Trevor,
Unless my memory fails me the description in the original post leads me
to the conclusion that there is a substantial amount of this deposit in
the oil pan. If this is so, (at least a quarter of an inch layer), I
don't think that it is jumping to conclusion to suggest a rebuild.
My policy is that if you wait too long before an engine is rebuilt; by
the time you do, you might just find the engine no longer capable of
being rebuilt.
This is especially true in the case of thrust washers and main
bearings. Anybody who has experienced thrust washer failure and had to
buy a new crank and block can readily understand this policy.
True, trace amounts of the material may identify normal wear and this
may be the case here. But that is not what my mind's eye saw from
Wayne's description.
Regards,
Joe
Trevor Boicey wrote:
>
> Joe Curry wrote:
> > It's probably time for a complete rebuild.
>
> I must say something here, and that is I think
> a lot of people on the list have hair triggers
> for engine rebuilds.
>
> "Powder in oil pan" is not, IMHO, just cause
> for a $2000 expense. It is an indication that the
> engine might not be in as-new condition, but that's
> a long way from unusable. It might go for tens of
> thousands of miles without a hiccup.
>
> Perhaps the engine has problems, but in my
> view, rebuilds are only necessary when it
> blows smoke or lacks power, and even then a quick
> refresh is often cost effective.
>
> Rebuilding an engine should really be looked
> upon as a last resort. Almost anything is rebuildable. If
> the engine is fine, who cares what's in the oil, drive
> it. If it later REALLY starts showing it's flaws with
> clouds of smoke or intolerable power, THEN rebuild.
>
> Too many people end up making WAY expensive repairs
> to cars to completely rebuild assemblies that frankly
> work fine. This is where those cars come from that
> say "for sale, TRx, asking $5000, invested $25000 have
> receipts".
>
> I missed the first post, but if you have gas in your
> oil it is usually carb related like a stuck float, or
> a holed diaphragm in the mechanical fuel pump which
> leaks into the block.
>
> --
> Trevor Boicey, P. Eng.
> Ottawa, Canada, tboicey@brit.ca
> ICQ #17432933 http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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