There is a little bit of ground metal in the oil pan of a junkyard motor I am about to install. Maybe 1/4 of a dimes weight total. I know it's not good, but is it somewhat typical or should I go with another engine?

Something Related: Gearboxes` Drain Screws have a Magnetic Top, so they Grab all the Metal that comes from the Gears when they Wear... So in a Gearbox is some sort of "Normal" to see Metal Residues, That`s Why I Believe it is Not "Normal" to have Metal Residues on an Engine`s Oil Pan...

 

if it would be Normal, then I Believe that Engine`s Oil Drain Screws Would have the Same Magnetic Top Too... Unless the Reason about they Don`t have it, is Because the Engine is made of Aluminium and the Oil Filter...

 

So, I Don`t Believe it is Completely Normal to Have Metal Residues on an Engine`s Oil Pan... but Maybe There`s more Dirt involved than Metal there.

 

Good Luck!

hard to say.....yea, normal wear will cause some metal flaking. but enough to actually collect in the oil pan? when I pulled the pan on my 250k mile EJ22, there was no sign of any metal in the oil.

 

*could* be a sign of something worse. the engine might be fine for quite a while. hard to say.

metal in the oil pan is a bad mojo in my opinion, i wouldn't waste my time. just depends what your time is worth though. if you don't mind chancing an engine swap then tear it up.

 

oil is changed frequently (as compared to other fluids), so any metal accumulating in the pan should get drained out. if there's metal in it now...then there's a good chance some came out with the last oil change too...and maybe the change before that...ad infinitum....

 

like chux said, it's hard to say, as it could be benign. but i'd guess more often than not that much metal in the oil is a really bad sign.

 

i've never seen metal in the oil pan before myself.

I would pass on a junkyard engine with metal in the pan. There are lots more engines where that one came from. Used subie engines are cheap and easy to find.

Pass on it, it means that that the oil hasne been changed regularly or there is another mechanical problem.

 

 

nipper

I would have to say pass as well! Just pulled the oil pan and valve covers on my 260K EA82 and no sign of any kind of metal shaving what so ever. I was actually a little supprised but I guess using Mobil oil and filter every 5K miles might have something to do with that. I would find a different engine! Could be some metal from bearings which would be real bad!!!!

never seen metal in a subaru pan. Just sludge. (not even on my old engine with 85% blowby on #3)

 

Only time I saw metal in the pan was a toyota 3AC engine... it had piston chunks in the pan

Honestly if you already bought it and can't return it I would dump it in and start it up. Its not like it will take you very long to install and if it runs another 50K or more it was certainly worth it.

 

Its not like that is a lot of metal either.

 

If you were at the yard looking for a motor you would pass on it and try for better but I have a feeling this is one of the motors in your shed that you have collected over the years.

Honestly if you already bought it and can't return it I would dump it in and start it up. Its not like it will take you very long to install and if it runs another 50K or more it was certainly worth it.

 

Its not like that is a lot of metal either.

 

If you were at the yard looking for a motor you would pass on it and try for better but I have a feeling this is one of the motors in your shed that you have collected over the years.

 

Hey Shawn, yeah and yeah. I 've decided to throw it in. Should be tomorrow night. I was putting new gaskets and seals in it last night when I found the metal in the pan. All I want is to get that wagon running. This engine is from that FE at pull n save that you helped me pull a couple years ago. We'll see.......

With such a small amount, I'd be concerned mainly about the size of the particles. I've seen some metal "dust" on the oil drain plugs before and that's not much to worry about necessarily..anything larger than grains of sand.. maybe so. But you and ShawnW are on the right track.. not a big deal to see how it goes. good luck!

Edited January 26, 200917 yr by baccaruda