Seems that someone in the past had dropped a small part down in my engine...a part called a ball socket from the valve train. I think the little bugger had been banging away on the oil pump screen for about eight years or more. It finally got through and destroyed the oil pump.

Pics Here: Found in my oil pump - what the heck is it?

Well, I replaced the pump and got it all back together. Started the engine....and....it rattled for about three seconds and then settled down and idled fine.

I've driven it about 150 miles and it's like nothing ever happened! It runs perfectly.

I was annoyed at the cause of all this, but it was very satisfying to pull the car back from the very brink of death. Talk about dodging a bullet!

This was not a particularly easy job.

One thing that would have helped here (besides no clumsy pro mechanic who dropped the part) would have been a magnetic drain plug. The ball socket would easily have fit through the drain plug hole.

And remember...only twelve ball sockets allowed per engine. Not thirteen!

Whew!

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

for you!

it would be sad to suffer a grievous loss through someone elses mistake!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Don't feel bad.....1987 300SDL came in on the hook with siezed engine.
Stripped it down and found a small bronze coloured ...what could only be described as a melted piece of bushing.....gone into the oil pump and snapped oil pump drive chain..

Would never have happened if the quality control person in the oil pump department had been paying attention back in 1986 ! Found a gap in the pick-up screen where the mesh had been pressed into a dome to fit in the pick up snout....the preceedure had opened up the meshing allowing the piece through....after who knows when it got into the engine, although I never found where this little bronze piece came from.



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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."