi, broke his sensor and made 10hp in an already 780hp motor..
Headline, 4 degrees of timing produced >400psi more cylinder pressure on top of an already 2600psi..
std 81mm piston, 2600psi cylinder pressure, pushes 20,749lb onto the piston/rod = 9411kg acting on it, 9.4tonnes compressive
now compare "boost pressure" in relation to this force acting upon things alone..
std 81mm piston, 20psi boost, 159.6lb onto piston/rod = 72.4kg
too much boost, will cause det from excessive timing for that boost, which is where it can all go horribly wrong, if you see the effect ign has on cyl pressures
SNAP tastic for poor old rods which have seen the cyclic loads for many 1000's of ups and downs..
There are more cars with other running issues which are creating this det, than tired rods.. but combine the two and its broken rod syndrome.
MAF's, lean running, shyte cheap maps which run lean, promote det, airleaks to name but a few I have seen in the past 12months... Add to a 100k old engine, wanting a remap for 1st time, unknown history to the car, and its a hell of a lottery game
Sorry to sound like a merchant of doom