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I found this in my oil

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lather, Jun 7, 2011.

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  1. Lather

    Lather New Member

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    Anyone recognize this? I found it in the oil after I changed it.

    thanks,
     

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    #1 Lather, Jun 7, 2011
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    looks scary but probably an extra part left in the pan by accident.
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 7, 2011
  3. Lather

    Lather New Member

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    Hopefully, but I've got 90k on the car. If it was a leftover manufacturing part, I think I would have found it before.

    Plus, the wear pattern on top is very defined. It looks like it had a function.
     

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    #3 Lather, Jun 7, 2011
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Unless you witnessed it come out, there's no guarantee that it wasn't in the drain pan before hand or fell into it from another source besides the draining oil.
     
    #4 fotomoto, Jun 7, 2011
  5. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    Looks like the hardened end for a push rod?{ Valve push rod} Do you have noise in the valve train? Hal
     
    #5 Hal W, Jun 7, 2011
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could be a moscam lifter tip, but how would it get in the oil pan?
     
    #6 bisco, Jun 7, 2011
  7. tomlouie

    tomlouie Member

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    But the wear on the part don't look look like it's been banged around the engine a few times either. I'm guessing it was put in the pan by someone by accident, and it's never moved since.
     
    #7 tomlouie, Jun 7, 2011
  8. Lather

    Lather New Member

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    Personally, I hope it's not an engine part but I can't think of any other source. I'm the only one that's changed my oil since the dealer did some maintenance at about 60k. There's some wear in a ring around the side but it only goes halfway around. The opposite side is worn at the base.

    I don't really hear any engine noise but my mileage dropped about 5mpg. I also changed the air filter and pumped up the tires today so I don't know if the mileage change is permanent. (I drop the tire pressure in the winter for traction. Since it snowed last weekend, I wasn't sure it was spring until yesterday when it hit 90.)

    I guess I'll have to take it in and play Prius trivia with my dealer. Hopefully it stumps them. I thank everyone who offered an opinion.
     
    #8 Lather, Jun 7, 2011
  9. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

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    I was thinking the same thing, but wouldn't it then have a hole in the center for oil passage? (Besides, I'd bet the Prius has overhead cams, not pushrods.) Still, the wear pattern looks like it's part of the heads/valve system. Are the oil return passages large enough to allow something that size to drop into the oil pan? I'd do a compression test to start.
     
    #9 M8s, Jun 8, 2011
  10. tomlouie

    tomlouie Member

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    Maybe it fell into your oil collection bucket and has nothing to do with your car?
     
    #10 tomlouie, Jun 8, 2011
  11. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    It's a vernier caliper...
     
    #11 firepa63, Jun 8, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  12. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    At least it's not a finger in your chili :D
    or..maybe it's like finding one.
     
    #12 J5A, Jun 8, 2011
  13. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Looks to me like a gear change indent plunger from a gearbox (non Prius) even has typical wear pattern on tip.
     
    #13 Britprius, Jun 8, 2011
  14. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    It is strange...what type of car do you have???

    What work did the dealer to, that you mention in your OP ???

    The part does not look used.....is the small end broken or machined flat. ???

    I'm guessing that it's a oil pump push rod.
     
    #14 Troyroy, Jun 8, 2011
  15. Lather

    Lather New Member

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    Gear change indent plunger? Hopefully Google will be my friend.

    And, 05 Prius. Dealer does standard maintenance. I've done all but 4-5 oil changes and I've never had a problem with it. Not even now. I got gas this morning and after about 20 miles (typical commute), I'm at 55mpg.

    This would have been from one of the last two oil changes (I was making room for yesterday's change).

    The part is flat on the bottom and has wear marks on the top and sides.

    The odds are, it came from my engine. When I change oil, my face is a foot away from the drain plug and I like to think I would have heard/seen something unusual. But on the other hand, if someone can convince me that I'm an idiot, I will be grateful.
     

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    #15 Lather, Jun 8, 2011
  16. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    Do you use a filter wrench to remove the filter? Maybe this doo-hickey broke off or fell out of the wrench mechanism.
     
    #16 San_Carlos_Jeff, Jun 8, 2011
  17. atroader

    atroader Engineer

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    If you get desperate and have the time, drain your engine oil, then see if this fits up in the threaded hole for the plug. Odds are it would have to line up perfectly to be ejected, unless it was at the edge of the pan by the plug or perhaps attracted to the plug magnet...
     
    #17 atroader, Jun 8, 2011
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you married?:D
     
    #18 bisco, Jun 8, 2011
  19. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    It looks like the nozzle from my garden spray pump, I lost it 5 months ago, how did you get it?:cheer2:
     
    #19 andyprius, Jun 8, 2011
  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Thats pretty strange. It would drive me crazy.
    I would stop by the local dealer and go to the parts counter and politely ask for a peek at the motor breakdown schematic. There very nice at my local dealer parts counter and show me schematics every time I have asked.

    For some strange reason I think its part of the VVT Actuator assy.

    Let us know!
     
    #20 edthefox5, Jun 14, 2011
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