Aluminum shavings in the sump…

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 4, 2025

• #1

Hi all!

I’m new to the forum, have been reading more than posting for the last year.

I’m recovering a 5 door Freelander 1 2.0 Di from 1998. This car has been in the family from new. And has 180000kms

The car was stopped for about 2 years and very neglected…

This year I replaced the head gasket as it was drinking coolant, and started restoring the car.

Today I removed the sump to change the gasket and inside I found aluminum shavings

Does anyone have any idea of what could be?

The car had no noticeable knocking and was working normally.

Could this be dirt from the work on the head done when changing the head gasket?

Does anyone have any idea?

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

Posts

27,309

Location

Christchurch, New Zealand

• May 5, 2025

• #2

I have no idea, but I'll be intrigued if someone can identify them/

 

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 5, 2025

• #3

Can this be the remainings of a trust washer?

I will disassemble the main bearings and the big end caps.

Need to find out if in this engine I need new bolts.

 

Loafer61

Active Member

Posts

121

Location

Near Timau, Northern Kenya

• May 5, 2025

• #4

No idea, but those are big bits! You have to wonder how far the smaller bits have got. I'd take the oil filter off and cut it open to see what is in there first. It could tell you if it is worth opening up the engine further.

My fingers are crossed for you.

 

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 6, 2025

• #5

Hello all,

So, today I removed the big end bearings and they look normal for 180k Kms.

I’m now more leaning towards this to be aluminum shavings from when the head was faced.

What do you guys think?

I’m renewing the bearings.

Is there a way to clean the oil pathways without disassembling?

 

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Loafer61

Active Member

Posts

121

Location

Near Timau, Northern Kenya

• May 6, 2025

• #6

High pressure air Caboz, but you can’t be absolutely sure without blowing out everyone and checking.

 

kermit_rr

Very

Full Member

Posts

36,814

Location

North Shropshire

• May 6, 2025

• #7

Loafer61 said:

High pressure air Caboz, but you can’t be absolutely sure without blowing everyone and checking.

Click to expand...

 

Loafer61

Active Member

Posts

121

Location

Near Timau, Northern Kenya

• May 6, 2025

• #8

I should have left a gap between 'every' and 'one' there perhaps!

 

htr

Well-Known Member

Posts

1,595

Location

Central Otago, Southern New Zealand

• May 7, 2025

• #9

My penny-worth: Years Ago I owned a Rover P5B. The sump gasket needed replacing. When the sump was off it got a good clean. In it was a grey almost clay-like goo at the bottom and in that were numerous aluminium pieces = shavings. I wasn't hugely concerned and put it down to residue from the block manufacturing / machine process.

Those bits in your image appear similar to pencil shavings which is curious as it could suggest some sort of rotating cutter in a bore or hole... My guess, it's prob' left over from the factory.

When a head is machined they use an abrasive wheel which grinds the material off - some places may use a milling machine. Any particles which are left would be very small...

 

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 15, 2025

• #10

Ok, I was down changing the thrust washers and was expecting to find 4, as I bought a set PN BHM1592L.

Here is a pic:

But when I dismantled, I found only 2, one on each side of centre (Number 3) main bearing in cylinder block.

This is as described on the L Series service manual nr 6 on the image.

Do I have the wrong part number?

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

33,251

Location

Cornwall

• May 16, 2025

• #11

You can tell how many thrust  shells should be fitted by looking at the bearing cap. If there are supposed to be 4, then the cap will be machined to provide a surface for them to rest against. If there are only supposed to be 2 fitted, then the cap will normally lock them in place, preventing them from turning with the crank.

 

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 16, 2025

• #12

Nodge68 said:

You can tell how many thrust  shells should be fitted by looking at the bearing cap. If there are supposed to be 4, then the cap will be machined to provide a surface for them to rest against. If there are only supposed to be 2 fitted, then the cap will normally lock them in place, preventing them from turning with the crank.

Click to expand...

Yes indeed the bearing cap is not machined. I will take the thrust washers out in hope they are the same as the ones I bought.

 

C

Caboz

New Member

Posts

9

• May 16, 2025

• #13

I just took the thrust washers out and confirmed they are equal to the top ones included in the package I bought.

I imagine the bearing cap washers are for a different model or a later design.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

33,251

Location

Cornwall

• May 16, 2025

• #14

Caboz said:

I just took the thrust washers out and confirmed they are equal to the top ones included in the package I bought.

View attachment 341179

I imagine the bearing cap washers are for a different model or a later design.

Click to expand...

It's possible that there was a design change to increase bearing area applied to later engines. The L series engine lived on until 2005 in the Rover 45 and MG SZ diesel, so it's possible that is a modification for those later and higher power variants.