what is this?
what is this? see attached picture.
This has actually happened for 3 or so oil changes now; just been too lazy to post the question. I see plenty of posts about metal shavings in oil, but these that are in my oil are very uniform pieces of metal, each about 1/4 inch in length and about as big around as a 16-18 gauge solid wire (although not flexible like a wire). Doesn't seem to be the same problem.
These look like very small bearings from somewhere, but where? What should I be looking for when I diagnose this problem? Am I going to have to completely rip into the engine? This is my DD and I've probably put 20,000 miles on it since this problem has shown up.
Other pertinent info: This started on the next oil change after my oil pump failed, and I replaced it with a ported LS6 pump, replaced the timing chain with a stronger one, and went to a 228R TSP cam because it seemed like the right thing to do. Could this be left over damage from the old failed pump maybe?
Any ideas to the culprit and solution would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
This has actually happened for 3 or so oil changes now; just been too lazy to post the question. I see plenty of posts about metal shavings in oil, but these that are in my oil are very uniform pieces of metal, each about 1/4 inch in length and about as big around as a 16-18 gauge solid wire (although not flexible like a wire). Doesn't seem to be the same problem.
These look like very small bearings from somewhere, but where? What should I be looking for when I diagnose this problem? Am I going to have to completely rip into the engine? This is my DD and I've probably put 20,000 miles on it since this problem has shown up.
Other pertinent info: This started on the next oil change after my oil pump failed, and I replaced it with a ported LS6 pump, replaced the timing chain with a stronger one, and went to a 228R TSP cam because it seemed like the right thing to do. Could this be left over damage from the old failed pump maybe?
Any ideas to the culprit and solution would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Last edited by 01ssreda4; Nov 2, 2011 at 02:48 PM.
those are needle bearings from your rocker arms son. stock rockers pre 01 are notorious from shitting needle bearings. stop driving immediately and pull your valve covers. if my hunch is right, now would be a good time to upgrade to trunnion bearings for stock rockers. if one of those gets caught in your oil pump, or stuck in a bearing you are f**ked
Correct, they are from a rocker arm. Surprised its not making top end rattles.
I had one break and got most of them out with a long magnet on a wire I stuck through the drain plug.
When I did the head swap I found 2 more and a chunk of the retainer hanging out in the lifter tray.
I had one break and got most of them out with a long magnet on a wire I stuck through the drain plug.
When I did the head swap I found 2 more and a chunk of the retainer hanging out in the lifter tray.
thanks to all for the replies.
followup question: I still have my stock rockers from an LQ4 Silverado motor from when I put some Yella Terras in my truck. I can replace bad rockers from my car with these, as both are 1.7 ratio, correct?
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On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: 20 minutes from the Valley...
you got lucky with rocker needle bearings circulating your engine for 20k miles, don't risk it with stock rockers again, either do the trunnion upgrade or get roller rockers...and make sure you get all the old needle bearings out of your engine....not to be a dick, but u seriously kept draining bearings out of your engine for this whole time and never thought that maybe you should try and find out where thy came from til now? 
you got lucky with rocker needle bearings circulating your engine for 20k miles, don't risk it with stock rockers again, either do the trunnion upgrade or get roller rockers...and make sure you get all the old needle bearings out of your engine....not to be a dick, but u seriously kept draining bearings out of your engine for this whole time and never thought that maybe you should try and find out where thy came from til now?
if I found particles I'd be worried..
if I found WHOLE PARTS.. I'd be VERY worried.. and the car wouldn't be driving until the problem was at least diagnosed.
you are a far braver man than I.
if I found WHOLE PARTS.. I'd be VERY worried.. and the car wouldn't be driving until the problem was at least diagnosed.
you are a far braver man than I.
yes you can swap over your stock truck rockers but replace them all, but i would do that as a temp fix and buy the trunnion upgrade from comp or other company and upgrade your stockers from your car with those. but i would deffinately not drive or start the car until you are sure you have got all the bearings out. when you take the valve covers off and look at the rockers and see how many rockers are bad, you can get an understanding of how many bearings have circulated through the motor. as to how to get them out, i am not sure, maybe one of these guys who have experienced this can help you out with that.
