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Two seasons ago, one of my winter works was to install a magnetic oil drain plug. Having worked on helicopters for a few years, I always thought that they were a good idea. An excellent indicator of premature wear, or maybe just a window into quick detection of an internal problem.
Last season, I had to replace my rack and pinion. Seeing as how I was already going that far into the disassembly, I opted for a 10% underdrive balancer as well. I also decided to pin it as well.
Today was oil change time. I don't really do a lot of mileage during the season (maybe 3000 max), so an oil change is really good for the season. I'll change it early into the winter, and then drop it again next winter. Anyway, get set up, get the pan in place, and pulling the drain plug, I see this...
Yup. The pin I installed for the balancer. How the heck it ended up in the pan? Beats me, but there it is. That drain plug is the best $25 I ever invested.
Do you have a part number for that drain plug? I know I could probably figure one out pretty easy...but I'm feeling lazy right now. And I just drilled and tapped the oil pan, so oil shavings in the pan is a high priority item for me right now, ha.
Do you have a part number for that drain plug? I know I could probably figure one out pretty easy...but I'm feeling lazy right now. And I just drilled and tapped the oil pan, so oil shavings in the pan is a high priority item for me right now, ha.
Well at least you had the magnetic drain plug, but it's also impossible for the pin from a balancer to somehow migrate into the oil pan? Maybe someone tried to sabotage your engine or you somehow dropped it in the fill tube? Either way that's very wierd.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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Originally Posted by voda1
Looks more like the camshaft drive pin.
, it would be impossible for the crank pin to fall into the engine however the pin in the end of the cam could work it's way loose and pop out of the front of the cam gear and fall into the pan
You guys are correct, must be the cam pin. The cam was changed before I bought the car (****** Thumper), so it's really the only logical explanation. First, I only drilled deep enough for the pin. Second, even if I went deeper, there's a step on the crank against which the balancer seats against, so no way for the balancer pin to get out.
Besides, I just remembered that the pinning kit that I bought came with 5 pins. I just compared the one I pulled out of the pan with the pins in the kit, and it doesn't match. They're a tad longer than the one I pulled from the pan, and the pin I found also has a stamping mark, which the pin kit ones don't have. Here's a close up;
Do you have a part number for that drain plug? I know I could probably figure one out pretty easy...but I'm feeling lazy right now. And I just drilled and tapped the oil pan, so oil shavings in the pan is a high priority item for me right now, ha.
Nice catch, literally. My question is, $25 for a magnetic drain plug? They’re literally $4.99 at my local auto parts store.
That's because the parts store one is a typical weak magnet. The better drain plugs have a "neo/rare earth" magnet which is WAY stronger (and these minerals are expensive). Much better off going with the neo magnet plugs.
Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; 12-16-2018 at 10:35 AM.
12-15-2018, 03:11 PM
Magnetic drain plug is worth it's weight in gold!
, it would be impossible for the crank pin to fall into the engine however the pin in the end of the cam could work it's way loose and pop out of the front of the cam gear and fall into the pan
