several Alu small shiny Shavings

[Stevelien]

Hi,

Today when I changed my oil I noticed many small shiny particles in the filter and also the oil from the filter. I tested that they are not magnetic. Probably aluminum or similar material. My question is what could this be from? The Transit 2.0TDCI 2004 has almost no oil consumption and runs well, it has 184.00 km (115.00 miles). Is this from the oil pump? Or from a bearing? I even thought from the silver foil of one of the the oil bottle seal once. It was 5.000 km (3.200 miles) when I last changed the oil last summer. I also changed the rusty oil pan today and saw that cylinder walls looked good, no vertical scoring. Suggestions please before......something gets wrong! I go testing now with new oil and driving.

Thanks Sander

[metalworker0]

Cant think of anything other than the timing chain flapping about, because a tensioner blade has broken, ..so chain hitting alloy bits of cover -- blade broken because of time (19 plus years or whatever it is) and brittleness over that time maybe ,.,.all speculation ..that's all you're going to get --- from me ..others will chip in.

all the best.mark

[Chug]

The mk6 tdci injection pumps are known to eat themselves and deposit filings in the fuel system

[knobby1]

The mk6 tdci injection pumps are known to eat themselves and deposit filings in the fuel system

Pretty sure he said it was in oil filter and in the oil pan..

If the TDCi pump shites itself, the particles are steel, not aluminium and don't end up in the oil.

Lord Knobrot

[Stevelien]

Yes indeed, it is in the oil (filter). This afternoon I'm going to add the oil (after drying the sump silicon gasket 24h) and drive a bit and check the oil filter for new small aluminum particles and eventually flush the engine. If there are aluminum shavings, it is often because a harder metal part is running against a piece of aluminum. The shapes of the particles I found is not from a broken connecting rod bearing or anything, I suspect these bearings are also made of a steel alloy. Engine is running well, Forscan cylinder power balance test was ok. The camshaft chain should be very worn to the point where it touches the crankcase or outer case somewhere, which seems very quick to me at this mileage. I suspect the gear of the oil pump or part of the once loose aluminum seal of the oil bottle that came with a previous owner's filling and is now pulverized in the engine.
I let know.

[metalworker0]

it could be about time not mileage ..on the slipper blades ... foil seal possible -but you'd have to have owed it from new to know its history .also ..do you know the sound it makes when things start to rattle....you could start listening .maybe you've caught it ab the beginning and things will become worse as the rattle if it has one gets worse.

There are lots reports here of the camshaft ladder frame (carrier) cracking and braking up ..if that happens ..its easy to imagine the journals becoming distorted and wearing away as the spring pressure from the valve springs exerts un-equal forces on them ...not even sure if this carrier is made out of zamak or Mazak (well known rot reports - zinc pest )or some brittle magnesium alloy that fails.
having said all that its not my wish to alarm you ..just stating the possibilities ..and your alloy bits may be nothing to worry about .well you did ask .

all the best.mark

[Stevelien]

Thanks for your advice Mark, I appreciated that very much! I take that camshaft ladder problem as described by you also into considaration. The camshaft under bearing is built in and part of the upper engine I read. I am go investigating of the ladder frame is made of other material. My attention is also to the engine sound, I also drive VW FSI and TSI engines from 1999 on so I am used to this…

Greeting Sander

[metalworker0]

if your engine is one with the vacuum pump on the end of the head ..that would be another place to look , as the vacuum pump has an alloy dog that is driven off the end of the camshaft..

all the best.mark

[Stevelien]

Hi Mark. Yes, ik have one at the end. I look at it, thanks again for help. I had already replaced last summer the hydraulic/waterpump belt and tensioner with bearing because of dragging noise in that area. The little noise does not disappear. Probably it comes from the bearing in the house of of the vacuümpump and also these alu residu’s. I am going to change that vacuümpump next week.

Sander

[Chug]

The mk6 tdci injection pumps are known to eat themselves and deposit filings in the fuel system

It very clearly says oil filter, NOT fuel filter, get ya eyes tested you plonker!

[Stevelien]

Today the vacuum pump was removed from the engine and taken apart. Apart from normal wear, no indication that this is the cause of the aluminium particles. Next step is to check the chain and possibly the camshaft. Question: 1, what is the easiest way to check the chain wear/play. I see a method in the Haynes manual, but then a lot has to be dismantled, is there an more easy way? 2, And is there a way to check the camshaft play on the bearings or to detect possible cracks in the camshaft framework without dismantling the head? Thanks in advance!

[Stevelien]

I have ordered a borescope which I receive tommorrow to look through the oil filling pipe to see the camshaft condition etcetera.

[metalworker0]

if you can get it down there! ..you are looking at how far the tensioner is extended ..others here will know that amount ..i dont.

all the best.mark

[Stevelien]

Allright Mark, the tensioner and chain condition is indeed another story. But I want exclude the possible camshaft problems before I start to change the chain. When the camshaft (frame) is broken or damaged or something else overthere I look for a replacement low mileage engine in the Netherlands and change the chain outside the engine and put all other early changed changed new parts like the dieselpump to it.

[Stevelien]

And I hope I can see the condition of the chain and especially the plastic guide rollers through the round diesel pump opening on the chain housing with the borescope!