Flakes in oil

[fliphkd778]

I've been getting this loud higher pitched tick under acceleration, sounds much like valves clapping. However, I knew it wasn't valve sounds when I pulled the number 6 piston's spark and the sounds immediately dissipated.
So i pulled the oil pan today, and found it to be sparkling from many shreds of some material. Number 6 rod bearing, cylinder walls, and wrist pin all felt and looked fine.
The flakes appear to each only have one worn side to them, and they are quite thin, a bit thicker than aluminum foil.
Any ideas on what to check?

 

[Spike Strip]

Pix ?

 

[lehiguy]

I've been getting this loud higher pitched tick under acceleration, sounds much like valves clapping. However, I knew it wasn't valve sounds when I pulled the number 6 piston's spark and the sounds immediately dissipated.
So i pulled the oil pan today, and found it to be sparkling from many shreds of some material. Number 6 rod bearing, cylinder walls, and wrist pin all felt and looked fine.
The flakes appear to each only have one worn side to them, and they are quite thin, a bit thicker than aluminum foil.
Any ideas on what to check?

Sounds like a bearing is disintegrating. If the pan is off, check them all one at a time.

 

[fliphkd778]

It does sound a lot like a bearing to me, but the pieces are so glossy and thin.. Other than that, I could only see it as a piston contacting the cylinder wall and the noise being piston slap. I did also rebuild the head about six months ago. I remember setting the valves and letting it run for a bit with the valve cover off; the #6 piston's pushrods were spinning all over, and it felt like something wasn't right in the valve train.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Definitely check your bearings!

TK

 

[John Smith]

Definitely check your bearings!

TK

x2 looks like bearing material to me also. Choose the little flower icon on your camera when taking close up photos and they won't be blurry.

 

[fliphkd778]

The rod bearings shall be checked. On that note, the F engine manual says 33-55 ft./lbs. of torque on the caps, is this the same for the 2F?

 

[fliphkd778]

I've checked all but cylinders 1 & 2 thus far; everything looks allright. Not great, but not bad either. I did find a small piece of small diameter wire- the same maybe as the oil ring possibly.

 

[fliphkd778]

Ahh.... the little flower function of the camera. This is only a portion of what was found, there were many more flakes. Once again, these things are VERY thin, +/- aluminum foil size

 

[fliphkd778]

Could it be a thrust bearing?
I'm sort of unclear on thrust washers/bearings. Is there only one pair in a 2f? Can I replace them with the crank in the car?

 

[lehiguy]

You might also check the rocker arm bushings, but that wouldn't explain why it makes more noise when accelerating. This could also be from a lifter or the cam. That is easy to check if you pull the distributor and the access plate on the side of the motor. Loosen or remove the rocker assembly, remove the push rods and you should be able to remove each lifter for inspection. It's obvious that you have a problem, I hope you find it sooner than later.

 

[Altan]

I've checked all but cylinders 1 & 2 thus far; everything looks allright. Not great, but not bad either. I did find a small piece of small diameter wire- the same maybe as the oil ring possibly.

!!The wire is from the rings.!! the noise you heard is most likely piston slap. I just replaced my #6 piston for the same reason. Questions do you have blow by and what is the compression? My piston broke right at the oil ring so dont let it go on like I did

 

[2mbb]

Are the pieces magnetic? If it is a bearing disintegrating, then I would expect it to be the lead bearing surface, which is not magnetic. I'm not sure if rings are magnetic, but I would expect them to be (steel, not aluminum or lead). This easy diagnostic might help point you in the right direction.

 

[fliphkd778]

The flakes are barely magnetic, they seem to be more inclined on only one side of each flake. This also leads me to believe bearing failure, however none of the bearings had this much material missing.

Altan, can you remove the #6 piston with the block still in the truck? The piston showed around 180 psi of compression.

 

[Altan]

Altan, can you remove the #6 piston with the block still in the truck? The piston showed around 180 psi of compression.[/QUOTE]

Yes you can, but you have to remove the head to do it. be sure to put a rubber hose over the bolts of the rod before you slide it up so you dont mar the crank shaft. Good luck let me know what you find out.

 

[fliphkd778]

Cool will do the hose trick.
I'm going to check the clearances with some new rod bearings and plastigauge.
The torque is the same as the F motor for the 2f right?

 

[fliphkd778]

Well, I can confirm it is not rod bearing material. I purchased a new set, spec'd the new set to be around .03mm of clearance based on the F engine manual requiring .02-.06mm.
-Starts up and runs well, but chirp/tick still present.
My plan is to just keep running it until something more drastic happens and go from there.
-I have another good 2F from an '81 I could swap in my '86, is there anything I should be aware of about that swap?