I need some advice:

car50 is at 215,000 miles, probably more like 230k and compression is well within spec. I have put 4000 miles on her since AZ9.

The problem is I found some very fine golden 'sand' in the oil pan when I changed the oil last week. I do not know if this 'sand' was already in the pan I pulled off the shelf as I have been working with some brass parts for the boat.

Should I worry about this? No knocking no noises and it runs great. I just want some advice before I drive another 3k miles overloaded with a trailer.

Damn.

Well, if it's brass it won't stick to a magnet, right?

Can you think of any gold parts inside of your engine?

Bronze distributor gear maybe? I can't think of anything that would be "golden".

The backing of the crank and rod bearings are made of copper, sure thats not what it is?

I'll give you a golden shower when you get here.

There's gold in them thar pan... swish that around with some water, rinse and repeat. Pick out the nuggets and then pan the fines out.

I'd run it. Unless its making noise, it should be fine. My pans have always had a very very fine grit in them when I've removed them & cleaned them out.

This was just after an oil change. I am tempted to change it once more before I leave just to see what is in there, but even if I find something it is running good enough for me to just say f-it. I still get some loud lifter noise if it hasn't been started for a couple of days, but that goes away once oil gets up there and fills the lifters up. Screw it if I have to rent a u-haul to get home I will. I need a vacation badly...

That's the spirit!

Both of mine get the lifter noise every morning. Been that way as long as I can remember. Mobile 1 10w30 in the r50, various 10w30 dino oil in the wd21. Pure One filters.

quote:

Originally posted by reddog:
Bronze distributor gear maybe? I can't think of anything that would be "golden".

Distributors do like to die in these motors... sometimes catastrophically.

Is that pretty easy to pull and check or does it eff your timing all up?

Yeah if you put it back in wrong the timing is all jacked up. Sometimes it can be frustrating to get it to line up again afterwards.

That being said, Keith shouldn't have a problem doing this at all. 5 minute job.