Bolt found on crank case oil plug.
05-11-2010, 01:20 PM
#18
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I agree with the rest of you guys...its a valve cover bolt that someone let slip doing a valve cover.
The beating on the bolt is likely from being hit by the crank counterweights..not that much clearance in there.
There is likely damage to the inside of the case, but I doubt if its that much. However, if its a production bolt, then the washer is somewhere in the crankcase...which can be a problem. The intake to the oil pump is protected with a large screen, so its unlikely it can get sucked into the oil pump. If that happened, you would know immediately, the oil pump gears are pretty tight, it would stall the pump and likely shear the connection to the layshaft...then the case has to be split.
It might be worth seeing if you can buy or set someone with a boroscope, so you can look inside the engine case via the drain or oil return tubes to assess. However, finding a free washer of that size inside the crankcase is a major challenge.
Also, if this washer gets to the chains on the front of the engine, that also can cause a lot of damage.
This is what I would do:
1 - Verify the length and thread of the bolt to confirm its a valve cover bolt.
2 - Check for the washer. If the bolt looks like a production valve cover bolt, then the washer is missing. Its hard to remove, so it would have to be beaten off the bolt.
3 - Use a combination of a boroscope and perhaps a magnet. You can get into the block through the oil return tubes by taking the lower valve covers off, or through the drain on the bottom of the engine (more limited).
If you cannot find the washer, then its a calculated risk to continue. Worse case is it gets into the chains for the cams, or the gear sets driving the layshaft or distributor...all of which is very bad. Best case nothing happens at all.
I would spend some time investigating before driving it further, then make the call. Best of luck!
Cheers,
Mike
The beating on the bolt is likely from being hit by the crank counterweights..not that much clearance in there.
There is likely damage to the inside of the case, but I doubt if its that much. However, if its a production bolt, then the washer is somewhere in the crankcase...which can be a problem. The intake to the oil pump is protected with a large screen, so its unlikely it can get sucked into the oil pump. If that happened, you would know immediately, the oil pump gears are pretty tight, it would stall the pump and likely shear the connection to the layshaft...then the case has to be split.
It might be worth seeing if you can buy or set someone with a boroscope, so you can look inside the engine case via the drain or oil return tubes to assess. However, finding a free washer of that size inside the crankcase is a major challenge.
Also, if this washer gets to the chains on the front of the engine, that also can cause a lot of damage.
This is what I would do:
1 - Verify the length and thread of the bolt to confirm its a valve cover bolt.
2 - Check for the washer. If the bolt looks like a production valve cover bolt, then the washer is missing. Its hard to remove, so it would have to be beaten off the bolt.
3 - Use a combination of a boroscope and perhaps a magnet. You can get into the block through the oil return tubes by taking the lower valve covers off, or through the drain on the bottom of the engine (more limited).
If you cannot find the washer, then its a calculated risk to continue. Worse case is it gets into the chains for the cams, or the gear sets driving the layshaft or distributor...all of which is very bad. Best case nothing happens at all.
I would spend some time investigating before driving it further, then make the call. Best of luck!
Cheers,
Mike
05-11-2010, 01:38 PM
#20
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Is your mechanic sure it was actually in the engine and the magnetic plug had it attached when it was removed from th engine and sure he didnt drop the magnetic plug into the container that he was draining the oil into (that happens) and the magnetic plug picked up the stray valve cover bolt which was also in the oil catch container?
05-11-2010, 02:48 PM
#23
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doesn't look like a valve cover bolt to me, but that's just me, 44 soon
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
05-11-2010, 02:56 PM
#24
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doesn't look like a valve cover bolt to me, but that's just me, 44 soon
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
I can't tell by the pic whether it is a 6mm or 8mm but looks a littler "beefier" than VC. Both are about the same legth IIRC, 30mm
The OP is going to be a bit surprised at the popularity of this little thread
05-11-2010, 03:00 PM
#25
Racer
doesn't look like a valve cover bolt to me, but that's just me, 44 soon
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
I would bet a tenner it's a rocker shaft bolt, no washer
start by removing valve covers and look for a rocker shaft missing one bolt
check DIY section, lifter 101 for pictures
if so, deja no washer loose somewhere.
Also, if I found a bolt inside the engine, I'd be looking for likely internal bolts...not external bolts with some wild explanation of how they could have gotten inside.
05-11-2010, 03:40 PM
#27
Here is what the rocker bolt looked like in PET. Part number 26.
Seemed like it's a rocker bolt. If that's the case, good news is that it doesn't have a washer, and can be easily check by opening up the valve cover for inspection.
Seemed like it's a rocker bolt. If that's the case, good news is that it doesn't have a washer, and can be easily check by opening up the valve cover for inspection.
05-11-2010, 04:01 PM
#30
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well, this is quite the hot topic
I recalled incorrectly, thought the rocker bolt was 8mm.
Also, the rocker bolts are hardened and not plated. They look different, at least as far as I can tell from the pic the OP posted.
In that case, I revise my guess and suspect it is one of the short cam tower bolts.
IF it really is an 8mm bolt
Trouble is, they are under the rockers... so I am not sure how it could have gotten completely out.
Back to wild explanations
Below is a pic, you can just see the head of the short (8x30mm) carrier bolt.
Not sure if it has room to work it's way out or not. I thought not.
Now I am dying to know...
I recalled incorrectly, thought the rocker bolt was 8mm.
Also, the rocker bolts are hardened and not plated. They look different, at least as far as I can tell from the pic the OP posted.
In that case, I revise my guess and suspect it is one of the short cam tower bolts.
IF it really is an 8mm bolt
Trouble is, they are under the rockers... so I am not sure how it could have gotten completely out.
Back to wild explanations
Below is a pic, you can just see the head of the short (8x30mm) carrier bolt.
Not sure if it has room to work it's way out or not. I thought not.
Now I am dying to know...