Engine went Bad

[62440]

Week ago l was putting my car to bed for the winter. Changed the oil and it comes out looking like l haven't changed it in years and there is some crud on the magnetic drain plug. I spread it on a kleenex and l can see what looks like little silver beads. I took the filter to a local garage to see if they had a filter cutter but the machanic was away. I'm not going to do anything now because l have a new project, 67 vw baja underway that's suckling all my money away. This next spring I'll get the engine pulled and torn down. Depending on how it looks will tell what's needed, but I'm hoping nothing to major. The car was running great, 50 psi cold idle 32 hot. Lucus 20/50 Hotrod and Classic oil. Maybe l caught it in time and no major damage other than rings and bearing. However it goes, I'm going to get a hydraulic roller cam. Its a 72 block that l got out of a car that someone had replaced. I can't tell you much about it other than it has a mild lumpy cam, 906 heads and burns regular gas, low compression, 727, with 4:10 Suregrip. It's just a Sunny Day Cruiser that gets the carbon blown out regularly. Can you guys recommend a cam ?

 

[Tony Tee]

At least you caught it before it went worse!

 

[diesel_lv]

Save some time n money. Go online and find an oil testing company. Hopefully you saved the drained oil. Get a test kit and send it off. If the results come back bad, then tear down. If they come back good, then drive it.

 

[dodgeboy440]

Save some time n money. Go online and find an oil testing company. Hopefully you saved the drained oil. Get a test kit and send it off. If the results come back bad, then tear down. If they come back good, then drive it.

GREAT ADVICE ON OIL TESTING!!!!!!!!!
WORKS FIRST TIME EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!
MoPar2Ya!
John

 

[moparedtn]

I missed the part where what was actually "bad" was described?
If the engine is "running great", you don't have unusual or bad noises and all that happened
was stuff on the drain plug, could it not simply be the results of a hard year of driving or
an older engine wearing - or a combination of both?

 

[1967coronet]

With 20-50 weight oil your pressure is ok jmho. As long as your not hearing any odd noise I would do a oil , filter change then warm it up and run a compression test on all cylinders.
Pull valve covers and check valve lift.

 

[hunt2elk]

The shavings could be from a worn fuel pump rod. All the repo's being sold now are soft and wear quickly. Just went through that myself.

 

[62440]

Ok,Thanks. I'll try to find a oil test kit and keep my fingers crossed.
Ps. Car has electric fuel pump.

 

[What’s up dock]

Have you been using a high zinc oil, or an additive?

 

[Runcharger]

Easy to pull a b-engine intake and have a look at the camshaft. I wouldn't start it until I did that.

 

[Orig69]

I first thing I would do is open up the oil filter.

 

[WileE]

Save some time n money. Go online and find an oil testing company. Hopefully you saved the drained oil. Get a test kit and send it off. If the results come back bad, then tear down. If they come back good, then drive it.

Great recommendation. Been there, done that.

 

[62440]

Sorry, I've been busy with stuff. I'll get a oil sample tested when l can. I took the oil filter to a garage and they cut it open for me. He didn't think it was bad and thought maybe my oil is doing a good job cleaning and flushed some old crap out

 

[Kern Dog]

Week ago l was putting my car to bed for the winter. Changed the oil and it comes out looking like l haven't changed it in years and there is some crud on the magnetic drain plug. The car was running great, 50 psi cold idle 32 hot.

Funny timing. I just changed the oil in my beater '67 Dart (360) and get 50 psi cold but it drops to 10 in gear at idle!

If the engine is "running great", you don't have unusual or bad noises and all that happened
was stuff on the drain plug, could it not simply be the results of a hard year of driving or
an older engine wearing - or a combination of both?

My Dart runs fine and has been in the backyard, NOT driven on the street for almost 5 years. Lots of cold starts and laps around the yard though.

Easy to pull the intake and have a look at the camshaft.

I did have some clatter last weekend and wondered if there was a lobe going away.

I first thing I would do is open up the oil filter.

I did that. No particles or chunks but there was a slight shimmer in the oil.

I'll pull the intake, maybe the oil pan to check a few bearings.
Maybe our situations are similar. Is your car used seldomly and only for short trips where it sometimes has to crank a bit to start? The cold start wear could be what you found on the drain plug.

 

[62440]

Absolutely, that's what l was thinking. I changed to Lucus 10/40 Hot Rod and Classic oil thinking it would help at start up. l have competition carbs with no chokes and dosn't get driven that much.

Maybe our situations are similar. Is your car used seldomly and only for short trips where it sometimes has to crank a bit to start? The cold start wear could be what you found on the drain plug.