M923 First Oil Change Surprise

[Chain-Saw]

So, I'm losing coolant and notice an excess amount of slimey, sludgy oil on my dip-stick. Time to replace the oil cooler gaskets maybe? Decide to drain the oil and do an oil change while I'm at it. So we (Kenny actually) pull the drain plug, and I notice a peculiar triangle shaped piece of metal stuck to the plug. Then, we drop the oil pan and find this in the bottom, after I removed all the sludge from it. Is this a bad sign?

 

[Goose2448]

That kinda looks like a magnet or rock that broke. How did the bottom end look? If it runs fine, I would not worry too much. I would do the oil cooler gasket, I had the same issue with my F550, the trans cooler went out at the same time(big old mess). I curious as to what you find out.

 

[doghead]

If you put all those pieces back in exactly where they came from, it will be just fine.

 

[Westech]

piston liner

 

[doghead]

I like magnet or rock, better.

Nothing worse than having your engine rocks fall out.

Or, Oh crap, I just grenaded an engine magnet...

 

[jw4x4]

piston liner

You did what to the liner?

 

[DUG]

Run it until she blows. It won't be long.

 

[Chain-Saw]

Thanks Westech... a neighbor who is an engine mechanic and Kennys and I were debating whether it was the bottom part of a piston, or a liner. I was leaning toward liner, especially since all my coolant is ending up in the oil pan. Thanks for confirming my worst fears. Now, the $64,000 question. Can we pull off a liner replacement in my driveway before deepest, darkest winter hits Wisconsin??? (or,,, do I just give up and part it out)
Wes.

 

[Goose2448]

I wasnt saying that there should be rocks in there, just going by what it looks like, IE volcanic rock. Or some kind of magnet, you know they like to put those in the bottoms of oil pans to collect the metal shavings. I think Westech is right, it has scoring marks on it.

Edit: I think you can. Just build you a little shop around it with tarps and a heater if you dont get it done in time for the white stuff.

 

[doghead]

Yeah, and the hardest part will be shoving a whole new liner back up the drain hole in one piece.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

September 3rd, 2012.

Doghead, you are one mean moderator tonight. Me? I'd look at it positively...Time to get rid of that junk American diesel and put a good Deutz in it! If he picks one of the air cooled ones (Oh,wait, he's in Wisconsin, the AC diesels will start at -30, but provide no cab heat) so you can rebuild the pistons and cylinders one jug at at time, I guess the US engineers forgot that simple mechanical principle. Either way, he's gonna squeal like a pig when he gets done buying the parts.....!

 

[jcappeljr]

Replacing the piston liner is not too bad,We had to replace the piston and liner in a 923 this year.I have a complete running 250 for sale and a parts 250 if you need some parts.New piston and liners are fairly cheap.

 

[jcappeljr]

I just checked on ebay,there a piston and liner kit for $155.00

 

[bearboley]

Put a liner in it. Only take a few hours.

 

[Danl]

Danl M915A1

Thanks Westech... a neighbor who is an engine mechanic and Kennys and I were debating whether it was the bottom part of a piston, or a liner. I was leaning toward liner, especially since all my coolant is ending up in the oil pan. Thanks for confirming my worst fears. Now, the $64,000 question. Can we pull off a liner replacement in my driveway before deepest, darkest winter hits Wisconsin??? (or,,, do I just give up and part it out)
Wes.

I'm with you on worst fear. rebuild can be done, part it out get some money and buy another one. lot of work eather way. down time is the same lenth. New mv you don't know what you are getting untill you take a bite. what kinda of shape is this truck in, tires good tranny good ect. only you can make the call about rebuild or replace same money out of pocket same down time same hard work. sorry I don't think I'm much help. so I'm going to shut up, But worst fear is there for alot of us ,.

 

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

I spent a lot of time looking up into the bottom of that motor. I honestly can't tell which liner it is. I believe it is the third from the front. Reason I say that one? I can't see it very well because of the crank location and it's right above the pumpkin and the rod appears to be twisted a couple degrees.
One thing he failed to mention was the hard satrting of the truck and now it wouldn't even turn over. At first the thought was a bad alternator lead to dead batteries. Now that I look in the motor I think we may have a seazure problem.
You also need to post a picture of that oil/sludge that we drained out. I never saw green oil before. It was more like a green grease than anything. And what dripped on my arm seperated out into water/coolant and some oil.
More investigation will be needed.

 

[nf6x]

My suggestion: If you can find a good engine in a can at a reasonable price, then swap out the engine and rebuild the broken one indoors at your leisure. Once it's rebuilt, you can keep it as a spare or sell it to the next guy with an engine problem. If the bad engine is seized up then there may be more problems to delay you than just a bad liner. Finding more problems is more fun in a heated room with a working truck parked outside, than sitting under a deadlined truck outside in the snow.

Now, the only engine I've ever rebuilt is from a 1969 VW Fastback, and I sold the whole project before I fired up the rebuilt engine. I've never rebuilt a monster like an NHC250, and I don't know how hard that will be to do in a can without a giant engine rotator. So take my suggestion with a grain of salt!

 

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

It's not too bad to replace a liner while in the truck. Just not sure if it's just a liner this time. Lots of metal in the pan and the oil filter was shreaded too. Crushed and sliced apart, never saw that before.

 

[DUG]

Yeah, and the hardest part will be shoving a whole new liner back up the drain hole in one piece.

No harder than building a ship in a bottle.

 

[nf6x]

Have y'all heard the one about the proctologist who took an auto shop class at the local community college, and rebuilt his engine through the tailpipe?