Metal flakes in oil pan, low oil pressure. Need input

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Old 11-08-2013, 11:41 PM
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Default Metal flakes in oil pan, low oil pressure. Need input

Ok guy so a couple months ago I installed a forged 370 from a local engine builder. Ran the truck for about a week and it started loosing oil pressure. Changed oil and found cooper metal flakes in the oil pan. Cleaned pick up tube screen and put everything back together added thicker oil. Still no oil pressure, so parked the truck. Today I took the engine out. Tore it apart but could find nothing wrong. I have it tore down to the short block and can't see anything wrong except the oil pump is a little tight to turn. Any ideas would be greatful. Truck is turbo'd can't see anything wrong with the turbo.
Old 11-09-2013, 12:08 AM
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Have you checked the mains and rod bearings? What did they look like? Check the rubber o-ring on the pick up tube at the oil pump.
Old 11-09-2013, 12:15 AM
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I have not tore down mains and rods, also engine was not knocking and engine spins good on engine stand. Oring was nice and tight, no damage.
Old 11-09-2013, 08:18 AM
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Your oil pump may have sheared some causing a lack of efficiency and loss of pressure. I would suggest removing the oil pump, and checking your bearings. What color was the metal?
Old 11-09-2013, 08:35 AM
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A cooper color, I thi k the oil pump is bad. I won't be using it again. But can find where the metal came from. I'm about to head to my shop an pull of the mains.
Old 11-09-2013, 08:43 AM
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With copper flakes showing in the oil, inspecting the rod and main bearings are a must. Sounds like they need to be replaced. If it was me, Id inspect and replace ANY worn bearings.
Old 11-09-2013, 09:35 AM
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I agree with bowtie, oil pump gears are normally tempered steel, bearings are copper or sometimes tin colored.
Old 11-09-2013, 09:47 AM
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Tear down it is. Ill have something in a hr or 2.
Old 11-09-2013, 04:36 PM
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Main bearings were bad.
Low oil pressure + metal in oil pan = bad mains
Old 11-09-2013, 04:41 PM
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Crank look OK?
Old 11-09-2013, 05:53 PM
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Somewhat. Only ran it about a day with somewhat low oil pressure. Should cut down to .010. If not I have a couple spare cranks. Pulled a rod bearing they look ok.
Old 11-09-2013, 07:31 PM
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It would be a good idea to find out why the bearings were damaged. Bearings typically just do not "go bad". There's a root cause. If you don't find out what it is, it will very likely happen again.
Old 11-09-2013, 08:04 PM
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Bearings.
Old 11-09-2013, 09:03 PM
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I'm pretty sure it was the oil pump. Doesn't turn by hand. That's y it didn't have oil pressure.
Old 11-09-2013, 09:53 PM
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Maybe. My car went low on oil, then I took the pump apart and cleaned it. Reusing it now with no issue.
Old 11-09-2013, 10:32 PM
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I'm just gonna go ahead and get a ported ls6 oil pump, new lifters and all new bearings and rock it. I want to at least squeeze into the 11s before the yr is over without blowing anything else up.
Old 11-10-2013, 09:18 PM
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spun cam bearing!
Old 11-10-2013, 11:12 PM
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That's what I thought from the beginning but no damage to the cam?
Old 11-11-2013, 12:22 AM
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Why not take it back to the "local builder"? Before you get in there messing with it.. He may stand behind it if he can investigate it.. Stripping it down yourself could remove the clues.

Maybe it wasn't line bored correctly. I'd damn sure investigate more then the oil pump though.. It need to be completely gone through and block boiled again now..
Old 11-11-2013, 08:37 AM
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It's tore down to the short block. I tool to main caps and a rod cap off. So it's still built.


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