Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) metal in oil

[braible]

i changed my oil tonight and saw a ton of metal flakes in the oil :{ , now my last oil change did not see any metal in it. that was 3000 miles ago.

plus started to have a ticking sound coming from the drivers side of the truck, it started about two weeks ago. does anybody have any ideas of what could be causing the metal in the oil.



Thanks, Brian

 

[Forrest Nearing]

cam getting eaten up?



lift pump eating the cam?



is it magnetic? what color is it?



Forrest

 

[braible]

some of it is magnetic and some is not, the color is silver

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I'm stumped

 

[braible]

i just hope i dont have to rebuild the motor, because i dont have the funds for it.

trying to build a house, getting married in may , and to top it all off metal in the oil.

you talk about stress. if anybody else knows something about my motor, please help me out here. truck has 170,000 miles on , the lift pump was changed last jan. i'm running valvoline PB.



Thanks, Brian

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I hear ya boss... good luck with it!



Forrest

 

[braible]

can anybody else help me out here.



Thanks, Brian

 

[braible]

well i check the lift pump and the cam where the lift pump rides on. it look like normal wear, no scars. could my inj pump be failing me.

 

[Andy Redmond]

If it looks like "chrome" flakes maybe cam lobe material or crankshaft journal material.



Do a oil analysis in 500 or 1000 miles and post your results if the lab report doesn't satisfy you. .



A long shot. . I rebuilt a motor for a customer this summer one of the complaints was what you describe. The gear on the vacuum pump was missing a tooth.



This truck had a bad oil leak(s) and a leaky head/head gasket. I think the driver ignored both. It evenutually got # 6 piston.



Perhaps you can have a good shop perform a manometer test (for blow by) and have the injectors pulled for a compression test.



Did the dowel pin or something fall apart in the gear housing which could fall down into the pan. .



Gotta bad oil leak behind the fan mount?



Anyhow lets be positive and hope for a reasonable fix.



Good luck

Andy

 

[ata]

Boy I hate to say this but I'll bet you scored a piston. If you have metal flakes that are not magnetic (aluminum) it's a piston. The noise starts out as a tic-tic and then goes to a knocking as it gets worse.

 

[JoshPeters]

Nonmagnetic... . could be bearing material. I agree with Andy and get an oil analisys done. They can tell you Exactly what is in the oil... and usually give you an idea where it came from.



Keep us posted!

Josh

 

[braible]

thanks guys, i will get a the compression check and blowby. as for the oil tested who does that, cummins or is there another better place that does it. and thanks again



Brian

 

[Andy Redmond]

Brian:



Any Cummins dist. should have a "Fleetguard" oil analysis kit. comes with a catch bottle then mail to their lab.



If you have a Caterpillar dist in your area, they usually have onsite oil labs and can do a "rush" to satisfy your curiousity.



Either method should cost $20 or less. .



Most independents or Cummins shops charge 3-5 hrs for the manometer test (its quick) and the injector r&r for the compression tester.



Often a "trained ear" may have heard the noise many times and can sometimes tell you straight up.



Not sure of your locale in IN, but TST (Columbus area) Haisley's etc come to mind right off.



Good luck on the truck and the marriage, we are going on 5. 5 yrs. definitely a smart life choice on my part! My lovely spouse may disagree sometimes!



Andy

 

[braible]

thanks andy, i will keep you posted



Brian

 

[ata]

The Babbitt layer on a bearing has Tin in it so it is magnetic. Babbitt from a bearing is dark gray in color Aluminum from a piston is silver in color. But that's only my . 02 cents worth?

 

[Rdunkin]

Andy; If you have some extra time you might pop the front cover off and check for teeth, worn or missing and eliminate that "area" as far as wear on or broken teeth.

MARRIGE TEST: "Honey... lets go to the shop and fix OUR truck"... ..... ?

GOOD LUCK

Richard