I noticed my oil pressure was fluctuating on a drive a couple of nights ago.... it was about mid gauge, but not increasing much when revved.
Decided I would finally get around to changing the oil (I had previously taken a sample and it looked clean).
Took the oil plug out and was confronted with this metal fragment in the photos below. No smaller pieces or filings I have found yet. Pulled the oil filter and the oil was clear that came out of it.... I haven't opened it yet to see if anything inside.
Can anyone identify where it is likely to be from?
What are my next steps ... remove the oil pan and check there?
thats like a regular sherlock holmes mystery. no metal filings where stuck to the drain plug magnet just that one lone chunk? Not sure why I am thinking this but.. easy possible check, I would remove your oil filter adaptor and have a look at it next to see if it has any damage in it. there is a little plate inside it held on by a tiny screw, it creates a bypass if the filter is clogged up so oil still flows. will affect pressure for sure if its broken off. there is a picture of it halfway down this page. http://www3.telus.net/68bird/engine_build2_3.htm
Thanks medhat for the fast reply... the fragment looks to have one straight edge and two jagged and no pressed depression as on the plate.
the oil pan looks like it has been sealed with Silastic or similar so reluctant to remove that at this point... I assume the starter motor has to come out as well for pan removal?
Whilst looking at that part of the engine I noticed I could see the engine starter motor ring gear through a rectangular hole and obviously open to the elements... is that normal or should there be a cover/ bung in the hole?
Is the piece stamped steel as It seems? It has a light area just above the edge contacting the magnet, that looks like it was under a nut or bolt head or washer. Maybe a piece of the windage tray or the oil pickup? What is the history of the engine? Could be someone put some baffling in the pan that came apart or lost the piece when it was assembled. Not much in the way of stamped steel in there to begin with.
The starter should fill the hole unless you have a mini starter which leaves a gap.
I don't know if you will get the pan off without pulling the engine, I tried and failed.
Might be pressed, a very fine bend in it. The lighter area you describe is where the bend is so possibly was under a screw head. Another pic showing the bend at the top of the fragment.
Engine was rebuilt in 2012... I have only put about 200 miles on it since importing it last year, I estimate only about 400 miles since rebuild.
As the engine appears to be running ok I was thinking it may have been shrapnel left over from the build or previous life.
I should have said the hole is on right/passenger side opposite to starter.
I enlarged the Photo and now it looks porous like cast Iron, maybe a piece of flashing? Don't know about a hole on the right side unless you have an inspection plate made for a right or left hand starter.
You really don't have to many options here. If you disassemble the engine and look for a broken piece you might as well rebuild it. It's hard to tell where the metal piece came from, could be anything from dropping a washer thru the carb to wear of an internal engine part, to something that a previously rebuilder caused. If it was me and the car still runs good, I would flush the engine with 4 qts of 10-40 and 1 pint of Marvel oil, let it idle for 15min. drain and refill with 10-30 and have fun driving it and have a Fosters! Sometimes we drive ourselves crazy over things we can't control...
Done just that... ran 3 lt of oil through it... nothing found... filled it and ran to hot and let it sit a couple of hours, took a sample and dropped the magnet in again, nothing.
I have topped it off and will do similar a couple more time after driving until I get confidence nothing still lurking.
Thanks for the advice guys..
(ps I don't what the equiv of Marvel Oil is here, but I can buy some on ePay and give it a try)
the little piece of possible shrapnel on the magnet with no other iron filings stuck to the magnet is likely not a big deal as others have said. it was the oil pressure problem that is more worrisome. that was what brought me to consider the metal flap in the oil filter adaptor as a possible cause of the oil pressure problem and the chunk of metal. you have not mentioned that since the original post. is it better, the the same or worse since you have done the flushes etc?
My bad, after my first post I established there was less than 4 Litres ~4 qts) in the car, a lot less than the 5.5-6qts that looks to be the recomended fill and assumed that was the cause of the fluctuating oil pressure. Normally at half gauge, with pressure going to full deflection when the throttle opened.
With 5L of 20W60 + a full filter the oil pressure gauge is close to full deflection at idle... I guess this is the new normal position?
It's not leaking or burning oil, and I dont have a clue why the PO would have short filled it.
I noticed my oil pressure... was fluctuating on a drive a couple of nights ago.... it was about mid gauge, but not increasing much when revved.
Decided I would finally get around to changing the oil (I had previously taken a sample and it looked clean).
Took the oil plug out and was confronted with this metal fragment in the photos below. No smaller pieces or filings I have found yet. Pulled the oil filter and the oil was clear that came out of it.... I haven't opened it yet to see if anything inside.
Can anyone identify where it is likely to be from?
What are my next steps ... remove the oil pan and check there?
Just a guess but to me, it looks like the stamping which stops the oil fill cap rotation on the underside of the valve cover. If you have chrome valve covers might explain the shiny side.
Looks like casting flash from just underneath the valley pan...webbing between lifter areas. If no other metal came out...wouldn't worry. I would however take a rare earth magnet and move it around outside of pan....or a new extendable probe with magnet and move to around inside of pan. I'd do that before pulling pan..oh..and id open up oil filter. And before I pulled the pan...id see if I could rent, borrow or buy a flexible camera to peek inside..I bought one for $85.
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1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
Car doesn't get much use, I've checked the oil a couple of times since above events (drain about 100ml each time) and it is clean so far... endoscope is a good idea....
I don't think it's wear or anything from the engine or any engine related internal part. I had an incident once where a nut dropped thru the carb and got flattened by the pistons. Possibility? If you engine still purrs, keep enjoying!
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