BigE

iTrader: (2)

A friend and I removed the oil pan from his car (98) because the engine was knocking lightly. Pulled three caps and every one of the bearings showed two "wipes" in the exact middle of the bearing (ie. the bottom of the "U" if you were to hold the cap, bearing side up). They were very small (pea-sized) and each bearing had two of them on either side of where the oil hole would ride. You could see on each wipe where it had worn through the surface layer. Normally, I would think it had sustained an impact. However, we had just removed the heads thinking the knock was in the top end. There were no signs of piston/valve contact at all. The only thing I can think of is an oil system failure of some sort. I wish I had a picture to show you guys.

As a little backround, we were playing on the interstate one night, just a 3rd to 4th run. Afterwards, his car was the same as it was before ... no issues. He drove it all the way to his house and parked it. He got up the next morning to go to work and it knocked on start up. He drove it a little bit thinking it was a lifter but it never subsided. He turned around and limped it back to the house. Oil was not low.

So thoughts?

Thanks

BigE

iTrader: (2)

TTT please

Greg Fell

iTrader: (9)

what do the rod bearings look like, specifically the top 1/2 of the bearing? on the mains, is it the lower half only?

BigE

iTrader: (2)

We pulled rod caps only. We haven't looked at the mains yet since the engine is still in the car. After seeing 3 like that, I figured it was an oil system failure of some sort which would mean going through the entire engine. We just pulled the caps and looked at the bearing in the cap. We didn't rotate the crank to look at the top side.

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

pics would really help

Stephen Griner

iTrader: (17)

Check this out
http://www.tec.nsk.com/Troubleshooti.../Smearing.html

Just click on the left hand column untill you find one that matches. Sounds like brinelling or smearing, maybe scoring.

Z'mnypit

iTrader: (58)

Have you found any metal in the oil pan, or on the drain plug?

BigE

iTrader: (2)

He has drained the oil twice on the car since this happened and I wasn't present either time. However, we've had the complete top end and oil pan off the car. I haven't seen any metal shavings.

Z'mnypit

iTrader: (58)

Did ya'll check all the valve springs?

BigE

iTrader: (2)

Yes, the heads were freshened with new valve stem seals so we had a chance to look them over. The springs were fine.