I think I have this diagnosed but I thought Id run it by you guys first. Headed to work the other morning, up hill with a pretty good head of steam, around 50 mph when the truck wouldn't shift to the next gear. I pulled over and the engine ran very rough and died. Started right up and pulled to the top of the hill to wait for a tow and it died again. Had a very heavy knock in the engine. After I called the tow truck, I waited about an hour and cranked it again, ran great except for the heavy knock. Oil pressure was fine, engine temp was fine. The motor has been running exceptionally cool lately. I chalked it up to the low temps in CO. Had it towed home, started it and put it into the garage to start digging in. So heres what Ive found so far.
The knock sounds like its coming from lower in the engine and closer to the center pistons.
Pulled valve cover, nothing abnormal except: Piston #3 valves are all in the same position(closed-up). Im not sure if this is normal but no other set of valves are all in the same position.
Pulled oil pan sump: a LOT of fairly large non magnetic metal shavings. They look like aluminum and are not small (in my amateur opinion) -the largest pictured.
Before I pull the head, I consulted a few top rated local guys and they said it is not likely a valve problem. I saw nothing in the timing chain area suggesting failure.
The truck has 199K + with no known major engine work.
From all this, Im guessing rod bearing failure. Is there anything else I should check before pulling the main oil pan or the head. If the engine needs a rebuild Id rather sell it as it is or bring it to someone more capable of a complete rebuild.
Thanks for your help
The knock sounds like its coming from lower in the engine and closer to the center pistons.
Pulled valve cover, nothing abnormal except: Piston #3 valves are all in the same position(closed-up). Im not sure if this is normal but no other set of valves are all in the same position.
Pulled oil pan sump: a LOT of fairly large non magnetic metal shavings. They look like aluminum and are not small (in my amateur opinion) -the largest pictured.
Before I pull the head, I consulted a few top rated local guys and they said it is not likely a valve problem. I saw nothing in the timing chain area suggesting failure.
The truck has 199K + with no known major engine work.
From all this, Im guessing rod bearing failure. Is there anything else I should check before pulling the main oil pan or the head. If the engine needs a rebuild Id rather sell it as it is or bring it to someone more capable of a complete rebuild.
Thanks for your help
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