Ferrous metal rings in oil pan, 2005 1GR-FE motor

Hola,

18 months ago, I scored a 2005 Tacoma for $6500 and I'd be a liar to say it's not been without its fair share of headaches, but for the most part, it's a solid pick-up. I currently have 223K on the odometer.12000 miles ago I replaced the head-gaskets, figured since the front of the engine was off, I'd replace the water pump and timing set.

Long story short: 5000 miles ago I put a magnetic drain plug in the pan and when I drained the oil, there was a 1/2 inch piece of a ring attached to the plug. I dropped to oil pan to find what you see here in the pictures. Just for principle, I did a drain and flush after about a week of going to work and back, light load no hard acceleration. Dropped the oil pan again, no new metal ring pieces. I thought maybe something from around the journals of the crankshaft since they're too small to be piston skirts.

There are no funny noises during operation, no vibes, nothing odd sounding nor out of the ordinary even when I push this motor with a load or a trailer.

Has anyone ever run into this before?? Y'all recognize the pieces?

Your thoughts??

 

That is quite strange. Doesn't look like a thrust washer. Too thick.

 

Piston skirt?

 

If I’m understanding correctly, the magnetic plug is a new addition and you never removed the pan until you found pieces on the magnet. Am I right?

So in theory the ring pieces could have been in the pan for a long time.

Any knowledge of previous history? I’m wondering about a VVTI sprocket failure or something like that.

One idea I have is to try cutting one of those pieces with a pair of side cutters, to see if it’s soft, mild steel or hardened like a retaining ring.

 

Not with the diameter of the circle. Should those be fitting pieces. Too small a diameter. Pistons are 3.701".

 

theses are the middle tensionner gear rings, not sure what they are for

 

.

 

That would be the most likely source. ^^^

 

Lack of symptoms is encouraging. They’re too big to be from the top of the engine (just a guess).

Timing chain or oil pump related? Just spitballing..

You wouldn’t have the latest filter to cut open?

 

Guides are plastic and smooth. The oil pump is incased behind a plate, and quite a lot larger while also thicker. As well as wavey. That part would have wrecked the engine, had it failed.

The good thing is, with @SimonTaco 's photo, pulling the passenger valve cover will grant access to view that idler sprocket. Wouldn't take long to see and then know.

The lack of deflection, combined with the tension of the chain, is keeping that sprocket causing more damage.

The question now, should that be the source of failure, is which one broke? Block side or cover side?

 

Wow, thanks all!!! Yeah my first thought was a piston skirt but after putting the pieces together, the diameter didn’t add up. Simon, dude, that pick of the gear makes perfect sense.

I didn’t do the work and I’m still a little aggravated at that dude who did the work in the first place (old head gasket left in engine bay, pry bar left in engine bay, timing cover leaking like a strainer, loose hardware where the car pipe attaches to the y-pipe, I’ll never go back to that shop again........ the damn thing still leaks after I took it back for reseal...... I digress, sorry). Is there really ample space for rings of that size to flow from the front of the engine and into the oil pan like that?? That’s some good flow of oil if yes. Looking at that picture, what is the purpose of those rings??? Kind of looks to keep the total stress of the chain on the outer plates and not the pinS on the links?? You think this is a critical issue

 

Large void between the timing cover and the upper oil pan. Plenty of room for the ring to fall into the oil pan.

May become an issue. Pull the valve cover and see what you're dealing with.

 

Yes’ir. Gonna be a bit, but I got two of em. We’ll see where it goes. Thanks!

 

pistons are aluminum, so it's not from a piston if it's ferritic like you said.