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I have a 98 C5 and it has about 140,000 miles on it and on the last oil change I got two small bearings (cylindrical about 1/4 inch long) from the oil. I assume this is from some bearing like a roller lifter that's going to self-destruct. If I'm right (does the stock C5 have roller lifters? roller cams?), what are my options before it self destructs? Rebuild? Crate engine? No I won't sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.
I do not know where they are from but my guess would be the rockers. If this is the case I would remove the valve covers and see what was going on. Find out how many bearings are missing and if you got them all from the oil.
I have a 98 C5 and it has about 140,000 miles on it and on the last oil change I got two small bearings (cylindrical about 1/4 inch long) from the oil. I assume this is from some bearing like a roller lifter that's going to self-destruct. If I'm right (does the stock C5 have roller lifters? roller cams?), what are my options before it self destructs? Rebuild? Crate engine? No I won't sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.
Quite common for the older style rockers to spew out the bearings.
They pretty much eliminated this problem with the newer rockers.
I'd say you would be safe to buy a complete used set from lets say an
01 on up to 04, for trouble free rockers.
Good luck
Most definitely from the rockers. Replace them all and you'll be fine. I would also put one of those magnets on the oil filter and increase the oil/filter change frequency for the next little while.
The car has roller lifters too. If the bearings aren't from the rockers be prepared to do the lifters. If it's the lifters it'll wipe the cam or already has.
When you get the valve covers off you will see the rocker that broke and most likely find more needle bearings laying on the top of the head. I would count the needles found and make sure I got them all.