Plastic bits in oil?

[racerx9146]

Hello Pelicans

Wanted to get the group consensus before I pull the engine. I have a 3.6 from a 91 C4 (milage unknown) in my 914. During recent oil change I found plastic bits (1-2mm) in the oil. About 3 times as many as pictured. Its a hard fibrous plastic. I assume a broken or breaking chain guide? Engine a strong runner but had a hard previous life based on external condition of the totalled car it came out of. I have run it about 6 years or maybe 10K miles.

thanks Daron

[Classic 911]

These bits can have gotten to more than one place inside the engine.
One of them could be the spray bars for the cams and rockers.
You should check the whole engine thoroughly before more use.


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[stownsen914]

I assume you found these in your oil drain pan. How big are the pieces?

Reason I ask, is to get to the pressure side of the oil system, the debris would have to pass through the oil pump twice (scavenge side on the way out of the engine, pressure side on the way back in), and get past the filter as well. Granted, it’s possible for debris to get past a filter that’s operating in bypass mode, but I wonder how it would get through the oil pump intact?

[racerx9146]

Yep drained the oil from center drain and then disconnected the old line from 914-6 oil tank and drained that. Not sure which drain they came from. Center or tank? They are 1.5-2 mm big. I agree they would probably not make it by the intake screen and through the scavenge. My best guess is a chain guard if breaking up and the pieces flow down.

Don’t think I can get the chain covers off in a 914. Probably just need to drop the motor and accept my destiny 😀

Originally Posted by stownsen914

I assume you found these in your oil drain pan. How big are the pieces?

Reason I ask, is to get to the pressure side of the oil system, the debris would have to pass through the oil pump twice (scavenge side on the way out of the engine, pressure side on the way back in), and get past the filter as well. Granted, it’s possible for debris to get past a filter that’s operating in bypass mode, but I wonder how it would get through the oil pump intact?

[yelcab1]

914-6 means your destiny is an engine drop.

[Steam Driver]

In my 914-6 I changed tensioners, ramps, etc. w/o dropping the engine. But that may be different with the later model engines.

[Rdkc01]

Your destiny lies before you. If this was my engine I couldn’t imagine running it again without a complete tear down, forensic inspection and thorough cleaning, but I think you already knew this.
So sorry for your debacle. Best of luck moving forward.