Main/cam bearing base metal? Copper in my oil..
#1
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Main/cam bearing base metal? Copper in my oil..
I changed the oil in my '05 LS6 with 103,000 miless today and had a small copper streak in the oil as it drained. I refilled the oil and listened to the top end with my stethoscope and didn't hear anything while it was cold. When the engine is warm it has a slight "tick" in the 2nd bank area. Oil pressure is good both cold and hot, no fluctuations. I haven't cut the oil filter yet to see what's lurking in the pleats. I pulled the rocker covers but didn't see any discrepancies. I'm going to pull the valley tomorrow and have a look at the cam, but I'm thinking a plain bearing is making metal.
Does anyone know the cam/main bearing base metal beneath the babbit surface? If it's a bad plain bearing I want to change quick before it spins!
Does anyone know the cam/main bearing base metal beneath the babbit surface? If it's a bad plain bearing I want to change quick before it spins!
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So today I opened the oil filter and pulled the element apart. I found 3 small pieces of thin, silver plating, about the size of a ball point pen tip. I also strained the residual oil through a strainer and didn't see any metal particles. I'm going to run the car for a few miles and send the oil off for analysis.
#6
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You have an '05 with 103k miles. If it was going to blow, it would have already. These things are more durable than most give them credit for. I would put a new oil pump (I like the LS4 pumps), LS2 timing chain, front cover and water pump gaskets, new TTY crank bolt and let it ride.
I would drive it like this until I figured out what else I wanted to do and planned for it.
I'll add that most have this problem with their cam bearings and NEVER knew it until they went to install a cam. Lord only knows how long they go like that for. The older oil pumps have been proving problematic, I've replaced three in six months.
I would drive it like this until I figured out what else I wanted to do and planned for it.
I'll add that most have this problem with their cam bearings and NEVER knew it until they went to install a cam. Lord only knows how long they go like that for. The older oil pumps have been proving problematic, I've replaced three in six months.