24K Gold Nuggets in 7Bolt Oil Pan

[espinelli]

Hey guys after two long years I finally got my car running. I've pretty much upgraded everything with the exception of the bottom end.

I drove my car a total of 10-15 times for 5-15 minute intervals over a two week period. I was happy with the performance even though I was still sporting a BigT28 turbo. Needless to say the last time I took it for a ride I started to hear this horrible noise. I initally thought it was my Walbro fuel pump which I had just installed prior to going for a test drive. I immediately turned the car around and headed back to the garage just to be safe. The noise was actually more of a knocking noise and it came on all at once. When I got back to the garage I thought it was my valves. After a few more minutes I determined I probably spun a bearing or at least knew there was something wrong with the lower end. :thumbdown

I pulled and checked my plugs, did a compression test and drained my oil. Everything checked out ok. The following week, I pulled the oil pan and found two 24K Gold nuggets along with a lot of metal shavings.

At this point, I decided I should probably buy a new motor and start over. But before I do that, I would like to identify the mystery parts as well as figure out what caused this to happen. I've attached two images for everyone to view. With your help, I'm hoping to rectify this problem without spending money on a new motor. Thanks.

Mod List just in case
98GSX
Intake
DP /no cat
N1 Exhaust
UICP
LICP
FMIC
BOV
EBC
BigT28
DSMLink v2 + wideband
2G Head, street port, 1mm SS valves, 15# over springs, 1g port matched intake
264/272
Walbro 255hp
720cc
AFPR
Fuel Rail
SMIM

 

[Coldandafraid]

I've attached two images for everyone to view. With your help, I'm hoping to rectify this problem without spending money on a new motor.

Well.. there's your problem right there!

 

[latvianrkey]

i know that when i found gold colored shavings in my oil it was my balance shaft bearings. do you still have yours? If this is the case, you can just try a balance shaft eliminator kit hell, it's only $45 bucks as opposed to $$$$$$$ for a new engine.

 

[espinelli]

I had errors uploading the pictures...here they are.

 

[espinelli]

i know that when i found gold colored shavings in my oil it was my balance shaft bearings. do you still have yours? If this is the case, you can just try a balance shaft eliminator kit hell, it's only $45 bucks as opposed to $$$$$$$ for a new engine.[/QUOTE

Yes. Its a stock 7bolt. Take a look at the images and see what you think.

 

[latvianrkey]

drop the pan if you haven't already and see if your balance shafts have slop or play in them. Mine made a ticking sound whenever i accelerated. They look like balance shaft bearings to me, but it may be a main too, they are very similiar. Hope this helps.

 

[latvianrkey]

also, look for a blue heat discoloration from where the bearing broke. it may sometimes "superheat" the iron block from the friction and cause a permanent bluish hue to the metal. may help you locate where that bearing came from that is now in your pan.

 

[92awddsm]

I had errors uploading the pictures...here they are.

That looks like a bearing fom the turbo. Cant think of anything else in the engine that looks like that.

 

[bigjangin]

looks like a bearing, a rod or main(or bs shaft) bearing, not a turbo bearing. If you dropped your oil pan it shouldnt take too long to find out where it came from. Bearings in a turbo dont look like that, a bearing in a turbo would probably not go all the way through the drain line into the oil pan, and it definitely wouldnt cause a noise as he described(horrible noise, knocking).

Did it sound like a diesel? Im guessing that your mystery metal is a piece of a rod bearing. Let us know when you find out.

Also, did you do anything else to the motor that mightve caused this? Well at least you have a good reason for a six bolt now

 

[92awddsm]

looks like a bearing, a rod or main(or bs shaft) bearing, not a turbo bearing. If you dropped your oil pan it shouldnt take too long to find out where it came from. Bearings in a turbo dont look like that, a bearing in a turbo would probably not go all the way through the drain line into the oil pan, and it definitely wouldnt cause a noise as he described(horrible noise, knocking).

Did it sound like a diesel? Im guessing that your mystery metal is a piece of a rod bearing. Let us know when you find out.

Also, did you do anything else to the motor that mightve caused this? Well at least you have a good reason for a six bolt now

I dont think you know what you are talking about. Rod bearings, main bearings, and bs bearings are a lot larger than that and are mader of steel, coated with copper then babbot. They are not made of brass and dont have radial oil holes.

If you take a look at this cutaway of a turbo, you will see the bearing looks just like that. I dont know how it would have made it to the oil pan but Im almost 100% sure that is what it is. http://www.turbochargedpower.com/Bearing System.htm

 

[kpt4321]

I think those are of too large a diameter to be turbocharger bearings, but don't quote me on that.

Take another picture with something as a size reference, like a quarter or a pencil.

Rod bearings do have a radial oil hole, but not that many... Same for balance shaft bearings.

 

[GSX_RCR]

Was it boosting correctly when you took it back in?

Otherwise, if those bearings can fit in the oil drain tube, then you found your mystery bearings.

 

[espinelli]

Hey guys its not from the turbo. Too large of a piece too fit through the oil drain pipe.

