Metal in Oil Pan :(

[84yota4x4]

So I was working on my cruiser today. I did a bunch of little things that needed to be done. It needed an oil change and just before doing the oil change I thought I heard it knock a few times randomly. So I did the oil change and the oil had a lot of fuel in it. So I figured that the oil wasn't lubricating enough so it had knocked a few times. So I fire it up afterwards and it knocks and gets progressively worse over the next 2 min. Now it knocks consistently. So I pulled the oil pan off (What a pain!) And I found a little piece of metal in the oil pan accompanied by a bunch of tiny pieces. I am pretty sure the piece is from the fuel pump. I'll post pictures as soon as I find my USB cable.

Now my question is now what? So I have little pieces of metal all through the engine. It isn't locked up so I figure it could be worse. I don't want to rebuild the engine because of the lack of time and money. Should I even attempt trying to clean all the oil passages I can get to?! (That sounds like no fun)

Thanks
Brian

 

[donny paradise]

The oil pump screen will catch the big stuff and the filter will catch the remainder.

 

[grant5127]

Being the oil was contaminated, pull down and inspect the bearings for "wash-out" effect........

 

[84yota4x4]

Well today I'll inspect everything, clean the pan, and put a magnet in it.

What is this "Wash-out" effect? I'll take some pictures of the bearings just in case.

 

[Mace]

The thin pieces of metal are most likely bearings..

Rebuild time most likely..

Unless of course you want to try the leather belt trick..

 

[Spike Strip]

Get the pix up -- Wanna SEE what you're referring to.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I am curious about putting a magnet in my pan as a precaution. Are their certain types to use?

 

[84yota4x4]

Here you go. This is the piece that was in the oil pan. I'll post up some pictures of the bearings in a bit.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

That's a pretty big piece to be sitting in the pan.

 

[84yota4x4]

Ok so here are two of the rod bearings.

I don't think they look so good. What do you think?

 

[chesshircat]

thats not a piece of bearing, is it the arm off a fuel pump? If that is the only piece of metal, and all the other small pieces look like they came off it you might be allright. If you pull the bearing caps make sure you keep them in order, you want to put it back exactly the way they came off

 

[chesshircat]

those aren't too bad, whats the crank look like?

 

[84yota4x4]

thats not a piece of bearing, is it the arm off a fuel pump? If that is the only piece of metal, and all the other small pieces look like they came off it you might be allright. If you pull the bearing caps make sure you keep them in order, you want to put it back exactly the way they came off

I think it is the arm off of the fuel pump as well. The fuel pump now does have it's arm and it is not damaged or broken.

I can't say I have torn down many engines this far but I am not sure on if these bearings are good or not. I'll get a pic of one of the mains in a few min.

 

[chesshircat]

It your crank looks good, you'd probably be ok with just replacing the bearings, but with the motor in the truck you can't get to the front or rear main cap

 

[84yota4x4]

Here is the #3 main cap bearing.

When I pulled out one of the bolts a good bit of water came out with the bolt!?

 

[Spike Strip]

Was a new Fuel pump put on ? Was the insulator put back on? Or was an insulator installed when there was not one ?

Marv Specter told me once fuel pump levers break like that when there's an issue with the insulator...

Bearings aren't too bad. Was there coolant in the oil or water ?

 

[84yota4x4]

Was a new Fuel pump put on ? Was the insulator put back on? Or was an insulator installed when there was not one ?

Bearings aren't too bad. Was there coolant in the oil or water ?

I think the insulator was not put back on at one point, but it is on now and it works fine.

No there was no water in the oil when I drained it. But when I dropped the pan there was a little milky residue at the bottom. Not much at all though.

 

[84yota4x4]

So I inspected all the bearings I could and they all looked the same. So I threw it back together, put oil in it, primed the system and, fired it up. The knock was still there. I let run for about 2 min and mysteriously the knock went away. I let it run for a while, I took it for a short ride and then let it idle for about an hour. The knock came back only for a min or so and then just went away and hasn't been back since.

I listened to the knock to see if it was in the bottom or the top end. It seems to be from the top end. I listened using a long piece of rebar and placing it in diffferent locations and listening to the end of it. It seems to be coming from the top end of cylinder #1. It is not a tap but definately sounds like a knock.

I am considering leaving it and driving it and seeing if it comes back. Though I do have a 7 hour trip back to school in 3 days if I decide to take it.

 

[PAFJ]

Have you made any changes and/or adjustments to your drive belts lately?

 

[84yota4x4]

Have you made any changes and/or adjustments to your drive belts lately?

No, how would that have an effect?