Small plug fell out?

Va914 · 01-02-2005, 06:53 AM

Hey guys.. I just removed one of my heads on my stock 2.2 engine. As I was rotating the engine on the stand a small plug (size of an pencil head eraser) fell on the ground. I have no idea where it came from or what it is for.

Cheers
Kerry

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

A picture would really help...

Va914 · 01-02-2005, 07:54 AM

Another

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

You know because of the rough edges, that looks more like a casting leftover than a 'plug'. A plugs' edges would likely be machined for a press-fit I'm thinking.

Doesn't look familiar to me, but perhaps someone else can chime in.

Va914 · 01-02-2005, 10:56 AM

Thanks.. I hope someone can shed some light on this. I am not tearing the case part so I hope it's nothing to be worried about.

Cheers

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Dont know what they use on the 6's but my 912 had plugs in the oil passages on the crank that looked a lot like that?

Craig

snowman · 01-02-2005, 04:37 PM

Did you see where it fell out from? I mean could it have come from inside the case?

There are a lot of aluminum plugs used on this engine. Although this dosen't quite look like one, its still possible that it is one.

There are plugs in the front and back of the cam towers on both sides. If one is missing you will know instantly because there will be oil everywhere when you start it. More bothersome are the ones in the crank, you may not see any indication they are missing, except possibly slightly lower than normal oil pressure. I don't know what happens to an engine if run that way, maybe nothing, maybe something very bad. To avoid splitting the case take the part to a Porsche mechanic with lots of experience and see what he thinks, pictures are sometimes not quite enough.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Still, if it were a plug, it couldn't have those rough edges, how would it seal? I'm not 100% on this, but still, seems unlikely

YTNUKLR · YTNUKLR's Garage

Maybe someone shot your engine with a musket.

snowman · 01-02-2005, 08:40 PM

The thing does seem tappered though.

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

a plug pushed out when a stud is installed too deeply? Pushing the material out that was supposed to be the end where the stud should stop be previous owner did not stop...

maybe?

Jim

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

True. If it were a plug of some sort, it must not be "normally" removable.... I thorough inspection should find the culprit...

Va914 · 01-03-2005, 03:15 AM

Thanks..I'll keep you posted on my findings.

I hope I can find where it came from without splitting the case. I doubt it could have been loose long. It would have trashed a running engine if it was inside the case.

The only things I did where;
- Removed the cam cover and housing.
- Removed the head/cam assembly.

I installed some retaining bolts on each cylinder and started to rotate the engine to get the other side removed.

Cheers
Kerry

DJsRepS · 01-03-2005, 03:36 AM

You got me over here from the 914 club. I would bet a $100 it is no plug at all. It is a piece of the block from too long of a bolt used in a threadded hole that pushed the bottom out. There now wasnt that easy. You guys want some real answers just join the club 914 club that is.

DJsRepS · 01-03-2005, 03:39 AM

That plug from the block should not hurt a thing but if your splitting the block anyway I would find it. I sure would not split the block because of it.

DJsRepS · 01-03-2005, 03:41 AM

If we saw all angles in the pic eg top and bottom the smaller side of the plug will have some marks from the turning pressing bolt. Show us that side!

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

from me...

Quote:

plug pushed out when a stud is installed too deeply?

from DJsRepS..

Quote:

You got me over here from the 914 club. I would bet a $100 it is no plug at all. It is a piece of the block from too long of a bolt used in a threadded hole that pushed the bottom out. There now wasnt that easy. You guys want some real answers just join the club 914 club that is.

see, the 914s are slower than the 911s

No offence intended, great minds think alike....

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

It might be the plug for the oil sprayer tube on the cam towers, although it doesn't quite look like the normal stock one.

See page 154, Figure 5-10 and page 155, Figure 5-13 in the Engine Rebuild Book. You can see the plug there.

-Wayne

DJsRepS · 01-04-2005, 01:51 AM

The sides are too rough surface to be any machined plug. And the angle from the small end to the lg end too steep. Pls post pic of the top small end close up so I can see the bolt marks that pushed it through,

snowman · 01-04-2005, 01:53 PM

So far everyone agrees that this dosen't look like a normal plug but is resembles one close enough that no one can say it isn't.

This could make sense. A proper plug would not have fallen out to begin with, so the fact that it may have fell out and dosen't look quite right are consistant.

Measure the plug diameter exactly and post the results. Should be very close to a known plug dimension if it is one.