Help - What is this $hit in my oil.

[GeorgiaSnake]

I changed the oil this morning, after 450 break in miles and found significant trash on the magnetic plug. It looks like a very small spring. Any body know what it is ? The picture is to large to post so I'll try to put it in my gallery.

Thanks
Randy

[Lowell W]

Randy,

Seems to me there was a thread regarding a little spring ( part of a check valve?) found in the drain oil a few months back. Perhaps this will help you find the thread or maybe someone else can be more specific.

Good luck.

[bossed99]

I checked out the foto. The items are out of focus so the viewers like me can't really tell what they might be. You might have to take another shot.

[GeorgiaSnake]

I added two more pictures, still a little fuzzy

I still have good pressure and the engine runs fine. I wil not run it anymore until I find the source of the little springs. One of them is really mangled and must have gone throught the oil pump or something.

I should have kept the filter and cut it apart to see what was in it, but I was freaking out and didn't think about it

I'm sure SA will know what it was.

Randy

[KobraKarl]

never mind the spring .....where did the nickle come from.......have you seen your watch latley? ....

ok sorry, you probly aint in the mood. There was a longish thread on a very similar issue a month or two ago, and I believe it was positively determined to be a control spring from the oil cooler,, this one of yours looks quite a bit longer though ...... possibly a different manufacture??

Good luck, KK

[GeorgiaSnake]

The nickle fell out of my nose as I snorted and I don't own a watch. I'm not to worried about it, I think it is from the filter. The motor runs great and has 40 to 50 psi at idle when hot.

Randy

[Woodz428]

I looked at the spring earlier and it looked familiar. It took me a few hours but I think I know what it is (it just came to me when I saw the thread in the archives), I think it is a seal spring, most likely from the way it is chewed up it's the front seal that seals the harmonic balancer. Fortunately not too hard to replace.

[KobraKarl]

wdz,

good call!!

[GeorgiaSnake]

WDZ I think you may be on to something. I'm going to crawl around under the car and see if I have any sign of leaking. Thanks for the thought.

Randy

[viking]

Are you running umbrella type valve seals ?, kinda looks like the springs on them. Don

[misfit41]

I think the valve stem seals are on the money,,did you call southern ? Tk

[GeorgiaSnake]

I'm going to call them Monday. I think it may be the front seal, I see signs of oil weeping out and being slung by the harmonic balance. Either way I don't think anything is damaged and I'm sure SA can fix what ever is failing.
I had noticed the bottom pully has a little wobble in it at idle and it seems to go away with increased rpm.

I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome.

Randy

[Woodz428]

Way too big for stem seal springs and if they weren't there would have to be several . They would then have to go through the drain back system with out getting caught elsewhere. The front seal, on the other hand, is only inches away and it isn't that uncommon for a seal to roll a spring off during installation if not careful.

[Mr.Fixit]

Front crank seal. As stated by Woodz428

[GeorgiaSnake]

Front seal it is and I will be back on the road this week - gotta love the folks at Southern Automotive.

Bill told me I must have a dark cloud over my head as this is the first time one of his motors has eaten a front seal. At least I stand out from the crowd

Randy

[auto10x]

It´s called a seal garter spring. It did NOT go through the oil pump, you can be sure. Glad you found the source of the problem.
auto10x
Bill

[chill]

I thought it was the little spring that holds the sandpaper to that stick you were sanding the car with.....

[GeorgiaSnake]