chewwed up steel in oil pan??

[DAC96]

Out of no where my 96 TSI started knocking really loud and fast and ran like it was on 3 cylinders, So I took of the head, dropped the oil pan, and pushed out the rods and pistons to look at everything. To my suprize everything looked great until I found a chunk of chewwed up steel in my oil pan, It looks like it could have been a bearing from something, but all the bearings look fine ( that I can See) So I guess my question is kind of a shot in the dark and almost pointless, but any Ideas what it could be from? Sorry no picture.
Thanks for any help!
Derek

 

[rjgeier]

One of your oil squirters may have broke off. Also, do a compression check.

 

[Defiant]

Balance shaft bearing failed.

 

[1fast97gsx]

yea most likely a balance shaft problem ... have you considered it being a turbo bearing?

 

[Strm Trpr]

Balance shaft bearing failed.

Indeed.... The clincher is really loud and FAST knocking......Balance shafts spin at twice the speed of the crank correct? At least that's what I've read on here....

 

[DAC96]

Thanks for your help guys, It was the balance shaft bearing!
Derek

 

[sonicnofadz]

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Does this look like the shredded piece of metal you found in your oil pan? For a long time I was trying to diagnose a really annoying problem with a knocking sound that only occured at rpms above 3-4k. Dropped my oilpan (to replace the oilpan due to some stripped turbo oil flange threads) and that is what I found. The rear balance shaft was completely free spinning from the oil pump without a bearing and was just rattling around beating up the block. For the longest time I thought this weird sound was coming from a bad timing belt tensioner, but after replacing every single timing belt component I found the stupid problem. Argh.

 

[DAC96]

Yeah thats exactly what it looks like, when I read that it was possably the balance shaft I went straight to my car and sure enough the rear balance shaft had about a 1/4" of play. My only problem now is I can't figure out why my car was running like it was only on 3 cylinders, I'm wondering if when I lost the bearing my timming could have jumped a tooth... any ideas? Everything else is in great shape though.
Thanks
Derek

 

[sonicnofadz]

Check your plugs, plug wires, coils, power transistor, fuel injectors, fuel filter, ignition timing, and most importantly, your cam timing. Like what was mentioned above, if your cam timing is 100% correct, do a compression check. Maybe somehow you cracked a piston or some rings got destroyed (its doubtful that the balance shaft bearing did any damage but who knows). Good luck! God I hate those stupid balance shafts.

 

[DAC96]

when that bearing went is the exact moment that I lost power, and not knowing at the time that it was the balance shaft bearing I assumed I blew a ring or something. So instead of doing a compression test, I jumped the gun and tore my engine down to the guts, and like I said every thing was in good condition that I could see without conferming it with a compression test, anyways I hate to put everything back together without knowing for sure what the other half of the problem is, but I guess that will be the next step. I have new belts, new gaskets, new rod bearings, and waiting on new rings and a balance shaft removal kit, anything else I should replace while I'm at it? Thanks
derek

 

[sonicnofadz]

Wow you sure went balls to the wall on your engine . Did you check the cam timing on the timing belt or did you just tear everything apart? The balance shaft bearing goes on a lot of cars and usually causes no major damage. I would think that the problem is timing related or electrical even. Anyways, its always nice to have your engine inspected, maybe have it rebored with some new pistons and rings while your at it =)

 

[DAC96]

I assumed I knew the problem off the bat, thats were I went wrong. I didn't check the timming before I ripped the head off (really wish I would have though ) So i guess we've narrowed it down to the timming then because I don't see any way that by loosing a bearing it could cause an electrical problem, Right? My CAS is shredded but thats a different story, a friend of the family who claims to be a mechanic wanted to look over my car before i ripped into it, anyways he took the valve cover off with the car running and dropped his rag into the intake cam... F-ing Idiot!! anyways thanks for all the help should have it all back together in a week or so...Derek