Found Something While Changing The Oil...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
Likes: 10
From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Found Something While Changing The Oil...
I was changing the oil on the 91 with the 383. The engine has about 7500 miles on it. When I pulled the magnetic oil plug there was a teenie tiny piece of smashed metal about 1/16" by 1/8" long. I was going to take a picture of it but it started to rain and a raindrop knocked it into the gravel. How about some feedback? Anything to be concerned about? Or just wait till something breaks and fix it then.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
I was changing the oil on the 91 with the 383. The engine has about 7500 miles on it. When I pulled the magnetic oil plug there was a teenie tiny piece of smashed metal about 1/16" by 1/8" long. I was going to take a picture of it but it started to rain and a raindrop knocked it into the gravel. How about some feedback? Anything to be concerned about? Or just wait till something breaks and fix it then.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
A small amount of wear is normal. Its entirely possible that a larger piece all the way back from the block casting days finally broke free. The good news story is the magnetic plug picked up that little bugger before it could go somewhere else and cause hate and discontent.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 45,861
Likes: 94
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
That is one of the problems with a magnetic plug. Every time they do there job, we panic. It could be anything, but it is likely nothing. It could be a piece of debris that was in the filter(left over from manufacturing). Quite possible it did not come from the motor until the filter put it there. I know it sounds odd, but happens more than you think.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 175
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elementary my dear Watson...
Let's think this through.
If the magnet captured it then it wasn't piston parts, whew.
Bearing material? Certainly not valve stuff. Doubtful if it's a piece of ring.
I'm voting for bearing edge material.
Sounds to me like the mag plug did it's job, yep yep.
Jim
If the magnet captured it then it wasn't piston parts, whew.
Bearing material? Certainly not valve stuff. Doubtful if it's a piece of ring.
I'm voting for bearing edge material.
Sounds to me like the mag plug did it's job, yep yep.
Jim
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Connectivette
I had a large enough chunk that wouldn't escape the drain hole in my oil pan for the longest time. After I tore the engine down(for another reason) I discovered it was a piece of one of my piston skirts. Car seemingly ran fine with it in there.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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That seems to happen quite a bit. I have torn a few down and found skirts in the pan.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Spring Grove Illinois
I had 5 of them like that...cashed the engine and built a 350+ new block up
Race Director
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 503
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From: Forney Texas
The only thing to do is look on the bright side - less metal means less weight - less weight means quicker et.
All kidding aside I feel your pain. If you are really concerned you could have the oil analyzed but I wouldn't worry about it.
90Indy
All kidding aside I feel your pain. If you are really concerned you could have the oil analyzed but I wouldn't worry about it.
90Indy
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Conway AR
I've run Oberg (or that type) of oil filters on everything (except this vette) for the last 30 years. It's unblievieable what you find everytime you change the oil and clean the filter. Bits of bearings, little chunks of steel, fine hard granules of carbon, pieces of alumium (skirts).
Change the rocker covers gaskets and the bypass light comes on in about 45 seconds after you start it up the 1st time. sometimes it takes 2 or 3 cleanings to get the bypass light to stay off for 100 miles. Seems scarey, but, you get used to it. Don't mean anything. Unless you gots stuff coming apart. How do you know the diff- well, the engine makes funny sounds and lotsa smoke-then quits.
Sometimes it's best if you just don't know what floating around in the oil.
Change the rocker covers gaskets and the bypass light comes on in about 45 seconds after you start it up the 1st time. sometimes it takes 2 or 3 cleanings to get the bypass light to stay off for 100 miles. Seems scarey, but, you get used to it. Don't mean anything. Unless you gots stuff coming apart. How do you know the diff- well, the engine makes funny sounds and lotsa smoke-then quits.
Sometimes it's best if you just don't know what floating around in the oil.