Oil change surprise !
 

I changed the oil and when I was cleaning out the drain plug I found a small pice of copper. It looks like a shim stock. I have about 30K on the engine. It runs fine no knocking or tapping. Shall I be alarmed?
Thanks

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

OK, I see. Bratton's has steel or brass shims.

https://www.brattons.com/BRASS-CONNE...ductinfo/8650/

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

if it were mine i would worry about it, but thats the way i am.
and if it was mine i would pull the pan and have a look.
i would be able to sleep, that thought on my brain.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

picture of the piece?

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

If it were mine, I’d be looking at the bottom end to figure where it came from or what it is. If you don’t, you probably will, only it might cost more than a few gaskets.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Worth dropping the pan for a look see for sure. That's why God gives us winter... Chap

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Worth a look. After 30K miles it is time to take up the bearings anyway. This is a maintenance task on an engine that has babbett bearings.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

I don’t have a picture. The pice got tangled up in my shop rags and thrown out :mad: I thought of taking when it was to late. Now I have fresh oil in. Before I get involved I’m going to put a few miles on and watch and listen! It’s definitely on my mind

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

By the time you hear anything, it might be too late.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

You know ..your right! I’m going to drop the pan. Hopefully I just have to make some adjustments and don’t get the domino affect. I will feel better once I take a look
Thanks everyone!

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Is there a chance somebody put 1 of those copper Brillo pads in the oil filter tube maybe just a small fragment in 1 of those if so it's nothing to worry about

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Some oil drain plug gaskets are made of copper. Was the piece circular in shape?

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

It didn’t look like a pice of the drain plug. It definitely was outside the edge of a shim. I wish I got a picture of it!:mad:

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

I may be wrong, but I thought the shims were brass

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Is the engine lubrication system stock? Or modified?

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Please don’t try to fix something that might not be broken.

It was running good before you drained the oil. How is it running now?

If still running and sounding great? Drive and enjoy you car.

People spend a lot of money fixing things that don’t need to be fixed.

Enjoy.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

I believe in not fixing stuff that isn’t broken, but would at least drop the pan and have a good look. This would be a good time to check the bearings too, and check everything else. Who knows, whoever was in there before might have left something.

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Any grandchildren helpers?

Re: Oil change surprise !
 

Yep …..you read my mind. I have 2 grand sons. It’s going to be a good learning experience :D after 30k i think it time to take a look anyhow
My A is a great car. For 25 years it’s been turn key and go :)