Found 2 teeth on my oil drain plug magnet (Now: Cam swap thread on 944S)
08-03-2010, 12:52 PM
#16
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so took the valve cover off... here's what i found:
(sorry for the crappy BB pics)
Tensioner: little grooved but not overly bad IMO
There's one of the missing teeth... couldnt see the other one though
Does anyone know how it would take teeth off yet the tensioner still look to be in working condition?
(sorry for the crappy BB pics)
Tensioner: little grooved but not overly bad IMO
There's one of the missing teeth... couldnt see the other one though
Does anyone know how it would take teeth off yet the tensioner still look to be in working condition?
08-03-2010, 01:05 PM
#17
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Consider yourself lucky it has not grenaded yet. Did you spin the motor to see if the other tooth may be off the same cam? Time to shop for one or more cams and a new chain. Its possible the chain has stretched and is tearing up the teeth of the cams.
08-03-2010, 01:18 PM
#18
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I wouldn't be asking questions about "why."
Just be VERY happy you don't have to have that tensioner mount welded back to the head. Those tend to shear off when the tensioner fails. Cams, while expensive, are designed to be removed and installed.
Just be VERY happy you don't have to have that tensioner mount welded back to the head. Those tend to shear off when the tensioner fails. Cams, while expensive, are designed to be removed and installed.
08-03-2010, 01:19 PM
#19
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08-03-2010, 01:34 PM
#22
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DO NOT put a new cam in there without changing the tensioner pad. It may not be cracked or worn looking but it is yellowed, which means it is old enough to crack at any time. That pad is the #1 culprit for grenading 16v heads aside from the timing belt. The pad is cheap. Don't think about it, just do it.
Consider your car lucky and get yourself a beer for finding those teeth before it was too late! Good luck with the fix!
Consider your car lucky and get yourself a beer for finding those teeth before it was too late! Good luck with the fix!
08-03-2010, 01:47 PM
#23
Captain Obvious
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Change BOTH pads...upper AND lower! In fact, check the tensioner itself, and the j tube for cracks while you're in there.
Get new crush washers when you re-install.
Rotate the engine by hand, you'll see the other mising tooth I bet....plus, you can inspect the other cam for stress cracks or missing teeth as well. Maybe only 1 needs to be replaced.
You got lucky my friend.
Get new crush washers when you re-install.
Rotate the engine by hand, you'll see the other mising tooth I bet....plus, you can inspect the other cam for stress cracks or missing teeth as well. Maybe only 1 needs to be replaced.
You got lucky my friend.
08-08-2010, 02:57 PM
#24
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UPDATE
I found a tensioner on kijiji for sale with 35,000kms on it and new upper pad 10K ago for a good price... pick it up looks good took it home with the motivation to find the other missing tooth.....
Found it, on the INTAKE CAM!!!
But wait theres more...
For anyone who hasn't already done the math in their head: 3 broken spots on the cam sprockets - 2 found teeth = 1 unknown tooth... maybe floating around the engine, hopefully got flushed out with the oil assuming the magnet couldnt hold all three.
Sucks!
I found a tensioner on kijiji for sale with 35,000kms on it and new upper pad 10K ago for a good price... pick it up looks good took it home with the motivation to find the other missing tooth.....
Found it, on the INTAKE CAM!!!
But wait theres more...
For anyone who hasn't already done the math in their head: 3 broken spots on the cam sprockets - 2 found teeth = 1 unknown tooth... maybe floating around the engine, hopefully got flushed out with the oil assuming the magnet couldnt hold all three.
Sucks!
Last edited by Porsche16V944; 08-08-2010 at 07:31 PM.
08-08-2010, 03:34 PM
#25
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As long as it's not in the head, or blocking an oil return hole, I don't know what harm it would cause. Not like the oil pump is going to suck it up, but if it got between a cam lobe and a lifter, or into the chain, that would be a problem of major proportions. 
08-08-2010, 07:26 PM
#27
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doubtful cause the oil was just drained, but if its still in there it could get shot up under a piston and score a cylinder wall.... worse case scenario as long as it made it into the oil pan
08-08-2010, 10:15 PM
#30
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no the oil went into bulk old oil at work, and as for the oil pick up screen, that only blocks stuff from reaching the cylinder head... nothing to stop it from hitting the cylinder walls under the pistons