i guess the only defense i have for not doing anything, was when i first noticed the problem it was at a time when all i was having was problems with the stupid car, so it was more of an "oh well let the #$%^ thing just blow up" frustration thing. i plan on putting the car away for awhile and will address the problem.
i've looked into the trunion upgrade. i'm not looking to spend a lot of money, as the car has always been a money pit, and my life has changed to the point where modifying it to do great things is no longer a priority. i've read through a few threads on people's experiences working with the rockers; but i am wondering if the parts that come from the manufacturer include new needle bearings. it looks like it does, as it looks like a new sealed assembly that houses them, but want to make sure that I don't need to buy a kit AND new rocker arms since some of the ones i have will be missing bearings.
all this being said i might just bite the bullet and get some yella terras or other style that doesn't have the needle bearings to spin out, which would provide me with the opportunity to get 1.65 or 1.6 rockers to tame down my cam a bit--i'm having some buyer's remorse as the purpose of the car has changed from wannabe racer to daily driver and the 228R isn't the greatest cam for that purpose.
i've looked into the trunion upgrade. i'm not looking to spend a lot of money, as the car has always been a money pit, and my life has changed to the point where modifying it to do great things is no longer a priority. i've read through a few threads on people's experiences working with the rockers; but i am wondering if the parts that come from the manufacturer include new needle bearings. it looks like it does, as it looks like a new sealed assembly that houses them, but want to make sure that I don't need to buy a kit AND new rocker arms since some of the ones i have will be missing bearings.
all this being said i might just bite the bullet and get some yella terras or other style that doesn't have the needle bearings to spin out, which would provide me with the opportunity to get 1.65 or 1.6 rockers to tame down my cam a bit--i'm having some buyer's remorse as the purpose of the car has changed from wannabe racer to daily driver and the 228R isn't the greatest cam for that purpose.
*confused*
the 228r is a perfect daily driver cam, just lowering the lift isn't going to do much you will notice but might require a new tune which is more $$$$
Just swap the other rockers on and get the bearings out with a magnet. No big deal.
With aftermarket rockers you also have to worry about the added weight to the valvetrain causing valvefloat which will just cause more problems.
the 228r is a perfect daily driver cam, just lowering the lift isn't going to do much you will notice but might require a new tune which is more $$$$
Just swap the other rockers on and get the bearings out with a magnet. No big deal.
With aftermarket rockers you also have to worry about the added weight to the valvetrain causing valvefloat which will just cause more problems.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 452
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...n-upgrade.html
ya, agree ^^^^. the trunnion doesnt have needle bearings, the kit is its own bearing pretty much, more solid and reliable. the stock rocker are more then adequate to handling the job, just initially poorly desinged. i think they started incorporating the trunnion bearings into later year ls models starting in 04 or 05, cant remember if it was the 04 goat or 05 with ls2. the kit completely does away with the needle bearings altogether, just a matter of spending the time and swapping. its not necessarily an upgrade for more power, just an upgrade to make the car a lil better and reliable.
and agreed x2^^^ with the roller rockers statement. roller rockers are supposedly to be able to create less friction and smoother valve-train motions, but it adds a significant amount of wait over the tip of the valve and at higher rpms, 5000+, it just creates valve float which is BAD and can cause severe damage to your valves and valve train and in worse cases bend pushrods, piston to valve contact, catastrophic engine failure. unless you're spending bookoo bucks on rockers, dont waste your time and money on any shelf brand roller rockers.
and agreed x2^^^ with the roller rockers statement. roller rockers are supposedly to be able to create less friction and smoother valve-train motions, but it adds a significant amount of wait over the tip of the valve and at higher rpms, 5000+, it just creates valve float which is BAD and can cause severe damage to your valves and valve train and in worse cases bend pushrods, piston to valve contact, catastrophic engine failure. unless you're spending bookoo bucks on rockers, dont waste your time and money on any shelf brand roller rockers.
