Chewed Up Bolt Found in Oil Pan
#1
Chewed Up Bolt Found in Oil Pan
Just posted a thread "oil change w 1 small flake ?" well it just became a very disappointing day for me. While re-installing my magnetic drain plug I heard a click, when removing the plug, a busted up bolt was stuck to the magnet. When I drained the oil there were no metal in filter and no metal on plug and the oil had no glitter at all.
After a panic attack, I removed the pan and found the pieces of the bolt along with some other pieces. Looked under motor and could not see where this bolt came loose from. Below are a few pics and I have many more if someone can help. Still in a panic mode but would like to try and diagnose the problem before flat bedding it to my Indy.
Any and all help appreciated. The car has 65k miles on it, oil changes (with Docs) every 3-5K miles, always cut open filter and have never seen anything. (You can see the filter in my other post)
Additional info: A few days ago I was driving and the "Engine Failure" light came on and oil pressure showed 0, I immediately pulled over but before I could turn off the motor the light was off and pressure was at 5. I called my Indy and he said it was probably the oil pressure sensor and to keep an eye on it. I also read several threads on Renn where others had the same problem. It did not happen again until yesterday and the same thing happened so I ordered a new sensor and was going to replace it during this oil change. Not sure if this plays a part but wanted to point it out.
Also I switched from Mobil 1 0w-40 to DT40 last oil change 3k miles ago. IMS was replaced with LN Ceramic at 53,700 miles.
After a panic attack, I removed the pan and found the pieces of the bolt along with some other pieces. Looked under motor and could not see where this bolt came loose from. Below are a few pics and I have many more if someone can help. Still in a panic mode but would like to try and diagnose the problem before flat bedding it to my Indy.
Any and all help appreciated. The car has 65k miles on it, oil changes (with Docs) every 3-5K miles, always cut open filter and have never seen anything. (You can see the filter in my other post)
Additional info: A few days ago I was driving and the "Engine Failure" light came on and oil pressure showed 0, I immediately pulled over but before I could turn off the motor the light was off and pressure was at 5. I called my Indy and he said it was probably the oil pressure sensor and to keep an eye on it. I also read several threads on Renn where others had the same problem. It did not happen again until yesterday and the same thing happened so I ordered a new sensor and was going to replace it during this oil change. Not sure if this plays a part but wanted to point it out.
Also I switched from Mobil 1 0w-40 to DT40 last oil change 3k miles ago. IMS was replaced with LN Ceramic at 53,700 miles.
Last edited by texcwa; 09-14-2017 at 09:46 AM. Reason: Recommended information
#2
Rennlist Member
Looks like it's been through the scavenge pump...possibly one of the cam chain sprocket bolts?
#4
#5
Burning Brakes
+1 on dporto comment, its been mangled on its way down. Doesn't look big enough to be crank carrier related so most likely something in the head.
The brown material looks like pad.
The brown material looks like pad.
#6
Burning Brakes
Could be worse than that however.
#7
The brown material almost has a washer shape???
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#8
Rennlist Member
#9
Rennlist Member
Can you read what is stamped on the head of the bolt ? Can you measure how long the bolt was?
#10
The bolt measures about 17 mm +/- in length, hard to tell since the bolt was twisted and torn in half. I also took a pic of the markings on head of bolt.
Also very curious about the piece of aluminum in first pics, almost looks like the bolt broke off this piece that it went through due to its shape being concave like around the bolt ?.
#11
Rennlist Member
We need Ahsai or one of the "internalists" to chime in. It looks to me like one of the bolts from the oil pan. But I have no idea if they are used elsewhere in the engine or not. Regardless it doesn't look good.
I would recommend renaming the thread Chewed Up Bolt Found in Oil Pan or something similar to get the right people involved in the conversation.
I would recommend renaming the thread Chewed Up Bolt Found in Oil Pan or something similar to get the right people involved in the conversation.
#12
Rennlist Member
Those are not your engine numbers, they are not cast to the block, check right above the pan rail on drivers side of the block and should be stamped on. and no way that pass thru the pump and not have a failure of the pump.
#13
Burning Brakes
IMS chain rail bolt (black plastic) or cam sprocket bolt carried by the chain.
You could check the sprockets by removing the scavenger pumps, but you wouldn't know what other damage there is without separating the case.
You could check the sprockets by removing the scavenger pumps, but you wouldn't know what other damage there is without separating the case.
#14
Burning Brakes
Camshaft sprocket bolt looks to be 12 mm, but OP said its hard to measure: http://www.sierramadrecollection.com...08-p28525.html
It can't be a plastic bolt, he found it because it stuck to his magnetic oil plug.
I am new to these cars, so probably wrong, but this looks exactly like IMS flange bolt to me (h6 x 20MM). http://www.sierramadrecollection.com...01-p22413.html
I would also imagine that if this thing fell out of the head and made it's way into the pan, you'd have a lot more trouble than just a zero oil pressure reading, no? Is it possible that the person that did the IMS dropped this, and its been in the pan the whole time and at various points, it runs into something that chews it up? Seems incredible to me.
It can't be a plastic bolt, he found it because it stuck to his magnetic oil plug.
I am new to these cars, so probably wrong, but this looks exactly like IMS flange bolt to me (h6 x 20MM). http://www.sierramadrecollection.com...01-p22413.html
I would also imagine that if this thing fell out of the head and made it's way into the pan, you'd have a lot more trouble than just a zero oil pressure reading, no? Is it possible that the person that did the IMS dropped this, and its been in the pan the whole time and at various points, it runs into something that chews it up? Seems incredible to me.
#15
Rennlist Member
It is stamped with pin punches so it looks like dotted line numbers.