Let me give everyone a little more info. The motor (lower end) is making a loud knocking noise. When you pull he throttle cable (accelerate) the noise gets stronger. I've narrowed the noise between cylinders #1 and #2.

I think the pieces in the images are to small to be a rod or main bearing. Those consist of two 1/2 circular pieces. Also these pieces seem thick and to narrow to be a rod or main bearing. But I'm not 100% sure. I know its hard to tell from the images but this piece seemed to be one circular piece and not 1/2's.

I can't take additional pictures until next weekend. However, if you look at the female end of the 3/8" extension in my second image that should give you an idea of how big/small these peices are.

 

[burldude]

I havent got a clue . Deffinetly not rod or main bearing . It does however look like it came from the turbo . I dont know about 2g cars but could that have come from the oil pump? I mean there are only so manny things in the bottom end unless it made it down an oil passage ole and you lost a lifter ? That would cause some serious noise . It does kinda fit the lifter description . Check for turbo shaft play and go from there unless you have solved it already

 

[GSX_RCR]

Another shot in the dark: Oilpan pickup?

 

[kooka]

I havent got a clue . Deffinetly not rod or main bearing . It does however look like it came from the turbo .

Put on your thinking cap would you. How on gods green earth would something that large get from the turbo to the oil pan.

Original Poster: Please take some pics with a penny next to them or a ruler or something. Thanks.

 

[1fast97gsx]

just drop the oil pan and check it out .. you're gonna have to rip it apart anyways

 

[coltboostin]

You guys are funny.

IT IS 100% NOT a trust bearing (turbo). It cannot physically fit in the drain section of the turbo, and even if you ran the car with no oil, it would just loose thrust, the bearing in the turbo does not decintagrate like a rod/main bearing would.

Looks like a b/shaft bearing. Pull the b/shaft and check it out.

 

[espinelli]

Guys, appreciate everyones input. I'll take more pictures this weekend as well as check some of the things you've mentioned. I haven't figured it out yet since my car is not readily accessible. I store it in a remote garage and work on it on the weekends.

Personally, I think its either a balance shaft bearing or something behind the front case cover. Although I'm not exactly sure how something that large will end up in the pan if there was a problem in the front case.

The valve cover and oil pan have been removed. I've inspected the head, cams, lifters/lash adjusters, rockers and that is all fine. Trust me its not the turbo. If it was a turbo bearing my motor would be blowing black smoke out of my exhaust and or possible sucking oil into my intake as well.

 

[bigjangin]

the 2nd piece in the top picture looks odd. I dont know of any bearings that have that many oiling holes. If it was the turbo bearing, it would NOT make a knocking noise. The turbo would blow smoke, not boost, but the engine would run fine otherwise unless the turbo bearing actually got stock somewhere and took out something else. PLus, like Ive said and others have said, a bearing from the turbo shouldnt fit through the drain line.

I still think you lost a rod bearing, and my second choice would be bs shaft bearing. A pic with size reference would help.(quarter or dime next to it).

 

[92awddsm]

I think those are of too large a diameter to be turbocharger bearings, but don't quote me on that.

Take another picture with something as a size reference, like a quarter or a pencil.

Rod bearings do have a radial oil hole, but not that many... Same for balance shaft bearings.

I was comparing the size of the bearing to the 3/8 extension in the bottom pic. If you look, you can barely see it in the pic.I will even include a pic of a complete bearing and broken bearing Next to an extension for comparison. This is from a 14b, not a t25/28 but they should be close in size. I dont know of any other bearings in the engine this small other than in the oil pump but I dont think they are that thick and if it is, you should have seen/heard the signs of it coming out long before now.

Edit: this could have come from the old turbo and with the pieces circulating through the oil system, caused you to loose a rod bearing. I just checked and it will fit throught the drain tube.

 

[kpt4321]

Good job man. I think you're right, I was thinking it was bigger than it really is.

I think it's a turbo bearing, and the pieces from it killed everything else.

 

[pinknuggit]

yeah, that's definately a turbo bearing. I knew that from the instant i saw the picture.

Balance shaft bearings are about 1.5-1.75" round, and rod and main bearings are bigger than that and two piece.

Here's a dark picture of my 16g turbo bearing sitting on top of my rod journal.

 

[burldude]

Put on your thinking cap would you. How on gods green earth would something that large get from the turbo to the oil pan.

Original Poster: Please take some pics with a penny next to them or a ruler or something. Thanks.

Hmm I think therefore I am. I havent replaced my turbo bearings yet but if you look at the inside of the bearing . You can see the riding surface . The holes are oil feed holes from the looks of it . It is not a rod bearing or balance shaft bearing at all . I would also not count your engine dead. A turbo will nock horribly with this bearing gone. The last post by 92awddsm shows and says it all .

 

[DSMJim]

That is definately a turbo bearing. I have changed bearing in a turbo before and when I saw your pictures that was the very first thing I thought it was. If the bearing cracked in the turbo then it could make its way down the return tube thats totally possible. That will also explain your thumping noise you were hearing as the turbo shaft was slopping around inside the CHRA.

Grab onto your shaft and let us know if it wiggles.. :laugh: