Anyone know what this little chunk of metal might be? Also a good pic of the sludge I found in there. Is this normal for oil to do when it has been sitting for a long time?

Also is this piece of metal something that I should pull the engine out and do a complete tear down to find out where it came from?


Thanks all.

Full rez:
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2...9081241gd2.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6...081241abu8.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9...9081242op2.jpg

edit: the car is 1967 coupe with a 390. No idea on when it was rebuilt or last opened up.


[IMG]local://upfiles/91681/D479402A18FB4CCFAF817C5DEE9C49C9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/91681/DE1418902C4C4B1BAB31DC757918B9C5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/91681/D7134C5013C44C7F802F28857AD63057.jpg[/IMG]

 

oil truns to sludge over time thans why it needs to be changed. You need to flush that engine that stuff is all threw your engine. That metal doesn't look like anything in an engine check to see if it is magnetic it may of been put in the pan to collect metal out of the oil.

 

Thats what my hope was, that it was a magnet, no such luck though.

 

Maybe just a piece of junk left in there by a careless mechanic who took the pan off. Could have fallen in while the pan was off and then it was reinstalled without looking at it too closely.

 

If it is not magnetic I would be concerned about it. Did you have the motor running before you tore it down? I saw you said it was sitting.

 

Yes I had it running for about a minute. I have an oil leak from the rear of the intake manifold [only leaks oil while engine is running].

 

Well you won't be able to say that anymore since you get to tear it down now.

 

Maybe it was left there by the lifter fairies.

 

haha you guys are awesome...i just almost fell outta my chair laughing.

but yeah, metal in the oil pan is never a good sign. hopefully its nothing...

 

Damn.