When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Thanks for helping out.
The engine is an m96/20 2.5L. I believe it is from a 1998, but I don't know. The car seems like a US import and I believe the engine has been swapped.
I looked at photos of oil pumps from early engines and they have the same square flanges. I'll take a look and see if I can see a gasket or RTV in there. I have the inspection covers off.
I agree.
The most concerning is that the I've only done 2000km and around 40 laps since I bought the car and changed the oil.
Unfortunately there is not much to do at this point. I've worked on the car since 2016 to get it ready and just finished it this summer.
I don't have it in me to do another engine rebuild and there are no M96 specialists over here and no used engines on the market.
At least there are no external leaks and no water in the oil or vice versa. The filter should catch debris like this.
I'll continue testing things as per the other thread and see what happens.
If so, my *GUESS* is that someone installed your oil pump assembly using oil resistant gasket maker (black RTV silicone), and a chunk came off.
Relevant image.
I would question the integrity of the whole engine at this point. Nothing is more damaging to an engine than improper maintenance.
Wouldn't consider that maybe the owner was in a pinch... used the RTV... or, is this a part where, even in a pinch, the owner should have sourced the correct part?
OP, unless you find evidence off RTV all over the engine... I wouldn't be terribly concerned about a little RTV. If ever you've been in a "pinch"... well... you know what I mean.
Thanks. I'm not too concerned about the RTV as I have no indications it has/ is causing a problem. I'm more concerned with what else might have been bodged together. It is expensive to find out (teardown) and possibly even more expensive to wait and see. At this point it looks like I'll do the latter and pray.
Wouldn't consider that maybe the owner was in a pinch... used the RTV... or, is this a part where, even in a pinch, the owner should have sourced the correct part?
OP, unless you find evidence off RTV all over the engine... I wouldn't be terribly concerned about a little RTV. If ever you've been in a "pinch"... well... you know what I mean.
Depends on where else the RTV is...
If even a single tiny tiny piece breaks off past the oil filter, the only place it has left to go is to block one of the several plain journal bearings... I guarantee the engine will not survive long after such things happen.
Further more, It's not just that they didn't source the correct part, they HAD the right part... they just went and then ALSO added RTV. With very few exceptions, this is a bad move.
If even a single tiny tiny piece breaks off past the oil filter, the only place it has left to go is to block one of the several plain journal bearings... I guarantee the engine will not survive long after such things happen.
Further more, It's not just that they didn't source the correct part, they HAD the right part... they just went and then ALSO added RTV. With very few exceptions, this is a bad move.
I'll admit I've some ignorance about the paths of oil. I'll pay better attention. Thanks!
I agree with your points, but there is absolutely no indication the block has been split so I don't think that's a concern with my particular engine.
I'm basing this on how far out the cams were when I bought the car.
That said, the question why the oil pump was removed remains.
08-08-2023, 12:28 PM
Can you identify this piece of gasket/sealant found in oil filter?
