This can't be good
10-05-2010, 01:48 AM
#1
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This can't be good
So I have the car in at my local wrench doing some work I don't have time to do (new clutch/LWF/reseal), and he emails me saying the tech found the hunk of steel (not aluminum) pictured below attached to my crankcase oil drain magnet.
The thought it is likely an oil ring - cut the oil filter apart and no chunks there.
I am thinking this will not end well....
Marc
The thought it is likely an oil ring - cut the oil filter apart and no chunks there.
I am thinking this will not end well....
Marc
10-05-2010, 02:40 AM
#2
Rennlist Member
Too tight of a radius for an oil ring, weird cross section as well, hard to tell what it might be almost looks like a section of thread, does it look cast or a beat up peice of cold formed steel? just about anything, including something dropped in the tank will eventually find itself in the case...hmm....distributor gear or intermediate shaft tooth?
10-05-2010, 07:40 AM
#4
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Look at the fracture surfaces. Are they fresh, or oxidized? They look quite old in the photos, which indicates the part has been in the engine a long time, and finally found its way to the magnet. Look also for any polishing or wear patterns - that might show if it is a broken gear tooth. Can you get to a microscope?
Tearing the engine down for something that could be tramp metal from the assembly line or the last rebuild is risking a lot for nothing. On the other hand, a rebuild is a lot cheaper if done before the engine granades. How is it running/sounding?
Tearing the engine down for something that could be tramp metal from the assembly line or the last rebuild is risking a lot for nothing. On the other hand, a rebuild is a lot cheaper if done before the engine granades. How is it running/sounding?
10-05-2010, 09:25 AM
#6
Drifting
It looks like a piece of a valve spring. I've seen them before...But it's an end-piece så there no horror yet. The tenison is more than enough keep the spring in place.
You can change the valve springs with a special tool without tearing everything apart. I did this in my car some months ago and I will post a thread about but the time just fly a way.
Thomas
You can change the valve springs with a special tool without tearing everything apart. I did this in my car some months ago and I will post a thread about but the time just fly a way.
Thomas
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10-05-2010, 10:07 AM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Whatever it is, it's dinky.
Since it's part of a curve/circle, I tried circumscribing a circle over it (see below).
Do the scale's hash marks equal 1 mm?
If That's the case, then the piece's circle is about 42.5 mm/1.67 inch-dia circle.
I, too, am leaning more toward it being a valve spring's end.
Unfortunately it sounds to me that it's time remove and inspect valve springs.
Since it's part of a curve/circle, I tried circumscribing a circle over it (see below).
Do the scale's hash marks equal 1 mm?
If That's the case, then the piece's circle is about 42.5 mm/1.67 inch-dia circle.
I, too, am leaning more toward it being a valve spring's end.
Unfortunately it sounds to me that it's time remove and inspect valve springs.
Last edited by elbeee964; 10-05-2010 at 10:24 AM.
10-05-2010, 10:22 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
Lonnie, nice work with the analysis, however the ruler is in mm/cm which has the size at 42.5mm which is darn close to a valve spring inside dia. +/- 1.7 inch. But I'd agree with your suggestion of just keep an eye on it.
10-05-2010, 10:52 AM
#10
Drifting
It's a end piece of a valve spring, trust me. It's very hard see which spring it is by just taking of the valve covers. You can use this special tool for compressing the springs so you can remove them without taking the heads off. I replaced all my springs and retainers in May. It was just to be on the safe side, but boy was I lucky. The first spring I was about to change was broken at the middle. So I was seconds or days from a big bang!
Thomas
Thomas
Last edited by ThomasC2; 01-01-2011 at 06:58 AM.
10-05-2010, 12:06 PM
#13
Nordschleife Master
Given the knife edge appearance of the ruler in photo #2, I'd posit the camera's view there was fairly close to perpendicular to the subject's plane. So, the estimate won't be that far from right.
But I've been wrong before.
Indy,
#4... Exhaust
10-05-2010, 12:15 PM
#14
Drifting
Was that question for me? It was the intake valve on cylinder 3.
In Marc's case...no way of knowing without removing the springs. If you're lucky it's on the upper end of the spring because then you can probably see it if you remove the valve covers. But the lower end is hidden and the broken/missing piece is so small. The tenison in the broken spring will also be more or less the same because that little piece won't do any difference.
Thomas
In Marc's case...no way of knowing without removing the springs. If you're lucky it's on the upper end of the spring because then you can probably see it if you remove the valve covers. But the lower end is hidden and the broken/missing piece is so small. The tenison in the broken spring will also be more or less the same because that little piece won't do any difference.
Thomas