jhall

iTrader: (3)

I noticed a slight rattle sound that sounded like something was loose under the car a couple days ago. I could not find anything loose so i pulled the driver side valve cover due to the sound seemingly coming from there. the rockers appear to be fine.The rattle sound is more noticable at idle and appears to quiet down with more rpms. I then drained the oil and there is a 3/4 inch long and maybe 1/32 inch wide spring on the drain plug magnet. I would post up a pic of it but my wife has the camara in her car.The friend of mine i bought the car from is at work so i havent had a chance to ask him what is going on here, does anyone know where this spring may belong??Thanks.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Might be off a valve seal based on your description, have to see the photo.

Schwanke Engines

iTrader: (1)

How was your oil pressure? It could either be a lifter spring, highly unlikely because it is to long, or, it could be your oil pressure relief spring, which would be really bad.

Schwanke Engines

iTrader: (1)

Could be one of those as well.

jhall

iTrader: (3)

The oil pressure is good,40 psi when running, 60 or so at start up. The car has had some surging from time to time at start up but no apparent power loss. If this spring is from a valve stem seal, what would the slight rattle noise be caused by? I am going to try to find a camara to post up a pic.

99ssleeper

iTrader: (98)

id go with a valve seal spring.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

If the spring is off the seal, there may be a reason. Pull the valve covers, if it is a seal spring, look for the offending seal and then examine the rocker/valve spring/pushrod of that valve to see if there is something amiss.

jhall

iTrader: (3)

here is a pic of the spring on my drain plug.

jed.only

iTrader: (9)

hahaha oh come on! better picture would help a ton!


i would venture to say seal retention spring, but from that pic i cant tell.

jhall

iTrader: (3)

i know, my camara sucks, this is the best i can do. The guy i bought the car from replaced the valve seals a few months ago due to a couple being bad. Maybe this could be on of the old seals and the slight rattleing sound i am hearing is unrelated. I am starting to get confused here...

Danger731

iTrader: (3)

It is not the camera.

jed.only

iTrader: (9)

could be parts of the old seals, or it could be how he installed the new ones. a hammer and a socket work okay for some, but, like me, some people he-man them on and goof the springs.

bjamick

iTrader: (31)

Yep it looks to be the right size for a valve seal spring. But is the ends of it look to be broken off?

jed.only

iTrader: (9)

your pictures suck, lol.

ROCNDAV

iTrader: (100)

could that be a rocker arm needle bearing?

eallanboggs

iTrader: (1)

Valve seal springs are referred to as garter springs because of the way they wrap around the seal the same way a garter wraps around a leg. Your spring appears to be small enough, but it's straight rather than circular as is the case with a valve seal spring. Does your spring appear to have come unraveled or to be broken in a way that would indicate it might have previously been wrapped around a valve seal. Your photos are too blurry to see this much detail. Unless the spring was dropped into the engine during the repair you mentioned the only way a valve seal spring could reach the pan would be for it fail and find its' way into the oil pan. Otherwise it would stay wrapped around the valve stem.

jed.only

iTrader: (9)

sure could. pending clearer pics im more inclined to think this due to how straight it is. retention springs often curl.

ae13291

iTrader: (8)

the pictures arent so clear but you can tell its a spring not part of a needle bearing! im going to have to say its the valve stem seal

connexion2005

iTrader: (49)

+1 on valve seal spring...looks just look it. Pull your springs and look for one missing a spring! Are you burning any oil or smoking more than normal now?

ws6_bandit

iTrader: (5)

So what exactly does this spring do? I noticed them when i put new seals on but couldnt figure out what the hell the spring does. Sorry to hi jack lol