Unidentified Metal Part in the pan!

[MegaJeff]

This is a bit disturbing...

My transmission rebuilder was installing a new rear main seal in the engine for me before reinstalling the transmission and he said they found a piece of aluminum about half the size of a nickle under the seal in the pan. I haven't seen the item yet but he said it might be part of a piston skirt. I hope not but we can't think of what else is aluminum in that engine that could find its way into the oil pan.

My question is... since the engine only has 90K miles on it... there should be a 100k mile warranty on the engine right? Iit is an 06 so I don't know if there is a 5yr term on that too. Should I take the truck in and say "Lookie what we found in the pan!"? Would they be able to register the complaint as happening before the warrany expires so that if it really is a part from a piston, they would have to warranty it?:-{}

Thanks

 

[rbattelle]

It's 5-years 100k miles, so you're getting to the end. Can't hurt to go try it.

The piston skirts are full cylinders on these engines, aren't they? It's not like the "tab" type skirts you see on most gas trucks. Seems unusual for something like that to crack and break away.

Maybe part of a piston cooling nozzle?

-Ryan

 

[MegaJeff]

I will try and get a picture up for you to see. It has the machining in it like a machined aluminum wheel. It is like a micro-ribbing surface. Definitely aluminum. I am going to take it in and hopefully they will at least check the pan for more pieces. If you drop the oil pan, can you see the piston skirts from the underside of the crank or is there some sort of windage tray in there to keep the oil under control?