L Cubed

Hey guys, I pulled off the oil pan to inspect and replace the rod bearings and also inspect the oil pickup tube. Luckily the rod bearings were in good condition but I noticed a small crack on the supporting ring of the oil pickup tube.




This is the worst looking one. In my searching for pictures I found one thread that indicated cracks like this were the precursor to a failed pickup tube, but I have also seen pictures where the cracks were actually on the tube in the first bend. Has anyone that has had an oil pickup tube crack and fail have it fail at this point?

To me it looks like it was probably caused due to thousands of thermal expansion cycles and not due to it flexing and thus leading to a failed pickup tube. My thought was that I could probably put a small tack weld in each of these corners and be good to go. This is for a dedicated track car also.

Thanks

968workaholic

Get a new pickup tube, welding/brazing on an old tube never works out well in the long run

divil

I don't know about the crack in the tube other than to say I would not use it. But that's not from any particular experience I've had. However, *do* use an OEM seal when you install the pickup tube. Apparently the aftermarket ones are not the same.

Noahs944

I don't see a crack.
You aren't referring to the collar/flange at the top connection are you?

Here's what a new one looks like: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PORSCHE-924S...-/222046334647

divil

Lol $249.95? What is it with that guy and his prices? Here you go: $181.55

L Cubed

Yeah, that crack is the collar with the spot welds. I don't think that is where they normally fail and that image on the ebay add looks like it has a small crack in the same place. If that's normal or at least not a problem great. I was asking mostly because I saw this thread 944 Solid Motor Mounts and RedlineMan pointed out that the oil pickup in those pics was on it's way out. So I wanted to try to get a sanity check that the collar crack isn't a problem, its the cracks in the tube that are the problem.

Noahs944

When I researched the cracked tubes & solutions a couple years ago I remember noticing that they always seem to crack mid way (near the clamp). It is my impression that those collar marks are factory tool crimping marks & I doubt they are a problem. But I am not an expert.

Do you possess a welder? I'd reinforce that tube while you have the pan off.